Quotables
Kyle Flood on DE Kemoko Turay:
“What we've done with Kemoko over the last year is try and bring him closer and closer to being a complete player, being a three-down player. Is he ultimately what he's going to be in his college career just yet? No, he's still young, still coming off his freshman year. We're excited about Kemoko, very talented. He can do a lot of things for us on defense and special teams. I believe he blocked two kicks last year. Kemoko is somebody that has an opportunity to elevate himself as a football player this year and not just be known as a pass rusher. And that's really what he's been working on this season.”
West Catholic DL Tymir Oliver on what kind of player Rutgers is getting in him:
“They are going to get a hard-working player that is going to give 100 percent on the field and never stop.”
Rutgers DT Darius Hamilton on playing in the Big Ten East Division:
“It is a very tough conference, especially the East [division]. But to be the best, you have to beat the best. I would not have it any other way.”
Fat Cat Top Ten
Top Ten Freshmen On The Field
10.) C Zach Venesky – The blueprint would be to redshirt Venesky, but if injuries start to hit the offensive line, he could be pressed into early action. There is not a whole lot of depth on the offensive line, which could mean some players may wind up playing earlier than expected. Venesky looks to be the center of the future, but a rash of injuries by midseason could bring on the future a lot sooner.
9.) DE Marques Ford – The four-star prospect brings in a lot of talent, although his primary goals have been to add some weight and up his strength. If those two areas begin to come along, it could result in some playing time. RU is not in need of immediate help at the ‘R’ with Kemoko Turay and Myles Nash expected to provide a one-two punch. Redshirting Ford could pay off big a few years from now, although he doesn’t appear to be too far off from playing right away.
8.) LB Trevor Morris – His May arrival predated some other freshmen and that could help him along a little bit quicker. Morris is a bit of a sleeper recruit, who will walk into a linebacker position with two wide open spots on the two-deep. RU looks to have a top four in place, but beyond that, it is anyone’s game. Morris moves well sideline to sideline and his speed could also help him snag some special teams reps.
7.) QB Michael Dare – Rutgers has a pair of redshirt sophomores squaring off for the No.1 and 2 quarterback spots, but Dare is likely to slide in as the No.3 right away. And there is no guarantee that injury won’t strike as many teams have experienced multiple losses at the quarterback position in the past. Should that happen, or should Dare start to advance very quickly, the scarlet nation could see a freshman quarterback on the field once again.
6.) DT Kamaal Seymour – The defensive tackle position is not that deep and Seymour already brings in Big Ten size. He may only be one injury away from seeing the field. Getting him ready to play early on might be a good move for the staff as it may have to insert Seymour into the rotation at some point this season. There looks to be a lot for Seymour to learn, although no coaching staff can teach size and Seymour has that working to his advantage.
5.) LB Deonte Roberts – The spring semester was very beneficial for Roberts, who added over 20 pounds during that time. He will be fighting for a spot on the two-deep, most likely at the WILL position behind Steve Longa. Having some extra time to learn the defense will help and Rutgers also has a history of using linebackers on special teams. Roberts could find himself in a special teams role as early as game No.1.
4.) WR Jawuan Harris – Harris looks to have been poorly evaluated as a recruit as he has four-star talent and the ability to turn any reception into a big play. Rutgers is crowded at the wide receiver position, yet it is difficult to keep someone with Harris’ talent level off the field. He is electric with the ball in his hands and it is a god bet that he will make his share of plays during training camp.
3.) TE Nakia Griffin – Reports are that Griffin has really impressed during summer workouts. He is checking in over the 240-pound mark and is walking into a position where playing time should be available immediately. Nick Arcidiacono finished the spring as the top tight end, although Griffin looks to have and higher ceiling as a more complete tight end. He has developed quickly since the conclusion of basketball season and that could result in a good amount of early playing time.
2.) DE Jon Bateky – Early enrollment was extremely beneficial for Bateky, who came in as a grossly underrated two-star prospect. He has gotten off to a fast start, adding upwards of 25 pounds in the spring semester alone. Bateky brings a big physical presence to the defensive line and he’s likely to find a place in the d-end rotation very early. The d-end position has a lot of players vying for playing time, although Bateky looks like he is capable of landing some legitimate reps.
1.) DB Blessuan Austin – The cornerback is not your typical freshman. He spent last fall at prep school and then joined Rutgers this past spring. He showed himself to be very far along and will enter training camp with a real chance to win a starting job. The departure of Darian Dailey and probable loss of Nadir Barnwell to academics has really opened the door at the cornerback position. Expect Austin to walk right through that door and make his debut early in the season opener against Norfolk State.
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Chris Laviano will be RU’s opening day starter at quarterback
Recruiting Tidbits
DB Patrice Rene – Episcopal (Va.)
The four-star will announce his college decision tomorrow as he is choosing between Rutgers, Ohio State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina. This week, Rene told Scarlet Nation what he is looking for in a college.
“I am looking for a place where I can make a home for myself, where I know I am going to feel comfortable living for the next four years of my life. I want to be a place with good education, where I get a good degree and play high-level football. I am looking for a place where I can play early and make a name for myself from the get-go and show people what I can do.”
Rene also mentioned what he really likes about Rutgers.
“I feel really comfortable at Rutgers. The coaches have a lot of belief in me and they want me to be their guy.”
Rene will announce his decision at noon on Saturday. Stick with Scarlet Nation to find out which school Rene chooses.
TE Jovani Haskins – Bergenfield
Rutgers upped its standing with Haskins after yesterday’s visit and also working to RU's advantage is the fact that his family would prefer him staying closer to home for college. Haskins admitted that yesterday’s visit opened his eyes about staying home, although he is reluctant to name any favorites. As far as a timetable goes, Haskins acknowledged that there is no time frame and that he could decide on a whim if the mood strikes him.
DT Romello Martin – Lincoln (N.Y.)
The Rivals250 defensive tackle in the class of 2017 continues to field offers with Nebraska being the latest. Rutgers has made a concerted effort to recruit New York City, and that is something that appeals to Martin.
“I see coach Flood and all the Rutgers coaches showing New York love and they want all our good players up there,” Martin said.
It is still early in the process for Martin and he admitted he has not delved too deeply into recruiting just yet. He is currently checking in at 6-foot-4, 289 pounds and is built in the mold of the bigger defensive tackle Rutgers has been recruiting as of late. Look for the RU staff to make Martin a priority for the 2017 class.
ATH C.J. Holmes – Cheshire Academy (Conn.)
The class of 2017 prospect now holds offers from Boston College, UConn and Temple. Rutgers was the only place he camped as Holmes worked out at both running back and cornerback while in Piscataway. He talked about his time there working with running backs coach Norries Wilson.
"Coach Norries is a great coach. He gave me a lot of insight and he really liked me. I like the way he did not necessarily criticize me but helped me to build myself based off what I had, so that was cool. We really had a great vibe and I really like working with him.:
DE Chinedu Udeogu – Germantown Prep (Md.)
Things continue to change for the class of 2016 prospect as he was previously slated to decide in early August between Rutgers, Yale and East Carolina. Now, Udeogu has a top five that consists of his previous three favorites as well as Pitt and California. Udeogu told Rivals.com yesterday that now he plans to make a decision in early September after visiting both Pitt and Cal.
Hoops Tidbit
SF De’Riante Jenkins – Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)
The four-star small forward previously played his high school ball with RU commit Corey Sanders at West Oaks Academy (Fla.) and has talked to his former teammate about the possibility of playing together again at the college level.
“We made up a really good one-two punch,” Jenkins said. “He said he is really enjoying it at Rutgers. The also just put a video out of him dunking at Rutgers. I really liked that. But we have a great relationship, we are like brothers.”
Here is a look that the video Jenkins was referring to with Sanders dunking at Rutgers.
Kyle Flood on DE Kemoko Turay:
“What we've done with Kemoko over the last year is try and bring him closer and closer to being a complete player, being a three-down player. Is he ultimately what he's going to be in his college career just yet? No, he's still young, still coming off his freshman year. We're excited about Kemoko, very talented. He can do a lot of things for us on defense and special teams. I believe he blocked two kicks last year. Kemoko is somebody that has an opportunity to elevate himself as a football player this year and not just be known as a pass rusher. And that's really what he's been working on this season.”
West Catholic DL Tymir Oliver on what kind of player Rutgers is getting in him:
“They are going to get a hard-working player that is going to give 100 percent on the field and never stop.”
Rutgers DT Darius Hamilton on playing in the Big Ten East Division:
“It is a very tough conference, especially the East [division]. But to be the best, you have to beat the best. I would not have it any other way.”
Fat Cat Top Ten
Top Ten Freshmen On The Field
10.) C Zach Venesky – The blueprint would be to redshirt Venesky, but if injuries start to hit the offensive line, he could be pressed into early action. There is not a whole lot of depth on the offensive line, which could mean some players may wind up playing earlier than expected. Venesky looks to be the center of the future, but a rash of injuries by midseason could bring on the future a lot sooner.
9.) DE Marques Ford – The four-star prospect brings in a lot of talent, although his primary goals have been to add some weight and up his strength. If those two areas begin to come along, it could result in some playing time. RU is not in need of immediate help at the ‘R’ with Kemoko Turay and Myles Nash expected to provide a one-two punch. Redshirting Ford could pay off big a few years from now, although he doesn’t appear to be too far off from playing right away.
8.) LB Trevor Morris – His May arrival predated some other freshmen and that could help him along a little bit quicker. Morris is a bit of a sleeper recruit, who will walk into a linebacker position with two wide open spots on the two-deep. RU looks to have a top four in place, but beyond that, it is anyone’s game. Morris moves well sideline to sideline and his speed could also help him snag some special teams reps.
7.) QB Michael Dare – Rutgers has a pair of redshirt sophomores squaring off for the No.1 and 2 quarterback spots, but Dare is likely to slide in as the No.3 right away. And there is no guarantee that injury won’t strike as many teams have experienced multiple losses at the quarterback position in the past. Should that happen, or should Dare start to advance very quickly, the scarlet nation could see a freshman quarterback on the field once again.
6.) DT Kamaal Seymour – The defensive tackle position is not that deep and Seymour already brings in Big Ten size. He may only be one injury away from seeing the field. Getting him ready to play early on might be a good move for the staff as it may have to insert Seymour into the rotation at some point this season. There looks to be a lot for Seymour to learn, although no coaching staff can teach size and Seymour has that working to his advantage.
5.) LB Deonte Roberts – The spring semester was very beneficial for Roberts, who added over 20 pounds during that time. He will be fighting for a spot on the two-deep, most likely at the WILL position behind Steve Longa. Having some extra time to learn the defense will help and Rutgers also has a history of using linebackers on special teams. Roberts could find himself in a special teams role as early as game No.1.
4.) WR Jawuan Harris – Harris looks to have been poorly evaluated as a recruit as he has four-star talent and the ability to turn any reception into a big play. Rutgers is crowded at the wide receiver position, yet it is difficult to keep someone with Harris’ talent level off the field. He is electric with the ball in his hands and it is a god bet that he will make his share of plays during training camp.
3.) TE Nakia Griffin – Reports are that Griffin has really impressed during summer workouts. He is checking in over the 240-pound mark and is walking into a position where playing time should be available immediately. Nick Arcidiacono finished the spring as the top tight end, although Griffin looks to have and higher ceiling as a more complete tight end. He has developed quickly since the conclusion of basketball season and that could result in a good amount of early playing time.
2.) DE Jon Bateky – Early enrollment was extremely beneficial for Bateky, who came in as a grossly underrated two-star prospect. He has gotten off to a fast start, adding upwards of 25 pounds in the spring semester alone. Bateky brings a big physical presence to the defensive line and he’s likely to find a place in the d-end rotation very early. The d-end position has a lot of players vying for playing time, although Bateky looks like he is capable of landing some legitimate reps.
1.) DB Blessuan Austin – The cornerback is not your typical freshman. He spent last fall at prep school and then joined Rutgers this past spring. He showed himself to be very far along and will enter training camp with a real chance to win a starting job. The departure of Darian Dailey and probable loss of Nadir Barnwell to academics has really opened the door at the cornerback position. Expect Austin to walk right through that door and make his debut early in the season opener against Norfolk State.
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Chris Laviano will be RU’s opening day starter at quarterback
Recruiting Tidbits
DB Patrice Rene – Episcopal (Va.)
The four-star will announce his college decision tomorrow as he is choosing between Rutgers, Ohio State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina. This week, Rene told Scarlet Nation what he is looking for in a college.
“I am looking for a place where I can make a home for myself, where I know I am going to feel comfortable living for the next four years of my life. I want to be a place with good education, where I get a good degree and play high-level football. I am looking for a place where I can play early and make a name for myself from the get-go and show people what I can do.”
Rene also mentioned what he really likes about Rutgers.
“I feel really comfortable at Rutgers. The coaches have a lot of belief in me and they want me to be their guy.”
Rene will announce his decision at noon on Saturday. Stick with Scarlet Nation to find out which school Rene chooses.
TE Jovani Haskins – Bergenfield
Rutgers upped its standing with Haskins after yesterday’s visit and also working to RU's advantage is the fact that his family would prefer him staying closer to home for college. Haskins admitted that yesterday’s visit opened his eyes about staying home, although he is reluctant to name any favorites. As far as a timetable goes, Haskins acknowledged that there is no time frame and that he could decide on a whim if the mood strikes him.
DT Romello Martin – Lincoln (N.Y.)
The Rivals250 defensive tackle in the class of 2017 continues to field offers with Nebraska being the latest. Rutgers has made a concerted effort to recruit New York City, and that is something that appeals to Martin.
“I see coach Flood and all the Rutgers coaches showing New York love and they want all our good players up there,” Martin said.
It is still early in the process for Martin and he admitted he has not delved too deeply into recruiting just yet. He is currently checking in at 6-foot-4, 289 pounds and is built in the mold of the bigger defensive tackle Rutgers has been recruiting as of late. Look for the RU staff to make Martin a priority for the 2017 class.
ATH C.J. Holmes – Cheshire Academy (Conn.)
The class of 2017 prospect now holds offers from Boston College, UConn and Temple. Rutgers was the only place he camped as Holmes worked out at both running back and cornerback while in Piscataway. He talked about his time there working with running backs coach Norries Wilson.
"Coach Norries is a great coach. He gave me a lot of insight and he really liked me. I like the way he did not necessarily criticize me but helped me to build myself based off what I had, so that was cool. We really had a great vibe and I really like working with him.:
DE Chinedu Udeogu – Germantown Prep (Md.)
Things continue to change for the class of 2016 prospect as he was previously slated to decide in early August between Rutgers, Yale and East Carolina. Now, Udeogu has a top five that consists of his previous three favorites as well as Pitt and California. Udeogu told Rivals.com yesterday that now he plans to make a decision in early September after visiting both Pitt and Cal.
Hoops Tidbit
SF De’Riante Jenkins – Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)
The four-star small forward previously played his high school ball with RU commit Corey Sanders at West Oaks Academy (Fla.) and has talked to his former teammate about the possibility of playing together again at the college level.
“We made up a really good one-two punch,” Jenkins said. “He said he is really enjoying it at Rutgers. The also just put a video out of him dunking at Rutgers. I really liked that. But we have a great relationship, we are like brothers.”
Here is a look that the video Jenkins was referring to with Sanders dunking at Rutgers.
