44 2009 SEASON PREVIEW The Rutgers football program got off to a bit of a slow start in 2008, going in 2007, rushing for 332 yards and four touchdowns in 10 contests, but 1-5 in its first six contests, however, the Scarlet Knights rattled off seven played in just two games in 2008 after suffering a broken ankle. straight victories to end the year, en route to making its fourth consecutive bowl game appearance. It was not enough for RU to just advance to the Natale made his debut as a Scarlet Knight last season, appearing in five PapaJohns.com Bowl, the team continued to add to its growing program games. The Michigan State transfer made a number of plays on key drives history with its third-straight bowl game victory – giving the Scarlet Knights and will use that experience in live game action to compete for the position another first-time accomplishment in the school’s annals. vacated by Teel. Natale also benefited from an increased number of snaps during spring camp. Rutgers’ 29-23 win against NC State was a testament to the Scarlet Knights’ ability to persevere throughout the season. Prior to the Papa- Also in the mix at quarterback will be redshirt freshmen D.C. Jefferson and Johns.com Bowl, RU was winless in games in which it trailed its opponents Steve Shimko. Jefferson and Shimko earned reps in practice during their through the first three quarters. Similar to how the team was able to over- first year at Rutgers and they continue to develop and progress as signal come its start to the year, Rutgers reversed a one-point deficit, outscoring callers. With Jefferson, at 6-6 240-pounds and Shimko, 6-5 230-pounds, the Wolfpack 13-6 in the fourth quarter to come away with the victory. the pair possess the tools to be capable replacements. True freshman Tom Savage will also battle for time under center during preseason camp With a combined nine Scarlet Knight starters from both sides of the ball for the Scarlet Knights. no longer at his disposal, head coach Greg Schiano and his staff will look to several battle tested returnees to fill in at a number of positions. Their ex- periences during the 2008 campaign should prove beneficial as they enter RETURNING RUNNING BACKS another season ‘On the Banks’, and continue to help cement Rutgers 8 Kordell Young 5-9 190 Jr.* among the elite programs in college football. 19 Jack Corcoran 6-1 230 Sr. 20 Ben Boursiquot 5-7 185 So.* 22 Tyrone Putman 5-10 190 So. Since arriving at RU, Schiano has continued to upgrade the talent level on 37 Andres Morales 6-2 250 Jr.* the field, evident by a record-breaking five selections in the 2009 NFL 38 Joe Martinek 6-0 215 So.* Draft. Highlighting the milestone was the first-round pick of wide receiver 39 Jourdan Brooks 6-1 230 So.* Kenny Britt by the Tennessee Titans, Rutgers’ first-ever player in school history chosen in the opening round. The Scarlet Knights saw a total of Following the departure of All-American running back Ray Rice – a second- eight former players move on to professional camps. round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens – Rutgers was left with a major void at the position in 2008. Schiano and his staff turned to a running back In 2009, Schiano will welcome the return of seven starters on offense and by committee approach and received ample production at tailback. six on defense as well as the addition of a nationally-ranked class of highly touted recruits. The Scarlet Knights will boast a new look in both its per- The Scarlet Knights return its top three running backs from a year ago, in- sonnel and home field as Rutgers Stadium will open with newly-con- cluding Kordell Young who made his return to the gridiron after tearing his structed seating in the south end zone. anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during his sophomore season. The most seasoned running back in the group, the redshirt junior rushed for a team- OFFENSE leading 554 yards and five touchdowns in limited action (eight games). Young was held back on a few occasions due to repeated soreness but the Offensively, RU ranked among the top programs in the country in a num- 5-9, 185-pound back returns this fall to shoulder the load. ber of categories. As a team, the passing offense was 18th, passing effi- ciency 20th and both total offense and scoring offense 39th. After earning time on the scout team as true freshmen in 2007, Jourdan Brooks and Joe Martinek made their debuts for the Scarlet Knights in RETURNING QUARTERBACKS 2008 and the pair provided a dynamic attack at the running back position. 10 D.C. Jefferson 6-6 245 Fr.* At 6-1, 230-pounds, Brooks ran with a more bruising style while a shiftier 11 Domenic Natale 6-2 210 Sr.* 6-0, 215-pound Mar- 12 Steve Shimko 6-5 230 Fr.* tinek brought a physi- 15 Jabu Lovelace 6-2 215 Sr.* cal approach as well to the backfield. Rutgers will have big shoes to fill at the quarterback position with the grad- uation of senior signal caller Mike Teel. The most decorated passer in Brooks ran for 516 Scarlet Knight history, Teel holds the school record for passing yards yards on 100 carriers (9,383), touchdowns (59) and total offense (9,173). He set the single-sea- (5.2 yards per rush) son record in passing yards (3,418 in 2008) and established the top two and six touchdowns. single-season records for touchdown passes with 20 in 2007 and 25 in He had standout 2008. games at Navy with 134 yards and two A three-year starter, Teel led the BIG EAST (18th in the nation) in passing TDs and against efficiency (148.13) and ranked 28th in the country in total offense in Louisville with 124 2008. He completed 243-of-396 passes for 3,148 yards on the year and yards and a score in 25 touchdowns. During the Scarlet Knights’ seven-game win streak, Teel the home finale. Mar- went 141-of-212 (66.5 completion percentage) with 22 touchdowns and tinek played in 13 just six interceptions. games in 2008 and found his stride late in Stepping in to handle the load under center will be a pair of redshirt sen- the season, rushing YOUNG iors in Jabu Lovelace and Dominic Natale. Lovelace served as the backup for 317 yards in the 45 2009 SEASON PREVIEW final five contests. He rushed for 432 yards (76 carries) on the year with Redshirt junior Shamar Graves will take over at the tight end position fol- four touchdowns for a 5.3 yards-per-carry average. lowing the graduation of senior Kevin Brock, who played in 13 games, catching 26 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Graves emerged Senior Jack Corcoran was the full-time starter at fullback in 2008 and re- as the starter towards the end of last season, getting the nod in six of the turns as another weapon in the backfield for the Scarlet Knights. Corcoran final seven contests. He caught 16 passes for 227 yards and a career- played in all 13 games, making eight starts and he increased his offensive best three touchdowns – one each in three consecutive games, coinciding production, catching 19 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns in with the Scarlet Knights seven-game win streak. 2008 – all career highs. Junior Andres Morales will also provide depth at the fullback position after playing in seven games in 2008. RETURNING OFFENSIVE LINEMEN RETURNING WIDE RECEIVERS 60 Caleb Ruch 6-4 290 So.* 61 Ryan Blaszczyk 6-4 295 Sr.* 2 Tim Brown 5-8 165 Sr. 62 Marlon Romulus 6-3 280 Jr.* 5 Tim Wright 6-4 215 Fr.* 64 Nicholas Libonati 6-3 295 Fr.* 6 Mohamed Sanu 6-2 215 Fr. 65 Matthew Hardison 6-4 285 So.* 16 Andrew DePaola 6-2 210 Sr.* 70 Desmond Wynn 6-6 290 So.* 18 Julian Hayes 6-1 210 Jr.* 71 Devon Watkis 6-7 310 Fr.* 24 Mason Robinson 5-10 190 Jr. 73 Desmond Stapleton 6-5 285 So.* 80 Pat Brown 6-1 180 Sr. 74 Howard Barbieri 6-5 300 Jr.* 81 Ryan Glueckert 5-10 185 So.* 75 Anthony Davis 6-6 325 Jr. 82 Carl Harris 6-0 190 Fr.* 76 Mo Lange 6-7 300 Jr.* 83 Keith Stroud 6-3 205 Fr.* 77 Art Forst 6-8 310 So. 84 Marcus Cooper 6-2 185 Fr.* 78 Kevin Haslam 6-7 295 Sr.* 85 Eddie Poole 6-3 185 Fr.* 79 Richard Muldrow 6-6 285 So.* The Scarlet Knights will look to replace two major contributors in its wide receiver unit following the departure of Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood. The Rutgers offensive line will be the most veteran of units returning for The all-time leading receiver in BIG EAST and Rutgers history, Britt became 2009 with all five starters still on the roster. The group paved the way for RU’s second early entrant in as many years into the NFL Draft. Britt led a combined 1,664 yards on the ground and 3,515 yards through the air. the team with 1,371 yards – a single-season record – and seven touch- downs. Underwood, a 1,000-yard receiver in his own right and another Leading the group is second team All-BIG EAST selection and former highly decorated wide receiver during his time in Piscataway, accounted Freshman All-American Anthony Davis, who started 12 games at left for 494 yards and five touchdowns in 2008.