A host of preferred walk-ons will report to Rutgers in three weeks and some of them could be considered as candidates for early playing time. Here’s a look at the top five on that list as Rutgers looks to continue its proud tradition of walk-ons.
5.) TE/WR Jo Jo Gause – Milford Academy (NY)
Following in his brother Quentin’s footsteps, the next Gause in line at Rutgers brings some position versatility. The staff has the option of using the younger Gause at tight end or wide receiver. His size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) makes him a nice option at the tight end position. Rutgers has a number of tight ends, but none have truly showed themselves to be head and shoulders above the rest. However, with so many tight ends in the fold, there is no reason to rush Gause into early playing time. On the other hand, having spent a post-grad year at Milford Academy, Gause is more physically matured than the typical freshman. If the current group of tight ends cannot produce and Gause starts to make progress, there’s a chance he could move himself up in the pecking order. There are two walk-ons ahead of him in the pecking order, so he will be around similar company in regards to how he wound up at Rutgers.
4.) DT Ken Roman – Milford Academy (NY)
When training camp begins, Roman will have the advantage of size as it looks as though he will be the biggest defensive tackle on the team. Roman currently checks in at 325 pounds, although he will not begin the summer as the strongest defensive lineman. Rutgers has been hit by some depth issues at the defensive tackle position and last year, a lack of size in the middle contributed to some very lopsided losses against the top teams in the Big Ten. For Rutgers to be more competitive this year against those teams, it will need to be a lot stouter in the middle of the defense. Roman has the size, now he just needs to add the performance along with it. Spending the next couple of months in the weight room will help Roman, but all that size will be for naught is he cannot make plays. It doesn’t hurt to have a 300+ pounder on the d-line as Roman definitely looks the part. Now, it is just a matter of playing the part.
3.) P John Bowers – Bergen Catholic
All through last season, the RU coaching staff could not seem to settle on one starting punter. That same dilemma carried over into the spring as neither Joe Roth or Tim Gleeson could win the job. Roth, is also a walk-on while Gleeson is a native of Australia who does have the luxury of a scholarship. Neither of those two have been consistent enough to land the starting job. It is not like Bowers will not have his time to punt in the summer as the specialists are always off to the side working by themselves through most of practice. A few good booms would catch the eye of the staff, who seems to be pleading for someone to win the job outright. Bowers was identified early by Rutgers as the staff seemed to think he could come in and compete right away. Last year’s lackluster punting performance makes early playing time well within reach for Bowers, who will have ample opportunities to win the job in training camp.
2.) FB Max Anthony – Phillips Academy (MA)
During his recruitment, Anthony was treated as a scholarship player. He took an official visit, made the requisite trip into New York City as it was made very clear that he was a priority in this class. The departure of Michael Burton at fullback has left some mighty big shoes to fill and it looks as though the staff is prepared to make Anthony the next in line at fullback. How quickly that happens could depend on a few factors, such as how the other fullbacks fare this summer. Sam Bergen is back for a sixth year, but if he cannot lock down a starting job, it could open the door for Anthony. How quickly Anthony adapts to playing the position could also determine whether or not he jumps right into the rotation as a true freshman, which is a very distinct possibility. It could be just a question of when for Anthony.
1.) LS Alex Hutchings – Webster Thomas (NY)
Last year’s long snapping at Rutgers made an all-star out of former holder Mike Bimonte as he continually salvaged poor snaps as part of the field goal unit. Starting long snapper Alan Lucy struggled mightily as a freshman. The only reason he was not replaced is because the RU coaching staff had no other alternative. This year, Hutchings looks to be that alternative. He brings in better size than Lucy did, already checking in at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. Hutchings will immediately find himself immersed in that competition as the special teams cannot afford to risk another year like 2014. Hutchings has shown to have a very quick release and has been specializing in long snapping for quite some time. It should be enough to allow him to go head to head against Lucy in what will be one of the more important position battles of the summer.
5.) TE/WR Jo Jo Gause – Milford Academy (NY)
Following in his brother Quentin’s footsteps, the next Gause in line at Rutgers brings some position versatility. The staff has the option of using the younger Gause at tight end or wide receiver. His size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) makes him a nice option at the tight end position. Rutgers has a number of tight ends, but none have truly showed themselves to be head and shoulders above the rest. However, with so many tight ends in the fold, there is no reason to rush Gause into early playing time. On the other hand, having spent a post-grad year at Milford Academy, Gause is more physically matured than the typical freshman. If the current group of tight ends cannot produce and Gause starts to make progress, there’s a chance he could move himself up in the pecking order. There are two walk-ons ahead of him in the pecking order, so he will be around similar company in regards to how he wound up at Rutgers.
4.) DT Ken Roman – Milford Academy (NY)
When training camp begins, Roman will have the advantage of size as it looks as though he will be the biggest defensive tackle on the team. Roman currently checks in at 325 pounds, although he will not begin the summer as the strongest defensive lineman. Rutgers has been hit by some depth issues at the defensive tackle position and last year, a lack of size in the middle contributed to some very lopsided losses against the top teams in the Big Ten. For Rutgers to be more competitive this year against those teams, it will need to be a lot stouter in the middle of the defense. Roman has the size, now he just needs to add the performance along with it. Spending the next couple of months in the weight room will help Roman, but all that size will be for naught is he cannot make plays. It doesn’t hurt to have a 300+ pounder on the d-line as Roman definitely looks the part. Now, it is just a matter of playing the part.
3.) P John Bowers – Bergen Catholic
All through last season, the RU coaching staff could not seem to settle on one starting punter. That same dilemma carried over into the spring as neither Joe Roth or Tim Gleeson could win the job. Roth, is also a walk-on while Gleeson is a native of Australia who does have the luxury of a scholarship. Neither of those two have been consistent enough to land the starting job. It is not like Bowers will not have his time to punt in the summer as the specialists are always off to the side working by themselves through most of practice. A few good booms would catch the eye of the staff, who seems to be pleading for someone to win the job outright. Bowers was identified early by Rutgers as the staff seemed to think he could come in and compete right away. Last year’s lackluster punting performance makes early playing time well within reach for Bowers, who will have ample opportunities to win the job in training camp.
2.) FB Max Anthony – Phillips Academy (MA)
During his recruitment, Anthony was treated as a scholarship player. He took an official visit, made the requisite trip into New York City as it was made very clear that he was a priority in this class. The departure of Michael Burton at fullback has left some mighty big shoes to fill and it looks as though the staff is prepared to make Anthony the next in line at fullback. How quickly that happens could depend on a few factors, such as how the other fullbacks fare this summer. Sam Bergen is back for a sixth year, but if he cannot lock down a starting job, it could open the door for Anthony. How quickly Anthony adapts to playing the position could also determine whether or not he jumps right into the rotation as a true freshman, which is a very distinct possibility. It could be just a question of when for Anthony.
1.) LS Alex Hutchings – Webster Thomas (NY)
Last year’s long snapping at Rutgers made an all-star out of former holder Mike Bimonte as he continually salvaged poor snaps as part of the field goal unit. Starting long snapper Alan Lucy struggled mightily as a freshman. The only reason he was not replaced is because the RU coaching staff had no other alternative. This year, Hutchings looks to be that alternative. He brings in better size than Lucy did, already checking in at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. Hutchings will immediately find himself immersed in that competition as the special teams cannot afford to risk another year like 2014. Hutchings has shown to have a very quick release and has been specializing in long snapping for quite some time. It should be enough to allow him to go head to head against Lucy in what will be one of the more important position battles of the summer.
