2018 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

Last updated

2018 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
Rutgers Scarlet Knights logo.svg
Conference Big Ten Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record1–11 (0–9 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator John McNulty (1st season)
Offensive scheme Power spread
Defensive coordinator Jay Niemann (3rd season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadium HighPoint.com Stadium
Seasons
  2017
2019  
2018 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 3 Ohio State xy$  8 1   13 1  
No. 14 Michigan x  8 1   10 3  
No. 17 Penn State  6 3   9 4  
Michigan State  5 4   7 6  
Maryland  3 6   5 7  
Indiana  2 7   5 7  
Rutgers  0 9   1 11  
West Division
No. 21 Northwestern xy  8 1   9 5  
Wisconsin  5 4   8 5  
No. 25 Iowa  5 4   9 4  
Purdue  5 4   6 7  
Minnesota  3 6   7 6  
Nebraska  3 6   4 8  
Illinois  2 7   4 8  
Championship: Ohio State 45, Northwestern 24
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights played their home games at HighPoint.com Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey and competed as members of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by third-year head coach Chris Ash.

Contents

Rutgers began the year with a 35–7 victory over Texas State, but things quickly turned south for the team. After a blowout loss to Ohio State in Rutgers' conference opener, the team traveled to play Kansas, who had lost 39 of their previous 42 games against FBS opponents. [1] Rutgers lost in a blowout, 55–14. The next week, the team was blown out 42–13 by Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference. In the remainder of conference play, the Scarlet Knights were mostly outmatched, losing the rest of their games, despite holding fourth quarter leads in games against Northwestern and Michigan State. [2] [3] Rutgers' final record of 1–11 matched the previous school record for losses in a season with their 1–11 2002 team and 0–11 1997 team. [4]

Freshman quarterback Artur Sitowski led the team in passing, finishing with 1,158 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. Sophomore running back Raheem Blacksheer led the team in both rushing and receiving yards, and had 953 yards from scrimmage on the year. [5] On defense, senior linebacker Trevor Morris finished in sixth in the conference with 105 total tackles. He concluded his career in ninth on the school's all-time leaderboard for total tackles. [6]

Offseason

Recruits

The Scarlet Knights signed a total of 21 recruits.

College recruiting information (2018)
NameHometownSchoolHeightWeightCommit date
Jarrett Paul
CB
Paramus, New Jersey Paramus Catholic High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)197 lb (89 kg)Apr 22, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Jalen Chatman
QB
Harbor City, California Narbonne High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg)May 15, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Zihir Lacewell
WR
Staten Island, New York Tottenville High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)Jun 13, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Isiah Pacheco
RB
Vineland, New Jersey Vineland High School 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)190 lb (86 kg)Jun 21, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Kessawn Abraham
CB
Brooklyn, New York Erasmus Hall High School 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)170 lb (77 kg)Jun 22, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  2 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Matt Rosso
OT
Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania Pennsbury High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)260 lb (120 kg)Jun 24, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Deion Jennings
CB
Erial, New Jersey Timber Creek Regional High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)195 lb (88 kg)Jun 26, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  2 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  2 stars.svg    
Reginald Sutton
OG
Baltimore, Maryland Calvert Hall College High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)278 lb (126 kg)Jun 27, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Avery Young
CB
Coatesville, Pennsylvania Coatesville Area High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)195 lb (88 kg)Jun 30, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Paul Woods
WR
Buffalo, New York Canisius High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)165 lb (75 kg)Jul 11, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Adam Korsak
P
Maribyrnong, Victoria Prokick Australia6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg)Jul 12, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  2 stars.svg     Rivals:  2 stars.svg     247Sports:  2 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Raiqwon O'Neal
OT
Conway, South Carolina Conway High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)270 lb (120 kg)Aug 16, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Matthew Thomas
DE
Brooklyn, New York Midwood High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)237 lb (108 kg)Aug 25, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Christian Izien
DB
Brooklyn, New York Erasmus Hall High School 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)180 lb (82 kg)Oct 13, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  2 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Artur Sitkowski
QB
Old Bridge, New Jersey IMG Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)215 lb (98 kg)Nov 1, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  4 stars.svg    
Jalen Jordan
WR
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania IMG Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)210 lb (95 kg)Dec 13, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Daevon Robinson
WR
Medford, New Jersey Shawnee High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)210 lb (95 kg)Dec 18, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  4 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Jamree Kromah
DE
Springdale, Maryland Charles Herbert Flowers High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)246 lb (112 kg)Dec 20, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  2 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Malik Dixon
S
Thatcher, Arizona Eastern Arizona College 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)215 lb (98 kg)Jan 5, 2018 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Robin Jutwreten
DE
Stockholm, Sweden N/A6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)235 lb (107 kg)Jan 21, 2018 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  2 stars.svg     247Sports:  2 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Eddie Lewis
WR
New Monmouth, New Jersey Mater Dei High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)179 lb (81 kg)Feb 1, 2018 
Recruit ratings: Scout:  3 stars.svg     Rivals:  3 stars.svg     247Sports:  3 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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:

  • "Rivals". Rivals. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved February 27, 2018.

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

AwardPlayerPositionYear
John Mackey Award [7] Jerome WashingtonTESR

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 112:00 p.m. Texas State * BTN W 35–740,124
September 83:30 p.m.at No. 4 Ohio State BTNL 3–5293,057
September 1512:00 p.m.at Kansas * FSN L 14–5528,044
September 2212:00 p.m. Buffalo *
  • HighPoint.com Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 13–4234,574
September 2912:00 p.m. Indiana
  • HighPoint.com Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 17–2432,056
October 612:00 p.m. Illinois
  • HighPoint.com Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 17–3836,702
October 1312:00 p.m.at Maryland BTNL 7–3432,995
October 2012:00 p.m. Northwestern Dagger-14-plain.png
  • HighPoint.com Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 15–1832,514
November 312:00 p.m.at Wisconsin BTNL 17–3174,379
November 103:30 p.m.No. 4 Michigan
  • HighPoint.com Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 7–4243,786
November 1712:00 p.m.No. 16 Penn State
  • HighPoint.com Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 7–2044,840
November 244:00 p.m.at Michigan State FOX L 10–1464,951
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Roster and coaching staff

2018 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB 2 Raheem Blackshear Redshirt.svg  So
QB 3Jalen ChatmanFr
RB 4Trey Sneed Redshirt.svg  So
WR 5Paul WoodsFr
WR 6Mohamed Jabbie Redshirt.svg  So
WR 7Hunter HayekSo
QB 8 Artur Sitkowski Fr
RB 10 Isiah Pacheco Fr
QB 11Johnathan LewisSo
WR 12Jalen JordanFr
WR 13Prince Taylor Redshirt.svg  So
QB 14Rob Nittolo Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 14Everett WormleySo
WR 15Shameen Jones Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 17Giovanni Rescigno (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 18 Bo Melton So
QB 19Austin AlbericciFr
WR 21Eddie LewisFr
RB 23Jonathan Hilliman Redshirt.svg  Sr
RB 24Charles Snorweah Redshirt.svg  Jr
RB 28Aslan Pugh Redshirt.svg  So
WR 34Javis HanksFr
WR 36Ryan Downer Redshirt.svg  Fr
FB 41Brandon MyersFr
RB 44Max Anthony Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 50Owen Bowles Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 51Jamaal Beaty Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 54Kamaal Seymour Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 55Michael Maietti Redshirt.svg  So
OL 56Micah ClarkSo
OL 57Zach Miseo Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 58Charles Zarzecki Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 61Mike Lonsdorf Redshirt.svg  So
OL 63Jim Onulak Redshirt.svg  So
OL 65Tariq Cole (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 66Nick Krimin Redshirt.svg  So
OL 70Reggie SuttonFr
OL 71 Raiqwon O'Neal Fr
OL 73 Jonah Jackson  (C) Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 74Sam Howson Redshirt.svg  So
OL 75Zach Venesky Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 76Matt RossoFr
OL 77Sam VretmanSo
OL 78Liam FliteFr
OL 79Zack Heeman Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 81Tyler Hayek Redshirt.svg  Fr
WR 82Zihir LacewellFr
WR 84Cole Murphy Redshirt.svg  Jr
TE 85Daevon RobinsonFr
TE 86 Nakia Griffin-Stewart Redshirt.svg  Jr
TE 87Jonathan PimentelFr
TE 88Jerome WashingtonSr
TE 89 Travis Vokolek So
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 1 Blessuan Austin Sr
LB 3 Olakunle Fatukasi So
DB 4 Tre Avery Redshirt.svg  So
LB 5Trevor MorrisSr
LB 6Deonte Roberts (C)Sr
DL 7Elorm Lumor Redshirt.svg  So
LB 8Tyshon FoggSo
DB 9 Saquan Hampton  (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
DB 11Isaiah Wharton (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
DB 12 Christian Izien Fr
LB 13Deion JenningsFr
DB 16Jelani Ray GarvinJr
DB 17Zamir MickensFr
LB 20Elijah Barnwell Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 20Avery YoungFr
DB 21Tim Barrow Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 22Damon HayesJr
DB 23Kiy Hester Redshirt.svg  Sr
DB 25Jarrett PaulFr
DB 29Lawrence Stevens Redshirt.svg  So
DB 30Kessawn AbrahamFr
LB 31Johnny YoreyFr
DB 32Rani Abdulaziz Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 33Parker Day Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 35Anthony MarshallFr
LB 42Izaia Bullock Redshirt.svg  Jr
LB 43Chike NwankwoFr
LB 44 Tyreek Maddox-Williams Redshirt.svg  So
DL 45Muhammad Wainwright Redshirt.svg  Sr
LB 49Nihym AndersonFr
DL 50Julius Turner Redshirt.svg  So
LB 55Austin Rosa Redshirt.svg  Jr
LB 56Rashawn Battle Redshirt.svg  So
DL 57Joahne Duggan Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 72Manny Taylor Redshirt.svg  Jr
DL 85Matt ThomasFr
DL 88 Brendan Bordner Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 90Freddie RecioSo
DL 91Tijaun Mason Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 93Jason Griggs Redshirt.svg  So
DL 94 Jamree Kromah Fr
DL 95Jon BatekySr
DL 96Willington Previlon Redshirt.svg  Jr
DL 97Mike Tverdov Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 98Robin JutwretenFr
DL 99Kevin Wilkins Redshirt.svg  Sr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
LS 46Brendan ShankFr
LS 47Billy TaylorSo
LS 48Ryan Cassidy Redshirt.svg  Fr
P 92Nick JohnstonSr
P 94 Adam Korsak So
K 95Justin DavidoviczSo
P 96Zach SterrFr
K 99Gavin Haggerty Redshirt.svg  Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster
Last update: September 8, 2018

Game summaries

Texas State

1234Total
Bobcats00707
Scarlet Knights7147735

At No. 4 Ohio State

1234Total
Scarlet Knights00303
No. 4 Buckeyes142110752

At Kansas

1234Total
Scarlet Knights770014
Jayhawks1714101455

Buffalo

1234Total
Bulls14210742
Scarlet Knights330713

Indiana

1234Total
Hoosiers7170024
Scarlet Knights7001017

Illinois

1234Total
Fighting Illini101401438
Scarlet Knights770317

At Maryland

1234Total
Scarlet Knights00077
Terrapins101410034

Northwestern

1234Total
Wildcats703818
Scarlet Knights0123015

At Wisconsin

1234Total
Scarlet Knights0031417
Badgers7314731

No. 4 Michigan

1234Total
No. 4 Wolverines71414742
Scarlet Knights70007

No. 16 Penn State

1234Total
No. 16 Nittany Lions3100720
Scarlet Knights00077

At Michigan State

1234Total
Scarlet Knights700310
Spartans070714

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL club
6177 Saquan Hampton S New Orleans Saints
6196 Blessuan Austin CB New York Jets

References

  1. Fonseca, Brian (June 5, 2018). "Rutgers Football 2018 Preview: Kansas at a glance". 247Sports.com . Note: the source lists 39 of 41 as of the beginning of the 2018 season, and Kansas defeated FBS team Central Michigan the week prior.
  2. "Bowser's second TD run rallies Northwestern past Rutgers". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 20, 2018.
  3. "Michigan State scores late TD, beats Rutgers 14-10". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 24, 2018.
  4. "Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Record By Year". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  5. "2018 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  6. Kratch, James (March 12, 2019). "Trevor Morris flying under NFL Draft radar after standout Rutgers career: 'It's better to be the underdog'". NJ.com.
  7. "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.