Josh Hicks is changing backfields again.
Hicks, who welcomed a move from running back to safety last week, is back at his natural position this week as
Rutgers tries to find the right role for one of its most
established playmakers ahead of
Saturday's noon game against Illinois.
Rutgers coach Chris Ash said that Hicks tried his hand
at defense last week out of necessity, with free safeties Saquan Hampton and Kiy Hester sidelined.
Converted cornerback Ross Douglas started at free safety, with K.J. Gray as the primary backup, while Hicks' snaps were limited to special teams.
"I love Josh," Ash said Wednesday night on his radio show. "It was really an emergency deal with the injuries and people that we would be missing. Josh is a guy that's got a lot of talent. He should be out on the field helping us, and he will be as we move forward."
Hicks, the 2014 Quick Lane Bowl MVP, has 27 carries for 127 yards in the first half of the season after totaling 1,114 yards on his first 199 career rushes as a freshman and sophomore. He has been
a casualty of Robert Martin's ascension as one of the top running backs in the Big Ten.
Rutgers also has Justin Goodwin, who was the starter for the season-opener, and Trey Sneed, who picked up the only
two first downs of the game against Michigan, also are in the mix at halfback.
"We have explored a two-back set for us to maybe get some more production from those guys," offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer said. "But we have to have some guys go out and make some plays for us, too. We've got to do a great job as coaches to help those guys get open as best we can, but I think we have to have guys go make plays as well.''
One guy who it appears won't be making plays for Rutgers again is linebacker Najee Clayton, who
left the team for "personal reasons" in mid-September, according to Ash.
Clayton, who did not return a message from NJ Advance Media, posted to his Twitter account this week that his football career is not over. He also removed any mentions of Rutgers.
There has been no movement between the two sides since Clayton's abrupt departure prior to the game against New Mexico. He is still listed in the Rutgers student directory -- perhaps an indication that he is finishing out the academic semester before a transfer.
Without Clayton and fellow linebacker Greg Jones, who was
forced to retire from football due to a neck injury, Rutgers is short-handed at linebacker.
Prior to the season, hybrid safety/linebacker Davon Jacobs announced his intention
to transfer, though he has not resurfaced with another team.
Rutgers linebackers were termed a "mess" by Ash during spring camp and then described as the "most improved" position on the team during training camp.
Where are they now?
"We're thin," Ash said. "We've got bumps and bruises on all three of our starting linebackers -- Tyreek (Maddox-Williams), Deonte (Roberts) and Trevor (Morris).
"They've got various different injuries that limit what they can do in practice, but that's what we have and who we will play with. Every injury that we get just makes us that much more thin at that position. We just can't afford to have any more injuries where we lose playing time."
