Rutgers Preview 2025: The Scarlet Knights Looking Like a Big Ten Team

Things have settled in under Greg Schiano.Itll be next to impossible to find the same high-end success he enjoyed in his first stint with the program - the Big Ten is light-years better than the (sky point) Big East - but coming up with two straight winning seasons since making the conference move in 2014 is an accomplishment.The program still doesnt get the talent the top Big Ten teams do, and its still a battle to be consistent, but after five years of rebuilding, this should be the best team Schiano has fielded at Rutgers.

The record might not reflect it compared to some of the great years in the 2000s, but again, hes doing this in the Big Ten now.The base has been built with a slew of good home-grown players, some of the transfers from the last few seasons are established, and this year, Rutgers flexed a little bit of Big Ten muscle.It needed pass rushers, and it picked off a few few the Group of Five ranks.

It needed receivers and defensive backs, and it upgraded there, too.

And best of all, it was able to keep most of the key guys around.Rutgers isnt a sure-thing win for anyone now.

This years team will look, act, and play like a real Big Ten program.Rutgers Scarlet Knights College Football Preview 2025Dec 26, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano against the Kansas State Wildcats during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field.

Mark J Rebilas-Imagn ImagesRutgers Scarlet Knights Preview 2025: OffenseX CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN- There was a bit more of a passing game, but Rutgers will continue to be about the ground attack, ball control, and not screwing up.

For the first time in a while, it has the continuity, experience, and depth to do a bit more.- The line has to be good for this all to work.

Its okay in pass protection, but its at its best when grinding away.

There will be movement, and top tackle Hollis Pierce is gone, but four starters return in some configuration.

Guard Kawbena Asamoah is the best blocker, but veteran center Gus Zilinskas should be in the All-Big Ten, and the tackles are versatile and solid.- The backfield loses heart-and-soul back Kyle Monangai, but No.2 back Antwan Raymond is back after running for 457 yards and eight scores, and Florida Atlantic transfer CJ Campbell is a great fit coming off an 844-yard, 11-touchdown season.- Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis is fine.

The former Minnesota transfer threw for close to 2,700 yards and 18 scores, ran well, and now has two years of Big Ten starting experience.

He has a good receiving corps to work with.

Ian Strong led the team with five touchdown grabs, and deep threat KJ Duff is good on the outside.

DT Sheffield should be the big star, catching 11 touchdown passes at North Texas last year.Rutgers Scarlet Knights Preview 2025: Defense- The defense wasnt good enough.

It was fine against the mediocre attacks, but it allowed more than 24 points five times and lost all five games, finishing 17th in the Big Ten in total D.

There wasnt any pass rush, the front wasnt good against the run, and now its up to the transfer portal to fix it all.- The entire front line will likely be from the portal, but thats not a negative.

Bradley Weaver (Ohio) was one of the MACs top pass rushers over the last two seasons, and Eric ONeill (James Madison) was one of the Sun Belts best defensive players in 2024.

Doug Blue-Eli (USF) and Darold DeNgohe (James Madison) are great fits on the inside.- The linebacking corps is solid with leading tackler Daniel Djabome in the middle after making 105 tackles, and Moses Walker got in plenty of work in the rotation.- If the pass rush is better - and it will be - the secondary should be strong.

Kaj Sanders is back at one safety spots, and Bo Mascoe is a good all-around corner who made 50 tackles with a pick and five broken up passes.The portal is helping with three new starters.

Corner Cam Miller (Penn State) and safety Jacobie Henderson (Marshall) know what theyre doing, and Jett Elad (UNLV) is coming off an 84-tackle season with five tackles for loss and six broken up passes.Rutgers Scarlet Knights Key to the SeasonDont give up a lot of points.Yeah, duh, that's sort of the idea, but some teams have no problem keeping up in shootouts.

Some are comfortable in the back-and-forth style - not Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights were 0-5 last season, and 0-22 since 2021, when allowing more than 24 points.Rutgers Scarlet Knights Key PlayerDoug Blue-Eli, DT Sr.

The Rutgers run defense got ripped up too easily.

The transfers should help the cause in a hurry, at least thats the hope.

It starts with 6-2, 315-pound Doug Blue-Eli on the nose.Hes a long-time starter who began at TCU before moving to USF, and now its his job to clog things up as an anchor for the front four.Rutgers Scarlet Knights Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer LossTop Transfer In: Eric ONeill, EDGE Sr.He began at Long Island University, coming up with 131 tackles with 15.5 sacks and 44.5 tackles for loss as one of the best all-around pass rushers in the FCS.

He left for James Madison, and he became an instant Sun Belt star with 13 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and 52 tackles.Top Transfer Out: Mohamed Toure, LB Sr.A mainstay of the Rutgers defense in 2021 and 2023, when healthy, hes a tackling machine and disruptive force in the backfield.

He missed all of last year with a knee injury, but hes expected to be back and part of the Miami linebacking corps.Rutgers Scarlet Knights Key GameIowa, Sept.

20Its not just the Big Ten opener, and its not just a shot at 4-0 - Rutgers should open with three straight wins.

Its a chance to finally beat the Hawkeyes.

Not only are the Scarlet Knights 0-4 in the series, but theyve been outscored 93-17.- 2025 Rutgers Schedule BreakdownRutgers Scarlet Knights Top 10 Players1.

Dariel Djabome, LB Jr.2.

Eric ONeill, EDGE, Sr.3.

Bradley Weaver, EDGE, Sr.4.

Kawbena Asamoah, OG Jr.5.

CJ Campbell, RB Sr.6.

Ian Strong, WR Jr.7.

Jacobie Henderson, S Jr.8.

DT Sheffield, WR Sr.9.

Athan Kaliakmanis, QB Sr.10.

Bo Mascoe, CB Soph.Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2024 Fun Stats- Fumbles: Opponents 14 (lost 5), Rutgers 4 (lost 2)- Two Point Conversions: Opponents 5-of-9, Rutgers 2-of-4- Penalties: Opponents 84 for 682 yards, Opponents 42 for 444 yardsRutgers Scarlet Knights 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will HappenAgain, the starting 22 should be among the best yet under Schiano.

The schedule doesnt help too much, though.

Theres no Michigan, and missing Indiana matters now, but the Scarlet Knights still have to face Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State.

This year, going to Illinois hurts, and the 3,000 mile trip to Seattle will be tough.But, as always, the non-conference slate is light and breezy, Purdue should be a stress-free road win, and there a few more wins will pop in here and there.

But November is brutal, and a road dare at Minnesota wont help.As long as there isnt a home loss to Maryland, it should be a third straight bowl season.Set The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Win Total At ...

5.5Likely Wins: Miami University, Norfolk State, Ohio, at Purdue50/50 Games: at Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, at Minnesota, at WashingtonLikely Losses: at Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State.

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