Per RU communications
Seven Earn Preseason Athlon Sports Recognition
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (June 11, 2015) – Seven members of the Rutgers football program were named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten teams. The teams were selected based on 2015 projections by the media outlet.
Both senior wide receiver Leonte Carroo (Edison, N.J.) (offense) and junior kick returner Janarion Grant (Trilby, Fla.) (specialist) were named to the first team, while senior Darius Hamilton (West Paterson, N.J.) (defense) earned second-team status. Also earning recognition from the offensive line were senior Keith Lumpkin (Montclair, N.J.) (third team) and junior Chris Muller (Perkiomenville, Pa.) (fourth team). Junior Steve Longa (Saddle Brook, N.J.) (third team) and sophomore Kemoko Turay (Newark, N.J.) (fourth team) rounded out the defensive selections.
An All-Big Ten performer last year, Carroo led the Scarlet Knights with 55 receptions for 1,086 yards and 10 touchdowns. The single-season yardage total ranks sixth in school history, while he has 19 career touchdowns to sit third in the RU record books.
Grant has emerged as a versatile player on both offense and on special teams. He averaged 25.3 yards per kickoff return as a sophomore with 910 yards overall, second in school history, and two runs of 71 yards. In addition, Grant racked up 317 all-purpose yards (188 kick return, 105 receiving, 24 rushing) in the win at Maryland to be just nine short of the program record for a game.
Hamilton served as a captain last year and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media. The lineman led the team with 11.5 tackles-for-loss and was earned Defensive MVP at the team banquet. He picked up a sack and denied a fake field goal attempt in the Quick Lane Bowl victory.
Lumpkin and Muller have been staples on the offensive line the past two seasons, playing in all 26 games. They were both part of a unit that allowed just two sacks over the last four games and paved the way for 340 rushing yards in the bowl win. The team ran for 2,114 yards on the season, the most for the Scarlet Knights since 2007. Lumpkin has held down the left tackle position, while Muller has played at right guard.
Longa has led RU in tackles in each of the past two seasons, putting up 102 stops from the weakside linebacker position in 2014. He recorded 60 tackles against the run. Up front, Turay broke through as a redshirt freshman with 7.5 sacks to earn multiple Freshman All-America accolades. He also rejected three kicks on specials teams to tie for the nation’s lead, including one late in the fourth quarter to seal a win over Michigan.
Seven Earn Preseason Athlon Sports Recognition
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (June 11, 2015) – Seven members of the Rutgers football program were named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten teams. The teams were selected based on 2015 projections by the media outlet.
Both senior wide receiver Leonte Carroo (Edison, N.J.) (offense) and junior kick returner Janarion Grant (Trilby, Fla.) (specialist) were named to the first team, while senior Darius Hamilton (West Paterson, N.J.) (defense) earned second-team status. Also earning recognition from the offensive line were senior Keith Lumpkin (Montclair, N.J.) (third team) and junior Chris Muller (Perkiomenville, Pa.) (fourth team). Junior Steve Longa (Saddle Brook, N.J.) (third team) and sophomore Kemoko Turay (Newark, N.J.) (fourth team) rounded out the defensive selections.
An All-Big Ten performer last year, Carroo led the Scarlet Knights with 55 receptions for 1,086 yards and 10 touchdowns. The single-season yardage total ranks sixth in school history, while he has 19 career touchdowns to sit third in the RU record books.
Grant has emerged as a versatile player on both offense and on special teams. He averaged 25.3 yards per kickoff return as a sophomore with 910 yards overall, second in school history, and two runs of 71 yards. In addition, Grant racked up 317 all-purpose yards (188 kick return, 105 receiving, 24 rushing) in the win at Maryland to be just nine short of the program record for a game.
Hamilton served as a captain last year and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media. The lineman led the team with 11.5 tackles-for-loss and was earned Defensive MVP at the team banquet. He picked up a sack and denied a fake field goal attempt in the Quick Lane Bowl victory.
Lumpkin and Muller have been staples on the offensive line the past two seasons, playing in all 26 games. They were both part of a unit that allowed just two sacks over the last four games and paved the way for 340 rushing yards in the bowl win. The team ran for 2,114 yards on the season, the most for the Scarlet Knights since 2007. Lumpkin has held down the left tackle position, while Muller has played at right guard.
Longa has led RU in tackles in each of the past two seasons, putting up 102 stops from the weakside linebacker position in 2014. He recorded 60 tackles against the run. Up front, Turay broke through as a redshirt freshman with 7.5 sacks to earn multiple Freshman All-America accolades. He also rejected three kicks on specials teams to tie for the nation’s lead, including one late in the fourth quarter to seal a win over Michigan.
