2008 Rutgers Football
August 2, 2008
Greg Schiano had bigger expectations for his football team last season. Rutgers was in search of a Big East title, but the Scarlet Knights underachieved in conference play with a 3-4 record. Still, an 8-5 mark last season and a 52-30 win over Ball State in the International Bowl was a successful year at Rutgers. How will the Scarlet Knights look this season without star running back Ray Rice? Find out with Info Plays 2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football predictions and season preview below.
Offense:
After producing the first 2,000-yard rusher in school history last year, the Scarlet Knights may feature the most productive passing game the program has ever had in 2008. Fifth-year quarterback Mike Teel recorded the second-best season in school history for a QB with 3,147 yards passing. He did it in just nine games due to an injury to the thumb on his throwing hand. There’s no reason he won’t have an even bigger year with one of the most dangerous wide receiving tandems in the nation. Junior Kenny Britt set a school record with 1,232 receiving yards last year while averaging 19.9 yards per catch. Senior Tiquean Underwood would have broken the school mark with his 1,100 yards on 65 catches if it wasn’t for Britt. Underwood did set the single-game mark with 248 receiving yards in their opener against Buffalo last year.
Speedster Tim Brown and veteran Dennis Campbell give the Knights a receiving corps that is deep as any in the country. Replacing all-time leading rusher Ray Rice may not be as difficult as replacing three offensive line starters, two of which were All-Big East tackles. The Knights have a rising star in left tackle Anthony Davis, a 6-6, 350-pound horse who earned Freshman All-American honors. Kordell Young, Mason Robinson and red shirt freshman Jordan Brooks will fight for the 380 carries that workhorse Rice left behind. Rutgers was the first team in NCAA history last year to feature a 3,000-yard passer, 2,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers. Three of the four players who helped set that record are back.
Defense:
Rutgers should be good on the defensive line, especially if true freshman tackle Scott Vallone lives up to his billing. Ends George Johnson and Jamaal Westerman and nose tackle Pete Tverdov are all proven performers. Westerman had a team-high eight sacks last year. Senior Courtney Greene is one of the nation’s best free safeties. He heads a secondary that returns three-quarters intacts. Twins Jason and Devin McCourty are back as the starting corneers, with Glen Lee and Joe Lefeged battling it out at strong safety. Lefeged is a monster hitter.
Linebacker will be the key to this defense being as good as it was a year ago, a No. 17 overall ranking in total defense. Steady Kevin Malast is a returning starters, but is likely to be joined by a pair of newcomers. Junior Ryan D’Imperio mans the middle and highly regarded red shirt freshman Manny Abreu on the strong side. Abreu may have to bid his time if veteran Damaso Munoz returns healthy from shoulder surgers that forced him to miss spring drills.
Rutgers Football Predictions at Info Plays: 4th in the Big East
Greg Schiano is entering his eighth season and claims this is the most talented roster he’s ever had. But the early schedule, with Fresno State and North Carolina to start, and a late tough slate filled with landmines might do this team in. They play three road games against the three teams we pick to finish ahead of Rutgers. If the Knights can fortify their offensive line, they’ll be bowling for a fourth straight year. A great offensive line performance this season and Rutgers will be bowling well and competing for a Big East title.
Get a different 2008 Rutgers Football preview from a Big East source that ranks the Scarlet Knights #3 within the conference here.
Big East Wins Expected in ‘08: CONNECTICUT, SYRACUSE, LOUISVILLE
Potential Scares/Losses: at
West Virginia, at
Cincinnati, at
Pittsburgh, at South Florida