Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Offseason Preview

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights struggled in 2021, which is frustrating due not to the 5-8 record itself, but because of the fact that Rutgers played the eventual Big Ten champions on even terms. Michigan won the Big Ten title last year, and Rutgers played a close game for 60 full minutes against the Wolverines before losing by only one score, 20-13. If Rutgers could play a close game against the best team in the Big Ten, why couldn’t the Scarlet Knights play well against other Big Ten teams? Rutgers lost by 14 to a bad Northwestern team, and by 24 to a mediocre Maryland team which barely qualified for bowl eligibility. Getting blown out by Ohio State and Wisconsin isn’t embarrassing, since those are very good teams, but Rutgers failed to win games against conference opponents of equal or lesser quality, and those are the games which prevented Rutgers from having a winning season. Those are the results which sting the most, and they’re the kinds of results the Scarlet Knights will try to change in 2022.

Key Personnel Lost

Receiver Bo Melton could be the first Rutgers player taken in the NFL draft since 2019. He is gone, and will need to be replaced by other receivers on the roster. Rutgers didn’t field a particularly imposing team last season, so there aren’t many departing players who performed crucial and essential roles at a high level. The main challenge is for returning players to improve and for fresh faces to add more dimensions to this team on both sides of the ball.

Important Incoming Freshmen

Offensive lineman Jacob Allen is a touted four-star recruit, part of seven new offensive linemen coach Greg Schiano has recruited to bolster what has been a weak and underperforming position group. The influx of freshmen on the offensive line will be a key point of development – and uncertainty – for Rutgers this season. The Scarlet Knights have a lot of work to do here.

Key Position Battles

Offensive line is the main battle front. Transfers J.D. DiRenzo (Sacred Heart), Willie Tyler (Louisiana Monroe), Curtis Dunlap (Minnesota) and Mike Ciaffoni (Colorado State) will join returning players Hollin Pierce, Ireland Brown, Gus Zilinskas and Reggie Sutton, plus all the new freshmen in the mix. Rutgers has to evaluate and then develop its offensive linemen to find the right combinations and settle on a good rotation which can elevate this offense significantly.

Quarterback will also be a battle. Redshirt freshman Gavin Wimsatt will try to unseat the incumbent, Noah Vedral. Rutgers had one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten last season, scoring an average of under 20 points per game. That’s in the bottom 20 percent of the whole country. Rutgers has to insist on more from the O-line and the quarterback.

Biggest Offseason Goal(s)

Improve the offense. It’s not very complicated. Rutgers couldn’t score much in 2021 because it lacked quality linemen and skill players. The Scarlet Knights need significant upgrades throughout their offense and need to know they have answers heading into Week 1 of the new season.