2024 O-Line 😎

[Big boy stan]

One of our biggest worries a year ago turned out to be a strength as the season and bowl game went. Credit to the players and coaching staff for the development. Hopefully we see some more from some of the other RS sophs.

I took a look at the returning players and their 2023 snap counts (does not include the bowl game). Pretty sure the info below is accurate but let me know if you see any mistakes. We return (as of now) 7 players that had snaps this year

PLAYER	2024 Class	SNAP COUNT	% of Snaps
Hollin Pierce	Senior	718	92%
Gus Zilinskas	Junior	705	91%
Bryan Felter	Senior	580	75%
Curtis Dunlap Jr.	Gone	537	69%
Reggie Sutton	Gone	415	53%
Kwabena Asamoah	Soph	314	40%
Kamar Missouri	Gone	213	27%
Mike Ciaffoni	Gone	118	15%
Taj White	Soph	115	15%
Tyler Needham	Junior	92	12%
Ireland Brown	Gone	62	8%
Dantae Chin	Soph	22	3%

 

[JCin128]

If RU can keep Flats around for a while, and continue to recruit the size and skill of what is being recruited now, OL will not be a position group considered the weak point anymore.

 

[RU205]

Needham was a starter who was injured fairly early in the season.

 

[Knight Owl]

If RU can keep Flats around for a while, and continue to recruit the size and skill of what is being recruited now, OL will not be a position group considered the weak point anymore.

He really must be an outstanding coach. MVC as far as position coaches…
Having an in-shape Pierce as a cornerstone ain’t bad either.

 

[rubigtimenow]

One of our biggest worries a year ago turned out to be a strength as the season and bowl game went. Credit to the players and coaching staff for the development. Hopefully we see some more from some of the other RS sophs.

I took a look at the returning players and their 2023 snap counts (does not include the bowl game). Pretty sure the info below is accurate but let me know if you see any mistakes. We return (as of now) 7 players that had snaps this year

PLAYER	2024 Class	SNAP COUNT	% of Snaps
Hollin Pierce	Senior	718	92%
Gus Zilinskas	Junior	705	91%
Bryan Felter	Senior	580	75%
Curtis Dunlap Jr.	Gone	537	69%
Reggie Sutton	Gone	415	53%
Kwabena Asamoah	Soph	314	40%
Kamar Missouri	Gone	213	27%
Mike Ciaffoni	Gone	118	15%
Taj White	Soph	115	15%
Tyler Needham	Junior	92	12%
Ireland Brown	Gone	62	8%
Dantae Chin	Soph	22	3%

That’s a great write up, thanks! Any ideas on who is the likely starting 5 or top 6 lineman in September 2024?

 

[The RUT]

Thanks for posting this OP.

Really looking forward to next season, I think we have a very good shot at something special

 

[koleszar]

That’s a great write up, thanks! Any ideas on who is the likely starting 5 or top 6 lineman in September 2024?

LT - Pierce (returning starter)
LG - Felter (took over starting position as season went on)
C - Zilinskas (returning starter)
RG - Asamoah (spelled Dunlap)
RT - Needham/White/Chin (this will be the main battle)

One of the RT losers could slide inside. This will be your top 7 unless a portal pick up.

 

[82RU]

Any chance any of the younger guys developing breaks into the 2 deep? Say someone like Allen?

 

[koleszar]

Any chance any of the younger guys developing breaks into the 2 deep? Say someone like Allen?

Asamoah, Chin and White look to be the ones developing into future starters. The rest from this class, its starting to get time to write off. But three from one class is very, very good.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Is Reggie officially gone? The Star Ledger article said it’s TBD as he’d be a lock for a waiver if he decides to give it another year.

 

[mydameisdick]

Is Reggie officially gone? The Star Ledger article said it’s TBD as he’d be a lock for a waiver if he decides to give it another year.

Reggie got much stronger as the year went on. In his first games he looked like he was on one leg but in the bowl he was getting nice push with his base under him. Hope he comes back.

 

[koleszar]

Is Reggie officially gone? The Star Ledger article said it’s TBD as he’d be a lock for a waiver if he decides to give it another year.

Didn't even think he had any eligibility left. Just went through it and yeah he would get another year on a medical waiver. He qualifies for one.

-2018 he played in 4 games but that was the 1st year of the new redshirt rule.
-2019 played 6 games
-2020 played 9 games Covid Year
-2021 played 3 games injured (qualifies for medical waiver)
-2022 misses' entire year injury
-2023 played 13 games

 

[Jimpeg]

what happened with Allen?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

what happened with Allen?

Coming back from a really bad knee injury IIRC.

 

[Mr_Twister]

So there are no Jonah Jackson’s and Mike Maietti’s among this group of linemen?

 

[Kbee3]

Waiting in the wings for the OL are:
2022:
Dantae Chin, Emir Stinette, Jacob Allen, Kwabena Asamoah, Joe DeCroce, and Taj White
2023:
Nick Oliveira, Dominic Rivera, Mozell Williams, and John Stone

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

A lot of linemen added to 2022 and 2023 classes. I'm looking forward to some of these guys breaking into the two-deep in 2024.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Is Reggie officially gone? The Star Ledger article said it’s TBD as he’d be a lock for a waiver if he decides to give it another year.

Last I heard is that he's done.

 

[Kbee3]

A lot of linemen added to 2022 and 2023 classes. I'm looking forward to some of these guys breaking into the two-deep in 2024.

White, Stone, Asamoah, and Chin were on the two-deep depth chart at the start of the season.
Asamoah as a starter at right guard.

 

[newRU]

We could also add a starter next weekend. Sounds like that will be the big weekend for transfers. Chin really looked the part in the pinstripe bowl

 

[koleszar]

We could also add a starter next weekend. Sounds like that will be the big weekend for transfers. Chin really looked the part in the pinstripe bowl

His size definitely caught my eye. I had no idea who it was and had to do a quick search. Was only in for a few snaps but didn't get blown up and did his job. Like you said, he looks the part.

 

[scarletrider]

Who is behind Pierce?

 

[dconifer]

One of our biggest worries a year ago turned out to be a strength as the season and bowl game went. Credit to the players and coaching staff for the development. Hopefully we see some more from some of the other RS sophs.

I took a look at the returning players and their 2023 snap counts (does not include the bowl game). Pretty sure the info below is accurate but let me know if you see any mistakes. We return (as of now) 7 players that had snaps this year

PLAYER	2024 Class	SNAP COUNT	% of Snaps
Hollin Pierce	Senior	718	92%
Gus Zilinskas	Junior	705	91%
Bryan Felter	Senior	580	75%
Curtis Dunlap Jr.	Gone	537	69%
Reggie Sutton	Gone	415	53%
Kwabena Asamoah	Soph	314	40%
Kamar Missouri	Gone	213	27%
Mike Ciaffoni	Gone	118	15%
Taj White	Soph	115	15%
Tyler Needham	Junior	92	12%
Ireland Brown	Gone	62	8%
Dantae Chin	Soph	22	3%

I'm pretty sure I saw that our local kid (Township, not Atlantic City), true freshman John Stone, was in for some plays near the end of your season...

 

[ashokan]

What a huge difference to see an RU OL blasting B1G teams.
I saw Pierce just spin and swallow a Miami, edge defender on a Mongo run - the defender was like lint to him

 

[Kbee3]

Who is behind Pierce?

I think it was Taj White who replaced him for some plays when he got hurt in a game this season.

 

[tico brown]

I think it was Taj White who replaced him for some plays when he got hurt in a game this season.

Taj White played some RT when Missouri has his issues. He held his own while he was in there until Sutton returned to the lineup.

 

[Kbee3]

I'm pretty sure I saw that our local kid (Township, not Atlantic City), true freshman John Stone, was in for some plays near the end of your season...

Backup center.
I don't think our starter...Gus Zilinskas.... missed much time this season.

 

[TM94goRU]

Shout out to coach Flats, a real chicken salad master!

 

[RU from Jersey]

I've always believed that if your oline is great you will win no matter who is behind center and Coach Flats has RU trending in that direction. I hope he doesn't get worn out by the recruiting grind and go back to the NFL.

 

[tico brown]

Coach Pat Flaherty:
MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN RUTGERS FOOTBALL IN 2023.

 

[redking]

Extend Pat Flaherty please.