Julian Pinnix-Odrick on this year’s D-Line:
“I would like to say we are personable people. The young guys are still young, but there are some of them that we can really relate to. We never took the attitude that we wouldn’t hang out with the younger guys. I know how hard it is to be a freshman. We try to treat them like we are their big brothers.”
Leonte Carroo on his current weight:
“My weight goes up and down, but I am always between 205 and 210. That is the heaviest I have been since I have been here, but I have adjusted to it. I feel good right now. I still fast and I feel stronger.”
Fat Cat Top Five
Top Five First-Time Starters
5.) Julian Pinnix-Odrick
4.) J.J. Denman
3.) Dorian Miller
2.) Hayden Rettig
1.) Blessuan Austin
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Four true freshmen will play on Saturday
The Arrests
One very negative aspect of the arrests of five RU players is that the home invasion moniker that is often being lumped in with a lot of those conversations. However, only one current RU player (Andre Boggs) was arrested for an alleged home invasion. The other four players (Ruhann Peele, Nadir Barnwell, Razohnn Gross, Delon Stephenson) were arrested for assault, riot and conspiracy to commit a riot. In the state of New Jersey, a riot charge is given to a person who engages in fighting, is threatening violence, or creating a dangerous condition with four or more other people. Scarlet Nation has heard one version of the incident where it may have been a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time for some of those players. However, it has not been Peele or Barnwell’s first run in with trouble.
Peele had simple assault charges filed against him last year and developed a reputation for being a ‘trouble’ kid. He even went as far as to making an unfavorable impression in front of recruits who were visiting campus. Head coach Kyle Flood had given Peele numerous chances at redemption, perhaps more than he should have. Peele’s reputation was no secret to anyone close to the program and it seemed only a matter of time before trouble found him again.
Barnwell had a previous run-in with trouble, receiving a DUI on campus. Barnwell also ran into academic troubles, which led to Flood’s recent trouble with emailing a professor about Barnwell’s grades. Regardless of the outcome of the charges filed against Peele and Barnwell, Flood would be wise to dismiss both of them from the team immediately. They have both failed in their second chances and as high-profile scholarship athletes, both players let their team, university, coaches, fellow students and alumni down. Flood has made his share of mistakes, but not taking swift action against those two repeat offenders could be seen as one more foul up. Stephenson and Gross have clean records at Rutgers and should therefore see the legal process play out.
As far as Boggs is concerned, the serious nature of his alleged crimes should have him more worried about staying out of prison and less concerned about a future in the Big Ten. Dismissing him from the team immediately would also be a wise move for Flood.
The Team Sentiment
In speaking with people close to the team yesterday, a popular sentiment among the team is that the arrest of five players is not indicative of the type of people who are on the Rutgers football team. There are much more positive role model types on the roster as opposed to a criminal element. Former head coach Greg Schiano coined the phrase ‘Rutgers man’ as someone of high character and good academic standing. That has continued under Flood as the majority of players still fit that mold.
The Current RU commits
As news of yesterday’s arrests at RU makes its way around the country, the Rutgers current group of commits are going to react. As of now, none have come out and said anything in a negative light. However, a move by media outlets questioning the solidarity of their commitments tends to have an adverse effect. If a question is asked enough, some recruits may start questioning the commitment themselves. This happened in 2013 when a mid-season RU losing streak contributed to the unraveling of that class. At Scarlet Nation, we will keep you updated on all the latest news, although we would like to mention that contacting commits via Twitter or any other means and asking continual questions about their commitment could wind up having a negative impact and actually hurting RU recruiting in the long run.
Team Distractions
Around dinner time yesterday, there were a host of news trucks outside the Hale Center as TV reporters were looking to get any smidgen of a comment from anyone they could. Things of that nature cannot help but distract players from their normal routine, and football players are people of habit. Many fellow students are also eager to talk to players about what is going on as are family, friends and random acquaintances. Regardless of how much players attempt to block all that out, it will always be distracting on some level. One positive is that Rutgers is playing an FCS team this week in Norfolk State, so the team will have a little more margin for error.
Team Leadership
The odds are quickly stacking against Rutgers. Its secondary has been depleted, its head coach is being investigated and it does not have one quarterback with a collegiate start to his credit. Add in that Rutgers is facing one of the tougher schedules in the country and it has the makings of a long season. This is where leadership needs to step in and keep the team focused. How the RU seniors handle the next couple of weeks could be a very telling sign of how this season will unfold.
The Future of Flood
It would be tough for any team to start a season minus its head coach. After this week, Rutgers plays two of its most pivotal games of the season against Washington State and Penn State. However, there is a real possibility Rutgers will be without Flood as a suspension is seeming to be more and more likely. In Flood’s place, running backs coach Norries Wilson would be the prime candidate to step in as head coach. A lot will be factored into Flood’s future with the program as it is now more than just a win-loss thing. Yesterday’s arrests do not help Flood’s standing and the ongoing email investigation may now be just part of the evidence stacking up against him. One thing is for certain, how Flood continues to handle every situation moving forward will be scrutinized a lot more than it was in the past.
The Schiano Factor
Whenever any conversations arise about the future of Rutgers, former head coach Greg Schiano’s name has a tendency to surface. Don’t expect the Schiano camp to open up with any sentiments about coming in and reclaiming the role of head coach. Even if that is what Schiano wants, he is very good at politicking. The quieter he remains on the subject, the more advantage he holds if a negotiation process ever approaches.
Looking Ahead
The lack of proven players in the secondary will not bode well against the high-octane passing offense of Washington State. A Washington State insider told Scarlet Nation that this is the deepest wide receiving corps the Cougars have ever had. He also said that third-year sophomore quarterback Luke Falk was very good in two games last season and very bad in two and a half. He only appeared in six total games. The Washington State defense is also not striking fear into anyone, so this game could be a shootout ultimately decided by the quarterback.
“I would like to say we are personable people. The young guys are still young, but there are some of them that we can really relate to. We never took the attitude that we wouldn’t hang out with the younger guys. I know how hard it is to be a freshman. We try to treat them like we are their big brothers.”
Leonte Carroo on his current weight:
“My weight goes up and down, but I am always between 205 and 210. That is the heaviest I have been since I have been here, but I have adjusted to it. I feel good right now. I still fast and I feel stronger.”
Fat Cat Top Five
Top Five First-Time Starters
5.) Julian Pinnix-Odrick
4.) J.J. Denman
3.) Dorian Miller
2.) Hayden Rettig
1.) Blessuan Austin
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Four true freshmen will play on Saturday
The Arrests
One very negative aspect of the arrests of five RU players is that the home invasion moniker that is often being lumped in with a lot of those conversations. However, only one current RU player (Andre Boggs) was arrested for an alleged home invasion. The other four players (Ruhann Peele, Nadir Barnwell, Razohnn Gross, Delon Stephenson) were arrested for assault, riot and conspiracy to commit a riot. In the state of New Jersey, a riot charge is given to a person who engages in fighting, is threatening violence, or creating a dangerous condition with four or more other people. Scarlet Nation has heard one version of the incident where it may have been a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time for some of those players. However, it has not been Peele or Barnwell’s first run in with trouble.
Peele had simple assault charges filed against him last year and developed a reputation for being a ‘trouble’ kid. He even went as far as to making an unfavorable impression in front of recruits who were visiting campus. Head coach Kyle Flood had given Peele numerous chances at redemption, perhaps more than he should have. Peele’s reputation was no secret to anyone close to the program and it seemed only a matter of time before trouble found him again.
Barnwell had a previous run-in with trouble, receiving a DUI on campus. Barnwell also ran into academic troubles, which led to Flood’s recent trouble with emailing a professor about Barnwell’s grades. Regardless of the outcome of the charges filed against Peele and Barnwell, Flood would be wise to dismiss both of them from the team immediately. They have both failed in their second chances and as high-profile scholarship athletes, both players let their team, university, coaches, fellow students and alumni down. Flood has made his share of mistakes, but not taking swift action against those two repeat offenders could be seen as one more foul up. Stephenson and Gross have clean records at Rutgers and should therefore see the legal process play out.
As far as Boggs is concerned, the serious nature of his alleged crimes should have him more worried about staying out of prison and less concerned about a future in the Big Ten. Dismissing him from the team immediately would also be a wise move for Flood.
The Team Sentiment
In speaking with people close to the team yesterday, a popular sentiment among the team is that the arrest of five players is not indicative of the type of people who are on the Rutgers football team. There are much more positive role model types on the roster as opposed to a criminal element. Former head coach Greg Schiano coined the phrase ‘Rutgers man’ as someone of high character and good academic standing. That has continued under Flood as the majority of players still fit that mold.
The Current RU commits
As news of yesterday’s arrests at RU makes its way around the country, the Rutgers current group of commits are going to react. As of now, none have come out and said anything in a negative light. However, a move by media outlets questioning the solidarity of their commitments tends to have an adverse effect. If a question is asked enough, some recruits may start questioning the commitment themselves. This happened in 2013 when a mid-season RU losing streak contributed to the unraveling of that class. At Scarlet Nation, we will keep you updated on all the latest news, although we would like to mention that contacting commits via Twitter or any other means and asking continual questions about their commitment could wind up having a negative impact and actually hurting RU recruiting in the long run.
Team Distractions
Around dinner time yesterday, there were a host of news trucks outside the Hale Center as TV reporters were looking to get any smidgen of a comment from anyone they could. Things of that nature cannot help but distract players from their normal routine, and football players are people of habit. Many fellow students are also eager to talk to players about what is going on as are family, friends and random acquaintances. Regardless of how much players attempt to block all that out, it will always be distracting on some level. One positive is that Rutgers is playing an FCS team this week in Norfolk State, so the team will have a little more margin for error.
Team Leadership
The odds are quickly stacking against Rutgers. Its secondary has been depleted, its head coach is being investigated and it does not have one quarterback with a collegiate start to his credit. Add in that Rutgers is facing one of the tougher schedules in the country and it has the makings of a long season. This is where leadership needs to step in and keep the team focused. How the RU seniors handle the next couple of weeks could be a very telling sign of how this season will unfold.
The Future of Flood
It would be tough for any team to start a season minus its head coach. After this week, Rutgers plays two of its most pivotal games of the season against Washington State and Penn State. However, there is a real possibility Rutgers will be without Flood as a suspension is seeming to be more and more likely. In Flood’s place, running backs coach Norries Wilson would be the prime candidate to step in as head coach. A lot will be factored into Flood’s future with the program as it is now more than just a win-loss thing. Yesterday’s arrests do not help Flood’s standing and the ongoing email investigation may now be just part of the evidence stacking up against him. One thing is for certain, how Flood continues to handle every situation moving forward will be scrutinized a lot more than it was in the past.
The Schiano Factor
Whenever any conversations arise about the future of Rutgers, former head coach Greg Schiano’s name has a tendency to surface. Don’t expect the Schiano camp to open up with any sentiments about coming in and reclaiming the role of head coach. Even if that is what Schiano wants, he is very good at politicking. The quieter he remains on the subject, the more advantage he holds if a negotiation process ever approaches.
Looking Ahead
The lack of proven players in the secondary will not bode well against the high-octane passing offense of Washington State. A Washington State insider told Scarlet Nation that this is the deepest wide receiving corps the Cougars have ever had. He also said that third-year sophomore quarterback Luke Falk was very good in two games last season and very bad in two and a half. He only appeared in six total games. The Washington State defense is also not striking fear into anyone, so this game could be a shootout ultimately decided by the quarterback.
