Quotables
Mark Harrison on the reception he gets back home in Connecticut:
“Honestly it’s not that big. You be surprised, people just treat me the same. I’m a laid-back guy, they know I’m not big-headed or cocky about everything. They showed me great love and they feel for me and they have respect for what I’m doing.”
Greg Schiano on whether or not Jordan Thomas will play this year:
“I hope so. I mean I don’t know. I can’t predict the future and how he’ll perform. He’s talented and he just needs to put it all together. I think he will.”
Greg Schiano on the upcoming season:
“Every year is different. Different people. Different circumstances. These guys have worked very hard to put themselves in a position, that’s all we’ve done, through all the hard work from December till now, we put ourselves in a position to give ourselves a chance and no we’ve got to go out and do it.”
Tim Wright on where he is now:
“I’m excited about my performance in training camp. I still have a lot of things to work on in my film room and in the playbook. Once I get those things down, I’ll be 100 percent confident and ready to go.”
Fat Cat Top 5
Top 5 Rutgers first-time starters
5. Brandon Jones
4. Justin Francis
3. Logan Ryan
2. Duron Harmon
1. David Osei
The Numbers Game
10 fifth-year seniors on the current RU squad
9 days between game one and two for RU
8 Scarlet Knights have consecutive double-digit starts
7 times Rutgers has defeated a MEAC team
6 teams picked to finish higher than NC Central in the MEAC
5 true freshmen on opening day depth chart (not counting special teams)
4 times Rutgers scored more than 50 points in a season opener
3 special teams TD’s last year for Rutgers
2 RU seniors have never missed a game in the last three years (Rowe, Te)
1 Big East team ranked in the AP Top 25 (WVU)
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Rutgers will score at least 35 points in the first half tonight
Chas Dodd will throw 3 touchdown passes
Eight true freshmen will play tonight
Prospects attending tonight’s Rutgers game
Rashad Kinlaw (Absegami)
Greg Webb (Timber Creek)
Khalil Pierce (Timber Creek)
Myles Nash (Timber Creek)
Dajuan Drennon (Timber Creek)
Quanzell Lambert (Timber Creek)
Tashawn Bower (Immaculata)
Carlton Agudosi (Franklin)
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
Jabrill Peppers (Don Bosco)
Yuri Wright (Don Bosco)
Darius Hamilton (Don Bosco)
Frank Failace (Don Bosco)
Mike Giacone (St. Peter's Prep)
Charlie Callinan (St. Peter's Prep)
Ryan Brodie (Long Branch)
Tre Bell (St. Peter's Prep)
Kyle LaPorte (Piscataway)
Robert Mahon (Randolph)
Davon Jacobs (DePaul)
Tony Bonadies (Palisades Park)
May be attending:
Elijah Shumate (Don Bosco)
Julian Pinnix-Odrick (Montclair)
Steve Longa (Saddle Brook)
Recruiting tidbits
Chris Muller (Boyertown Area, PA)
Muller and his Boyertown Area teammates open up against William Allen this weekend, and they are preparing for a big season.
“We’re picked to win our conference, the PAC-10,” Muller said. “We’re doing well, putting piece by piece together.”
Muller has also been piecing things together with two of his fellow 2012 commits.
“Me, Blake Rankin and Derrick Nelson have gotten real close, we talk a lot.”
Due to practice, Muller will be unable to attend tonight’s game, but is planning on checking out a future home contest this fall.
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
The last player to commit to RU on Aug 6, Carroo will be attendance at tonight’s opener. At his commitment ceremony, he mentioned wanting to play the role of “pied-piper,” wooing other in-state stars to Rutgers. He is off to a good start, as he is working hard to convince some of his teammates, who seem to be very receptive to joining him on the Banks.
More Bosco news
Several key Bosco recruits will be in attendance tonight, and joining them will be a new face, a teammate who has begun to hear from RU. Senior Frank Failace, a 6-foot-2, 220 pound tight end, has been in contact with assistant Jeff Hafley. Failace, who has recovered fully from a broken collarbone suffered at a spring combine, is being looked at as a future tight end, but could fit in well as an H-back type of player. A close friend of Darius Hamilton, he is a strong blocker with good hands, recovering a key onside kick in the team’s 37-27 state championship win over Bergen Catholic last season. Failace will be heading to tonight’s game with Hamilton.
Ruhann Peele (Linden)
A talented wide receiver, Peele has shifted to the running back position this summer for the good of the team.
“I jumped right into it,” Peele said. “It’s good; I can make more plays with the ball in my hand. I get more touches and hopefully more touchdowns.”
Despite his change in roles, Peele is still finding time to practice at his more natural position.
“After I get my reps at running back, I go out and get some reps at receiver too,” he said.
Now a senior, Peele is relishing the chance to be a leader.
“I got some work to do on being a leader, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Khaliel Rodgers (Red Lion, DE) 2013
The rising junior offensive lineman has been in contact with Rutgers and had been planning to attend tonight’s season opener at RU.
“They wanted me to come bad, but my coach doesn't want me to miss practice,” said Rodgers.
In the past, Rodgers has made a few trips up to Piscataway and left the campus very impressed.
“Rutgers is definitely a great school,” he said. “I know a lot of their players and their facility is wonderful.”
Garrett Sickels (Red Bank) 2013
Stanford just came in with an offer, upping the defensive end’s total to four to go along with others from Rutgers, Florida and Georgia.
“I always thought it would be awesome to have early offers but never thought it was a possibility,” said Sickels, who has not yet named any favorites. “I just kept working hard and hoping for the best and I guess everything just fell into place.”
Over the summer Sickels visited Florida, Central Florida, Tennessee and Georgia. He will not be at RU’s first game because of a scheduling conflict with his own team responsibilities.
Robert Mahon (Randolph) 2013
The offensive lineman will be one to watch this season and will also be in attendance tonight in Piscataway.
“I’m really excited. I'm looking forward to seeing how the team can bounce back from last season,” said Mahon.
Mahon was on hand for a recent Rutgers practice and has also been hearing from Penn State, West Virginia and Boston College.
Wayne Morgan (Erasmus Hall, NY)
The defensive back dropped out of the latest rivals250, taking the biggest fall of any prospect as he was unseated from his place as the 139th ranked prospect in the nation. A lackluster summer camping circuit hurt Morgan as he is not being pursued nearly as highly as he once was by a host of schools. The longer Morgan remains uncommitted, the more interest seems to be waning.
Hoops time
The 2011-12 Rutgers men’s basketball schedule was released yesterday and it is as follows:
Sun. Nov. 6 Rutgers-Newark (exhibition) (2 p.m.)
Fri. Nov. 11 Dartmouth (7:30 p.m.)
Tue. Nov. 15 at Miami-Fla. (TBA)
Thurs. Nov. 17 Sacred Heart (7:30 p.m.)
Sun. Nov. 20 Hampton (noon)
Tue. Nov. 22 Illinois State@ Cancun, Mexico (TBA)
Wed. Nov. 23 Illinois/Richmond@ Cancun, (TBA)
Mon. Nov. 28 UMBC (7:30 p.m.)
Sat. Dec. 3 LSU (7 p.m.)
Wed. Dec. 7 Princeton (7:30 p.m.)
Mon. Dec. 12 Monmouth (7:30 p.m.)
Sat. Dec. 17 Stony Brook @Madison Square Garden (noon)
Thurs./Fri. Dec. 22/23 NJIT (7:30 p.m.)
Thurs. Dec. 29 Florida (7 p.m.)
Sun. Jan. 1 at USF (TBA)
Wed. Jan. 4 West Virginia (TBA)
Sat. Jan. 7 Connecticut (TBA)
Wed. Jan. 11 at Pittsburgh (TBA)
Sat. Jan. 14 at West Virginia (TBA)
Mon. Jan. 16 Notre Dame (9 p.m.)
Sat. Jan. 21 at Georgetown (TBA)
Wed. Jan. 25 DePaul (TBA)
Sat. Jan. 28 Cincinnati (TBA)
Wed. Feb. 1 at Providence (7 p.m.)
Sat. Feb. 4 at Louisville (TBA)
Wed. Feb. 8 Seton Hall (9 p.m.)
Wed. Feb. 15 at Notre Dame (7 p.m.)
Sun. Feb. 19 Syracuse (1 p.m.)
Wed. Feb. 22 at Marquette (TBA)
Sat. Feb. 25 at Seton Hall (5 p.m.)
Thurs. Mar. 1 Villanova (9 p.m.)
Sat. Mar. 3 St. John’s (TBA)
This post was edited on 9/1 11:27 AM by Bobby Deren
Mark Harrison on the reception he gets back home in Connecticut:
“Honestly it’s not that big. You be surprised, people just treat me the same. I’m a laid-back guy, they know I’m not big-headed or cocky about everything. They showed me great love and they feel for me and they have respect for what I’m doing.”
Greg Schiano on whether or not Jordan Thomas will play this year:
“I hope so. I mean I don’t know. I can’t predict the future and how he’ll perform. He’s talented and he just needs to put it all together. I think he will.”
Greg Schiano on the upcoming season:
“Every year is different. Different people. Different circumstances. These guys have worked very hard to put themselves in a position, that’s all we’ve done, through all the hard work from December till now, we put ourselves in a position to give ourselves a chance and no we’ve got to go out and do it.”
Tim Wright on where he is now:
“I’m excited about my performance in training camp. I still have a lot of things to work on in my film room and in the playbook. Once I get those things down, I’ll be 100 percent confident and ready to go.”
Fat Cat Top 5
Top 5 Rutgers first-time starters
5. Brandon Jones
4. Justin Francis
3. Logan Ryan
2. Duron Harmon
1. David Osei
The Numbers Game
10 fifth-year seniors on the current RU squad
9 days between game one and two for RU
8 Scarlet Knights have consecutive double-digit starts
7 times Rutgers has defeated a MEAC team
6 teams picked to finish higher than NC Central in the MEAC
5 true freshmen on opening day depth chart (not counting special teams)
4 times Rutgers scored more than 50 points in a season opener
3 special teams TD’s last year for Rutgers
2 RU seniors have never missed a game in the last three years (Rowe, Te)
1 Big East team ranked in the AP Top 25 (WVU)
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Rutgers will score at least 35 points in the first half tonight
Chas Dodd will throw 3 touchdown passes
Eight true freshmen will play tonight
Prospects attending tonight’s Rutgers game
Rashad Kinlaw (Absegami)
Greg Webb (Timber Creek)
Khalil Pierce (Timber Creek)
Myles Nash (Timber Creek)
Dajuan Drennon (Timber Creek)
Quanzell Lambert (Timber Creek)
Tashawn Bower (Immaculata)
Carlton Agudosi (Franklin)
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
Jabrill Peppers (Don Bosco)
Yuri Wright (Don Bosco)
Darius Hamilton (Don Bosco)
Frank Failace (Don Bosco)
Mike Giacone (St. Peter's Prep)
Charlie Callinan (St. Peter's Prep)
Ryan Brodie (Long Branch)
Tre Bell (St. Peter's Prep)
Kyle LaPorte (Piscataway)
Robert Mahon (Randolph)
Davon Jacobs (DePaul)
Tony Bonadies (Palisades Park)
May be attending:
Elijah Shumate (Don Bosco)
Julian Pinnix-Odrick (Montclair)
Steve Longa (Saddle Brook)
Recruiting tidbits
Chris Muller (Boyertown Area, PA)
Muller and his Boyertown Area teammates open up against William Allen this weekend, and they are preparing for a big season.
“We’re picked to win our conference, the PAC-10,” Muller said. “We’re doing well, putting piece by piece together.”
Muller has also been piecing things together with two of his fellow 2012 commits.
“Me, Blake Rankin and Derrick Nelson have gotten real close, we talk a lot.”
Due to practice, Muller will be unable to attend tonight’s game, but is planning on checking out a future home contest this fall.
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
The last player to commit to RU on Aug 6, Carroo will be attendance at tonight’s opener. At his commitment ceremony, he mentioned wanting to play the role of “pied-piper,” wooing other in-state stars to Rutgers. He is off to a good start, as he is working hard to convince some of his teammates, who seem to be very receptive to joining him on the Banks.
More Bosco news
Several key Bosco recruits will be in attendance tonight, and joining them will be a new face, a teammate who has begun to hear from RU. Senior Frank Failace, a 6-foot-2, 220 pound tight end, has been in contact with assistant Jeff Hafley. Failace, who has recovered fully from a broken collarbone suffered at a spring combine, is being looked at as a future tight end, but could fit in well as an H-back type of player. A close friend of Darius Hamilton, he is a strong blocker with good hands, recovering a key onside kick in the team’s 37-27 state championship win over Bergen Catholic last season. Failace will be heading to tonight’s game with Hamilton.
Ruhann Peele (Linden)
A talented wide receiver, Peele has shifted to the running back position this summer for the good of the team.
“I jumped right into it,” Peele said. “It’s good; I can make more plays with the ball in my hand. I get more touches and hopefully more touchdowns.”
Despite his change in roles, Peele is still finding time to practice at his more natural position.
“After I get my reps at running back, I go out and get some reps at receiver too,” he said.
Now a senior, Peele is relishing the chance to be a leader.
“I got some work to do on being a leader, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Khaliel Rodgers (Red Lion, DE) 2013
The rising junior offensive lineman has been in contact with Rutgers and had been planning to attend tonight’s season opener at RU.
“They wanted me to come bad, but my coach doesn't want me to miss practice,” said Rodgers.
In the past, Rodgers has made a few trips up to Piscataway and left the campus very impressed.
“Rutgers is definitely a great school,” he said. “I know a lot of their players and their facility is wonderful.”
Garrett Sickels (Red Bank) 2013
Stanford just came in with an offer, upping the defensive end’s total to four to go along with others from Rutgers, Florida and Georgia.
“I always thought it would be awesome to have early offers but never thought it was a possibility,” said Sickels, who has not yet named any favorites. “I just kept working hard and hoping for the best and I guess everything just fell into place.”
Over the summer Sickels visited Florida, Central Florida, Tennessee and Georgia. He will not be at RU’s first game because of a scheduling conflict with his own team responsibilities.
Robert Mahon (Randolph) 2013
The offensive lineman will be one to watch this season and will also be in attendance tonight in Piscataway.
“I’m really excited. I'm looking forward to seeing how the team can bounce back from last season,” said Mahon.
Mahon was on hand for a recent Rutgers practice and has also been hearing from Penn State, West Virginia and Boston College.
Wayne Morgan (Erasmus Hall, NY)
The defensive back dropped out of the latest rivals250, taking the biggest fall of any prospect as he was unseated from his place as the 139th ranked prospect in the nation. A lackluster summer camping circuit hurt Morgan as he is not being pursued nearly as highly as he once was by a host of schools. The longer Morgan remains uncommitted, the more interest seems to be waning.
Hoops time
The 2011-12 Rutgers men’s basketball schedule was released yesterday and it is as follows:
Sun. Nov. 6 Rutgers-Newark (exhibition) (2 p.m.)
Fri. Nov. 11 Dartmouth (7:30 p.m.)
Tue. Nov. 15 at Miami-Fla. (TBA)
Thurs. Nov. 17 Sacred Heart (7:30 p.m.)
Sun. Nov. 20 Hampton (noon)
Tue. Nov. 22 Illinois State@ Cancun, Mexico (TBA)
Wed. Nov. 23 Illinois/Richmond@ Cancun, (TBA)
Mon. Nov. 28 UMBC (7:30 p.m.)
Sat. Dec. 3 LSU (7 p.m.)
Wed. Dec. 7 Princeton (7:30 p.m.)
Mon. Dec. 12 Monmouth (7:30 p.m.)
Sat. Dec. 17 Stony Brook @Madison Square Garden (noon)
Thurs./Fri. Dec. 22/23 NJIT (7:30 p.m.)
Thurs. Dec. 29 Florida (7 p.m.)
Sun. Jan. 1 at USF (TBA)
Wed. Jan. 4 West Virginia (TBA)
Sat. Jan. 7 Connecticut (TBA)
Wed. Jan. 11 at Pittsburgh (TBA)
Sat. Jan. 14 at West Virginia (TBA)
Mon. Jan. 16 Notre Dame (9 p.m.)
Sat. Jan. 21 at Georgetown (TBA)
Wed. Jan. 25 DePaul (TBA)
Sat. Jan. 28 Cincinnati (TBA)
Wed. Feb. 1 at Providence (7 p.m.)
Sat. Feb. 4 at Louisville (TBA)
Wed. Feb. 8 Seton Hall (9 p.m.)
Wed. Feb. 15 at Notre Dame (7 p.m.)
Sun. Feb. 19 Syracuse (1 p.m.)
Wed. Feb. 22 at Marquette (TBA)
Sat. Feb. 25 at Seton Hall (5 p.m.)
Thurs. Mar. 1 Villanova (9 p.m.)
Sat. Mar. 3 St. John’s (TBA)
This post was edited on 9/1 11:27 AM by Bobby Deren
