Since returning from injury to the field three weeks ago, Sam Brown V has had a steady workload. The Rutgers football running appears to be trending towards even more carries this weekend against Wagner.
Brown, who suffered a season-ending injury last year in a midseason win over Indiana, has 10 carries on the year. He had three carries for 12 yards this past weekend in a loss at No. 2 Michigan.
Last year as a true freshman, Brown saw his role in the offense increase. The former four-star won the starting job in the backfield by mid-October. He finished his season with 374 rushing yards on 86 carries and three rushing touchdowns.
On Monday, head coach Greg Schiano talked about Brown during his weekly press conference. The question asked if Brown is ready to be back to where he was last season.
“I don’t know if it’s last season or what, but I look at it as, is he ready; has he had enough repetitions that you can go in and know that he’ll do things, muscle memory, and not have to think about it,” Schiano told reporters on Monday.
“Because when you’re thinking about stuff that you need to be able to do just naturally, you open yourself up to two things: You open yourself up to injury, No. 1 because you are not playing as fast as usually do. And you also open yourself to not performing the way you’re capable of.
“I think this week of practice now, it will be the third consecutive. That’s getting into that sweet spot now where hopefully he can play more.”
Kyle Monangai is leading Rutgers in rushing with 384 rushing yards on 69 carries with five rushing touchdowns.