2017 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

2017 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
2017 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
	East Division
Record	4–8 (3–6 Big Ten)
Head coach	Chris Ash (2nd season);
Offensive coordinator	Jerry Kill (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Power spread
Defensive coordinator	Jay Niemann (2nd season)
Base defense	Multiple
Home stadium	High Point Solutions Stadium; (Capacity: 52,454)
	Seasons ← 2016 2018 →

2017 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
East Division
No. 5 Ohio State xy$	8	–	1	12	–	2
No. 15 Michigan State	7	–	2	10	–	3
No. 8 Penn State	7	–	2	11	–	2
Michigan	5	–	4	8	–	5
Rutgers	3	–	6	4	–	8
Indiana	2	–	7	5	–	7
Maryland	2	–	7	4	–	8
West Division
No. 7 Wisconsin xy	9	–	0	13	–	1
No. 17 Northwestern	7	–	2	10	–	3
Iowa	4	–	5	8	–	5
Purdue	4	–	5	7	–	6
Nebraska	3	–	6	4	–	8
Minnesota	2	–	7	5	–	7
Illinois	0	–	9	2	–	10
Championship: Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 21
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 2017 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights played their home games at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey and competed as members of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Chris Ash. They finished the season 4–8, 3–6 in Big Ten play to finish in fifth place in the East Division.

Recruiting

Position key

Back	B	Center	C	Cornerback	CB	Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE	Defensive lineman	DL	Defensive tackle	DT	End	E
Fullback	FB	Guard	G	Halfback	HB	Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR	Offensive tackle	OT	Offensive lineman	OL	Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS	Punter	P	Punt returner	PR	Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB	Safety	S	Tight end	TE	Wide receiver	WR

Recruits

The Scarlet Knights signed a total of 26 recruits.

US college sports recruiting information for 2017 recruits
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Naijee Jones CB	Sicklerville, New Jersey	Timber Creek HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Nov 23, 2015
Naijee Jones CB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Bo Melton WR	Egg Harbor City, New Jersey	Cedar Creek HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Apr 15, 2016
Bo Melton WR	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Micah Clark OT	Holmdel, New Jersey	St. John Vianney HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	265 lb (120 kg)	Apr 19, 2016
Micah Clark OT	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jamaal Beaty OG	Holmdel, New Jersey	St. John Vianney HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Apr 19, 2016
Jamaal Beaty OG	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Everett Wormley WR	Burlington Township, New Jersey	Burlington Township HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Apr 22, 2016
Everett Wormley WR	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jonathan Lewis QB	Jersey City, New Jersey	St. Peter's Prep	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Apr 30, 2016
Jonathan Lewis QB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tim Barrow CB	Staten Island, New York	Tottenville HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	188 lb (85 kg)	May 5, 2016
Tim Barrow CB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Samuel Vrteman OT	Cheshire, Connecticut	Cheshire Academy	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	295 lb (134 kg)	May 16, 2016
Samuel Vrteman OT	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Edwin Lopez S	Camden, New Jersey	Woodrow Wilson HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Jun 1, 2016
Edwin Lopez S	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Owen Bowles OG	Egg Harbor City, New Jersey	Cedar Creek HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	Jun 12, 2016
Owen Bowles OG	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
C.J. Onyechi LB	West Orange, New Jersey	West Orange HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Jun 16, 2016
C.J. Onyechi LB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A
Tyler Hayek S	Wayne, New Jersey	Wayne Hills HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Jun 25, 2016
Tyler Hayek S	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tyshon Fogg LB	Towson, Maryland	Calvert Hall HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	216 lb (98 kg)	Jun 26, 2016
Tyshon Fogg LB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Olakunle Fatukasi LB	Brooklyn, New York	Grand Street HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Jun 28, 2016
Olakunle Fatukasi LB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Shameen Jones WR	The Bronx, New York	Cardinal Hayes HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	171 lb (78 kg)	Jun 28, 2016
Shameen Jones WR	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jaohne Duggan DE	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	Liberty HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	275 lb (125 kg)	Jun 28, 2016
Jaohne Duggan DE	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Mike Tverdov DE	Union, New Jersey	Union HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	Jul 13, 2016
Mike Tverdov DE	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Brendan Bordner DE	Hilliard, Ohio	Hilliard Bradley HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	240 lb (110 kg)	Dec 14, 2016
Brendan Bordner DE	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Brendan Devera LB	Wayne, New Jersey	Wayne Hills HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	231 lb (105 kg)	Jan 23, 2017
Brendan Devera LB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A
Tijaun Mason DE	Memphis, Tennessee	Trezevant HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Jan 24, 2017
Tijaun Mason DE	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Travis Vokolek TE	Springfield, Missouri	Kickapoo HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Jan 28, 2017
Travis Vokolek TE	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A
Hunter Hayek WR	Wayne, New Jersey	Wayne Hills HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Jan 29, 2017
Hunter Hayek WR	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A
Syhiem Simmons S	Montgomery, Alabama	Carver HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Jan 29, 2017
Syhiem Simmons S	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A
Elijah Barnwell RB	Piscataway, New Jersey	Piscataway Township HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Jan 31, 2017
Elijah Barnwell RB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Eddie Lewis WR	Middletown, New Jersey	Mater Dei HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	179 lb (81 kg)	Feb 1, 2017
Eddie Lewis WR	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Raheem Blackshear WR	Warminister, Pennsylvania	Archbishop Wood HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	Feb 1, 2017
Raheem Blackshear WR	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Rutgers Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 28, 2017. "2017 Rutgers Football Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved January 28, 2017. "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 28, 2017. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved January 28, 2017. "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 28, 2017.

Schedule

Rutgers announced its 2017 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2017 schedule consisted of 6 home, 5 away, and 1 neutral site game in the regular season. The Scarlet Knights hosted Big Ten foes Michigan State, Ohio State, and Purdue, and traveled to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Penn State. Rutgers played against Maryland in Bronx, New York at Yankee Stadium.^[1]

The Scarlet Knights hosted all three of the non-conference opponents, Eastern Michigan from the Mid-American Conference, Morgan State from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Washington from the Pac-12 Conference.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	8:00 p.m.	No. 8 Washington*	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	FS1	L 14–30	46,093
September 9	3:30 p.m.	Eastern Michigan*	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	L 13–16	37,661
September 16	3:30 p.m	Morgan State*	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	W 65–0	39,892
September 23	3:30 p.m.	at Nebraska	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	BTN	L 17–27	89,775
September 30	7:30 p.m.	No. 11 Ohio State	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	L 0–56	46,328
October 14	12:00 p.m.	at Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	W 35–24	35,675
October 21	12:00 p.m.	Purdue	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	W 14–12	38,278
October 28	12:00 p.m.	at Michigan	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	BTN	L 14–35	111,213
November 4	3:30 p.m.	Maryland	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	W 31–24	35,221
November 11	12:00 p.m.	at No. 16 Penn State	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	BTN	L 6–35	107,531
November 18	12:00 p.m.	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	BTN	L 0–41	35,949
November 25	4:00 p.m.	No. 21 Michigan State	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	FOX	L 7–40	35,021
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Schedule Source:^[2]

Game summaries

Washington

	1	2	3	4	Total
#8 Huskies	3	7	10	10	30
Scarlet Knights	7	0	0	7	14

The Scarlet Knights opened the season by welcoming No. 8-ranked Washington to New Jersey. Rutgers took the early lead on a three-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Bolin to Janarion Grant. Washington answered with a field goal in the first quarter and a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown with the 3:50 seconds left in the half to take a 10–7 halftime lead. Though trailing, the Knights played well and hung with the highly ranked Huskies in the first half. However, Washington QB Jake Browning threw two second-half touchdown passes as Washington pulled away from the Scarlet Knights to win the game 30–14.^[3] The loss left the Scarlet Knights with an 0–1 record.

Eastern Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	13	0	3	16
Scarlet Knights	6	7	0	0	13

Morgan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	0	0	0	0
Scarlet Knights	7	27	17	14	65

at Nebraska

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	7	3	7	0	17
Cornhuskers	7	7	7	6	27

Ohio State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Buckeyes	7	28	7	14	56
Scarlet Knights	0	0	0	0	0

at Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	7	14	7	7	35
Fighting Illini	3	7	0	14	24

Purdue

	1	2	3	4	Total
Boilermakers	0	3	3	6	12
Scarlet Knights	7	0	7	0	14

at Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	0	7	7	0	14
Wolverines	0	21	7	7	35

Maryland

	1	2	3	4	Total
Terrapins	7	7	10	0	24
Scarlet Knights	0	17	0	14	31

at Penn State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	3	3	0	0	6
Nittany Lions	0	14	14	7	35

at Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	0	0	0	0	0
Hoosiers	17	3	14	7	41

Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	13	3	3	21	40
Scarlet Knights	0	7	0	0	7

Roster and staff

2017 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
WR	`1`	Janarion Grant	Sr
WR	`2`	Ahmir Mitchell	Fr
WR	`3`	Jawuan Harris	So
RB	`4`	Trey Sneed	So
WR	`5`	Damon Mitchell	Sr
WR	`6`	Mohamed Jabbie	Fr
RB	`7`	Robert Martin	Sr
RB	`8`	Josh Hicks	Sr
QB	`9`	Kyle Bolin	Sr
WR	`10`	Everett Wormley	Fr
QB	`11`	Johnathan Lewis	Fr
QB	`12`	Zach Allen	Sr
TE	`12`	Myles Nash	Sr
RB	`13`	Gus Edwards	Sr
QB	`14`	Rob Nittolo	Jr
WR	`15`	Shameen Jones	Fr
WR	`16`	Tommy Wyatt	Fr
QB	`17`	Giovanni Rescigno	Jr
WR	`18`	Bo Melton	Fr
QB	`19`	Tom Flacco	Jr
RB	`20`	Elijah Barnwell	Fr
WR	`23`	Dacoven Bailey	Fr
RB	`24`	Charles Snorweah	So
RB	`25`	Raheem Blackshear	Fr
RB	`27`	McDerby Ceneus	Jr
RB	`28`	Aslan Pugh	Fr
RB	`38`	Jim Brady	Fr
WR	`38`	Nyshere Woodson	Fr
RB	`40`	Brendan Devera	Fr
RB	`44`	Max Anthony	So
OL	`50`	Owen Bowles	Fr
OL	`51`	Jamaal Beaty	Fr
OL	`54`	Kamaal Seymour	So
OL	`55`	Michael Maietti	Fr
OL	`56`	Micah Clark	Fr
OL	`57`	Zach Miseo	Fr
OL	`58`	Charles Zarzecki	Fr
OL	`60`	Dorian Miller	Sr
OL	`61`	Mike Lonsdorf	Fr
OL	`63`	Jim Onulak	Fr
OL	`64`	Skiy Pyrame	So
OL	`65`	Tariq Cole	Jr
OL	`66`	Nick Krimin	Fr
OL	`71`	Marcus Applefield	Jr
OL	`72`	Manny Taylor	So
OL	`73`	Jonah Jackson	So
OL	`74`	Sam Howson	Fr
OL	`75`	Zach Venesky	So
OL	`77`	Sam Vretman	Fr
OL	`79`	Zack Heeman	Jr
WR	`80`	Nixon Provillon	Sr
WR	`81`	Tyler Hayek	Fr
WR	`82`	Hunter Hayek	Fr
WR	`83`	Rashad Blunt	So
WR	`84`	Cole Murphy	Jr
TE	`86`	Nakia Griffin-Stewart	So
WR	`87`	Prince Taylor	Fr
TE	`88`	Jerome Washington	Jr
TE	`89`	Travis Vokolek	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`2`	Kiy Hester	Jr
LB	`3`	Olakunle Fatukasi	Fr
DB	`4`	Trey Avery	Fr
LB	`6`	Deonte Roberts	Jr
DL	`7`	Elorm Lumor	Fr
LB	`8`	Tyshon Fogg	Fr
DB	`9`	Saquan Hampton	Jr
DB	`10`	Blessuan Austin	Jr
DB	`11`	Isaiah Wharton	Jr
DL	`14`	Solomon Manning	Fr
LB	`15`	Trevor Morris	Jr
DB	`16`	Jelani Garvin	So
DB	`17`	K. J. Gray	So
LB	`21`	Ross Douglas	Sr
DB	`22`	Damon Hayes	So
DB	`24`	Naijee Jones	Fr
LB	`25`	Syhiem Simmons	Fr
LB	`26`	C. J. Onyechi	Fr
DB	`27`	Kobe Marfo	Jr
DB	`29`	Lawrence Stevens	Fr
DB	`31`	Edwin Lopez	Fr
DB	`32`	Rani Abdulaziz	Fr
DB	`33`	Tim Barrow	Fr
DB	`34`	Parker Day	Fr
LB	`35`	Eric Margolis	Jr
LB	`36`	T. J. Taylor	Sr
DB	`37`	Zane Campbell	Sr
LB	`44`	Tyreek Maddox-Williams	So
DB	`46`	Davante McDuffie	Sr
LB	`49`	Brandon Russell	Jr
DL	`50`	Julius Turner	Fr
DL	`51`	Sebastian Joseph-Day	Sr
DL	`53`	Brendan Bordner	Fr
LB	`55`	Austin Rosa	So
LB	`56`	Rashawn Battle	Fr
DL	`57`	Joahne Duggan	Fr
DL	`58`	Kemoko Turay	Sr
DL	`59`	Darnell Davis	Sr
DL	`91`	Tijuan Mason	Fr
DL	`92`	Eric Wiafe	Jr
DL	`93`	Jason Griggs	Fr
DL	`95`	Jon Bateky	Jr
DL	`96`	Willington Previlon	So
DL	`97`	Mike Tverdov	Fr
DL	`98`	Jimmy Hogan	Jr
DL	`99`	Kevin Wilkins	Jr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LS	`47`	Bill Taylor	Fr
LS	`62`	Matthew Sportelli	Fr
LS	`85`	Alan Lucy	Sr
P	`94`	Michael Cintron	Jr
K	`95`	Justin Davidovicz	Fr
P	`96`	Ryan Anderson	Sr
PK	`97`	Andrew Harte	Sr
PK	`98`	David Bonagura	Sr
P	`99`	Gavin Haggerty	So

Head coach

Chris Ash

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Jerry Kill (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
Jay Nieman (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
Vince Okruch (Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends)
A. J. Blazek (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line)
Shane Burnham (Defensive Line)
Bill Busch (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
Henry Baker (Cornerbacks)
Lester Erb (Running Backs)
Jafar Williams (Wide Receivers)
Kenny Parker (Head Strength and Conditioning)
Mason Judd (Defensive Assistant)
David Galante (Offensive Assistant)
Mark Rosenbaum (Offensive Assistant)
Anthony Van Curen (Defensive Assistant)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 17, 2017

Players in the 2018 NFL Draft

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL Club
Kemoko Turay	DE	2	52	Indianapolis Colts
Sebastian Joseph	DT	6	195	Los Angeles Rams

References

^ "Big Ten Conference Announces 2016-2017 Football Schedules" (Press release). Rutgers University Department of Athletics. July 11, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
^ "2017 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
^ "Washington vs. Rutgers - Game Recap - September 1, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-07.

[RU17-1] "Big Ten Conference Announces 2016-2017 Football Schedules" (Press release). Rutgers University Department of Athletics. July 11, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2017.

[2] "2017 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 25, 2017.

[3] "Washington vs. Rutgers - Game Recap - September 1, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-07.

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v t e Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
Venues	College Field (1869–1890) Neilson Field (1891–1938) Old Rutgers Stadium (1938–1992) Giants Stadium (alternate, 1976–1992, 1994-96; primary, 1993) SHI Stadium (1994–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Princeton
Culture & lore	Marching band First American football game (painting)
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
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National championship seasons in bold