2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

Last updated

2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
Rutgers Scarlet Knights logo.svg
Pinstripe Bowl champion
Pinstripe Bowl, W 31–24 vs. Miami (FL)
Conference Big Ten Conference
Record7–6 (3–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca (3rd season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak (2nd season)
Base defense 4–3 or 4–2–5
Home stadium SHI Stadium
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 1 Michigan xy$#^  9 0   15 0  
No. 10 Ohio State  8 1   11 2  
No. 13 Penn State  7 2   10 3  
Maryland  4 5   8 5  
Rutgers  3 6   7 6  
Michigan State  2 7   4 8  
Indiana  1 8   3 9  
West Division
No. 24 Iowa xy  7 2   10 4  
Northwestern  5 4   8 5  
Wisconsin  5 4   7 6  
Minnesota  3 6   6 7  
Illinois  3 6   5 7  
Nebraska  3 6   5 7  
Purdue  3 6   4 8  
Championship: Michigan 26, Iowa 0
  • # College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights were led by Greg Schiano in the fourth year of his second stint (15th overall season) as Rutgers' head coach. This was Rutgers first winning season since 2014.

Contents

The Scarlet Knights played their home games at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team drew an average home attendance of 49,251 in 2023.

Offseason

Coaching changes

On October 9, 2022, offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson was fired in the middle of the 2022 season. [1] On January 7, 2023, Minnesota offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca was hired to replace Gleeson. [2] This is Ciarrocca's second stint at Rutgers, having served as a co-offensive coordinator in 2009 and 2010. [3] [4]

Andrew Aurich transitioned from running backs coach to tight ends coach. [5]

Preseason

Big 10 media poll

The Scarlet Knights were predicted to finish sixth in the Big 10's East Division. [6]

Big 10 media poll East Division
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Michigan248 (27)
2Ohio State226 (8)
3Penn State192 (2)
4Maryland143
5Michigan State105
6Rutgers74
7Indiana48

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 312:00 p.m. Northwestern CBS W 24–753,026
September 97:30 p.m. Temple *
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTN W 36–745,317
September 163:30 p.m. Virginia Tech *
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNW 35–1652,657
September 2312:00 p.m.at No. 2 Michigan BTNL 7–31109,756
September 303:30 p.m. Wagner *
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNW 52–340,065
October 712:00 p.m.at Wisconsin Peacock L 13–2474,885
October 1412:00 p.m. Michigan State Dagger-14-plain.png
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNW 27–2452,879
October 2112:00 p.m.at Indiana BTNW 31–1443,611
November 412:00 p.m.No. 1 Ohio State
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
CBSL 16–3553,703
November 113:30 p.m.at No. 22 Iowa BTNL 0–2269,250
November 1812:00 p.m.at No. 12 Penn State FS1 L 6–27105,114
November 253:30 p.m. Maryland
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 24–4247,012
December 282:15 p.m.vs. Miami (FL) *ESPNW 31–2435,314
Schedule Source: [7]

Game summaries

Northwestern

1234Total
Wildcats00077
Scarlet Knights7107024
StatisticsNURUTG
First downs1320
Total yards201285
Rushing yards12122
Passing yards189163
Turnovers21
Time of possession22:0437:56
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NorthwesternPassing Ben Bryant 20/36, 169 yards, 2 INT
RushingBrendan Sullivan4 rushes, 11 yards
Receiving Camron Johnson 4 receptions, 45 yards
RutgersPassing Gavin Wimsatt 17/29, 163 yards, TD
Rushing Kyle Monangai 14 rushes, 49 yards, TD
ReceivingIsaiah Washington4 receptions, 36 yards

Temple

1234Total
Owls00077
Scarlet Knights7602336
StatisticsTEMRUTG
First downs2020
Total yards298452
Rushing yards68254
Passing yards230198
Turnovers21
Time of possession25:0134:59
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TemplePassing E. J. Warner 20/47, 230 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingJoquez Smith9 rushes, 45 yards
ReceivingDante Wright6 receptions, 67 yards, TD
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt10/21, 198 yards, TD
RushingKyle Monangai28 rushes, 165 yards, TD
Receiving JaQuae Jackson 4 receptions, 95 yards

Virginia Tech

1234Total
Hokies037616
Scarlet Knights71401435
StatisticsVTRUTG
First downs1814
Total yards319302
Rushing yards129256
Passing yards19046
Turnovers20
Time of possession33:4426:16
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Virginia TechPassing Kyron Drones 19/32, 190 yards, TD, INT
RushingKyron Drones22 rushes, 74 yards
ReceivingDaquan Felton6 receptions, 84 yards, TD
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt7/16, 46 yards, TD
RushingKyle Monangai16 rushes, 143 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingChristian Dremel3 receptions, 34 yards, TD

At No. 2 Michigan

1234Total
Scarlet Knights70007
No. 2 Wolverines7710731
StatisticsRUTGMICH
First downs1020
Total yards257415
Rushing yards77201
Passing yards180214
Turnovers10
Time of possession23:5236:08
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt11/21, 180 yards, TD, INT
RushingGavin Wimsatt6 rushes, 28 yards
ReceivingChristian Dremel3 receptions, 85 yards, TD
MichiganPassing J. J. McCarthy 15/21, 214 yards, TD
Rushing Blake Corum 21 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Colston Loveland 5 receptions, 75 yards

Wagner

1234Total
Seahawks03003
Scarlet Knights1014141452
StatisticsWAGRUTG
First downs628
Total yards106436
Rushing yards83267
Passing yards23169
Turnovers00
Time of possession22:2337:37
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
WagnerPassingSteven Krajewski4/6, 19 yards
RushingRickey Spruill7 carries, 36 yards
ReceivingKobi Ray-Reed2 receptions, 10 yards
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt12/19, 146 yards, 1 TD
RushingKyle Monangai19 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJaQuae Jackson4 receptions, 71 yards

At Wisconsin

1234Total
Scarlet Knights006713
Badgers3140724
StatisticsRUTGWIS
First downs1623
Total yards275358
Rushing yards64213
Passing yards211145
Turnovers12
Time of possession27:1332:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt16/35, 181 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingGavin Wimsatt9 carries, 43 yards
ReceivingIsaiah Washington3 receptions, 53 yards
WisconsinPassing Tanner Mordecai 17/31, 145 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Braelon Allen 21 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Will Pauling 8 receptions, 68 yards

Michigan State

1234Total
Spartans7107024
Scarlet Knights3302127
StatisticsMSURUTG
First downs2220
Total yards247306
Rushing yards113125
Passing yards134181
Turnovers33
Time of possession29:1645:44
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Michigan StatePassing Katin Houser 18/29, 133 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Nathan Carter 20 carries, 52 yards
Receiving Montorie Foster Jr. 5 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt13/28, 181 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
RushingKyle Monangai24 carries, 148 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingChristian Dremel6 receptions, 80 yards

At Indiana

1234Total
Scarlet Knights7107731
Hoosiers770014
StatisticsRUTGIU
First downs2018
Total yards315279
Rushing yards276153
Passing yards39126
Turnovers01
Time of possession37:3822:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt5/12, 39 yards
RushingGavin Wimsatt16 carries, 143 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingChristian Dremel2 receptions, 14 yards
IndianaPassing Brendan Sorsby 15/31, 126 yards, 1 TD
RushingTrent Howland9 carries, 54 yards
ReceivingOmar Cooper Jr.1 reception, 35 yards, 1 TD

No. 1 Ohio State

1234Total
No. 1 Buckeyes70141435
Scarlet Knights090716
StatisticsOSURUTG
First downs1522
Total yards328361
Rushing yards139232
Passing yards189129
Turnovers11
Time of possession24:2335:37
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ohio StatePassing Kyle McCord 19/26, 189 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing TreVeyon Henderson 22 rushes, 128 yards, TD
ReceivingTreVeyon Henderson5 receptions, 80 yards
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt10/25, 129 yards, TD, INT
RushingKyle Monangai24 rushes, 159 yards
ReceivingChristian Dremel5 receptions, 69 yards

At No. 22 Iowa

1234Total
Scarlet Knights00000
No. 22 Hawkeyes00000
StatisticsRUTGIOWA
First downs721
Total yards127402
Rushing yards34179
Passing yards93223
Turnovers11
Time of possession21:3838:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt7/18, 93 yards, INT
RushingKyle Monangai13 carries, 39 yards
ReceivingIan Strong3 receptions, 47 yards
IowaPassing Deacon Hill 20/31, 223 yards, TD, INT
RushingLeshon Williams13 carries, 63 yards
ReceivingAddison Ostrenga8 receptions, 47 yards

At No. 12 Penn State

1234Total
Scarlet Knights33006
No. 12 Nittany Lions01031427
StatisticsRUTGPSU
First downs1316
Total yards229322
Rushing yards99234
Passing yards13088
Turnovers31
Time of possession32:0028:00
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt10/16, 130, INT
RushingKyle Monangai16 carries, 39 yards
ReceivingIsaiah Washington5 receptions, 55 yards
Penn StatePassing Drew Allar 6/13, 79 yards
Rushing Beau Pribula 8 carries, 71 yards, TD
Receiving Tyler Warren 2 receptions, 32 yards

Maryland

1234Total
Terrapins2177742
Scarlet Knights3140724
StatisticsMDRUTG
First downs2420
Total yards498355
Rushing yards137190
Passing yards361165
Turnovers21
Time of possession25:3934:21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MarylandPassing Taulia Tagovailoa 24/31, 361 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Roman Hemby 15 carries, 113 yards
Receiving Tai Felton 5 receptions, 140 yards, 1 TD
RutgersPassingGavin Wimsatt13/34, 165 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingKyle Monangai20 carries, 118 yards
ReceivingIsaiah Washington3 receptions, 67 yards

vs Miami (FL) (Pinstripe Bowl)

2023 Bad Boys Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Miami Hurricanes (7–5, 3–5) vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6–6, 3–6) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Rutgers7771031
Miami0107724

at Yankee StadiumThe Bronx, New York

  • Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 52 °F (11 °C) • Wind: 8 mph (13 km/h) NE
  • Game attendance: 35,314
  • Referee: Justin Elliott
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Drew Carter (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), and Taylor Davis (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
First quarter
  • (6:54) RUTG – Gavin Wimsatt 1-yard run, Jai Patel kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 8:06; Rutgers 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (7:37) RUTG – Kyle Monangai 7-yard run, Jai Patel kick (Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 4:14; Rutgers 14–0)
  • (3:19) MIA – Jacurri Brown 7-yard run, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:18; Rutgers 14–7)
  • (0:00) MIA – Andres Borregales 35-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 0:45; Rutgers 14–10)
Third quarter
  • (10:33) MIA – Xavier Restrepo 30-yard pass from Jacurri Brown, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 4:27; Miami 17–14)
  • (5:06) RUTG – Timmy Ward 0-yard return of blocked punt, Jai Patel kick (Drive: 3 plays, 6 yards, 2:17; Rutgers 21–17)
Fourth quarter
  • (11:51) RUTG – Gavin Wimsatt 1-yard run, Jai Patel kick (Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 3:04; Rutgers 28–17)
  • (2:35) RUTG – Jai Patel 35-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 26 yards, 7:12; Rutgers 31–17)
  • (0:27) MIA – Jacurri Brown 1-yard run, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 2:08; Rutgers 31–24)

Statistics

StatisticsRUTMIA
First downs1722
Plays–yards60–29263–311
Rushes–yards208130
Passing yards84181
Passing: compattint7–15–020–31–1
Time of possession34:2625:34
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RutgersPassing Gavin Wimsatt 7/15, 84 yards
Rushing Kyle Monangai 163 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingChristian Dremel1 Rec, 23 yards
Miami (FL)Passing Jacurri Brown 20/31, 181 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJacurri Brown15 carries, 57 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Xavier Restrepo 11 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD

Roster

2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 1Famah ToureFr
QB 2 Gavin Wimsatt Jr
WR 3Chris LongJr
RB 5 Kyle Monangai Jr
WR 6Christian Dremel Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 7Dylan BraithwaiteFr
WR 9 JaQuae Jackson Sr
TE 11Logan BlakeFr
WR 12Vilay Jr. NakkounFr
WR 13Nasir MontgomeryJr
WR 14Isaiah WashingtonSr
QB 15Ajani SheppardFr
WR 16Jesse OfurieFr
WR 18Davoun FuseFr
QB 19Colin O'SullivanFr
RB 20Ja'shon BenjaminFr
TE 21Johnny Langan Redshirt.svg  Sr
RB 27Samuel V BrownSo
WR 28Naseim BrantleySr
WR 29Ian StrongFr
RB 32Charlie BarthSo
RB 33Donovan Jr. DelaneySo
RB 41Jordan KinslerJr
OL 51Curtis Jr. Dunlap Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 54Nick CiaffoniSo
OL 56Tyler NeedhamJr
OL 57Ireland Brown Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 59Gus ZilinskasJr
OL 60Moses Gbagbe-SowahJr
OL 61Emir StinetteSo
OL 62Cole KolzlowskiFr
OL 63Taj WhiteSo
OL 65Bryan FelterJr
OL 66Joe De CroceSo
OL 69Kwabena AsamoahSo
OL 70Reggie Sutton Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 71John StoneFr
OL 72 Hollin Pierce Jr
OL 73Terrence SalamiJr
OL 74Dominic RiveraFr
OL 75Jacob AllenSo
OL 76Dantae ChinSo
OL 78Nick OliveiraFr
OL 79Mozell WilliamsFr
WR 80Jordan SmikleSo
WR 81Deondre JohnsonFr
TE 82Jordan WalkerSo
WR 84Gunnison BloodgoodJr
WR 85Ben RosenblattFr
TE 86Evan WardJr
TE 87Shawn BowmanSr
TE 88Mike HigginsSo
TE 89Victor KonopkaJr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 0Eric RogersJr
LB 1Mohamed Toure Redshirt.svg  Sr
LB 2Moses WalkerSo
DB 3Bo MascoeFr
DB 4Desmond IgbinosunJr
DB 5Keesawn Abraham Redshirt.svg  Sr
DB 6Shaquan LoyalJr
DB 7 Robert Longerbeam Redshirt.svg  Jr
LB 8Jamier Wright-Collins Redshirt.svg  Jr
DL 9 Isaiah Iton Sr
DB 10Flip DixonJr
DL 12Kenny FletcherSo
LB 13Abram WrightFr
DL 14Jordan ThompsonJr
DB 15Zilan WilliamsSo
DB 16 Max Melton Redshirt.svg  Jr
LB 17Deion Jennings Redshirt.svg  Sr
DB 18Fitzroy LedgisterSo
LB 22Tyreem PowellJr
DL 23Wesley BaileyJr
DB 24Thomas AmankwaaSo
DB 25Charles AmankwaaSr
DB 26Al-Shadee SalaamJr
DB 27Sage ClawgesFr
LB 28Dariel DjabomeSo
DB 29Trevor Yeboah-KodieJr
LB 30Sam GadieSo
DB 31Michael Robinson IIJr
DB 32Joey LisFr
LB 33Lance RiceSr
DL 35David OnuohaSo
LB 36Dominick WilliamsSr
DB 37Joe LusardiJr
DB 38Timmy WardJr
DB 39Trent BrownFr
DB 40Sebastian JusmaSo
DL 42DJ AllenSo
DB 43Andrew VargasSo
LB 44Timmy HinspeterSo
DB 45Shawn PurcellFr
DB 46Kareem LewisSo
DL 48 Kyonte Hamilton Jr
DL 50Jordany AugustinSo
DL 51Troy RaineyJr
DL 55Zaire AngoyJr
DL 56Sean CooperJr
DL 71Aaron LewisJr
DL 87Liam RempelJr
DL 90René KongaJr
DL 91Djibril Abdou RahmanFr
DL 92Mayan Ahanotu Redshirt.svg  Sr
DL 94JaSiré PetersonFr
DL 95Henry Jr. HughesJr
DL 96Keshon GriffinJr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 44Jai PatelSo
LS 46Sammy El HadidiSo
LS 49Jake EldridgeFr
K 93 Jude McAtamney Sr
P 95Flynn ApplebySo
K 97Riley McCannFr
K, P 98Michael HartshornFr
LS 99Michael O'ConnorJr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

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

Roster

References

  1. Fonseca, Brian (October 9, 2022). "Rutgers fires offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson". nj.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  2. "Here is Rutgers OC Kirk Ciarrocca's salary as contract is approved". nj.com. NJ Advance Media. January 7, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  3. "Rutgers Football Announces Staff Promotions". scarletknights.com. Rutgers Athletics Communications. February 24, 2009. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  4. Sargeant, Keith (August 1, 2017). "Why did Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck hire ex-Rutgers assistants as coordinators?". nj.com. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  5. Breitman, Aaron (April 11, 2023). "Andrew Aurich discusses progress at tight end position". The Scarlet Faithful. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  6. Cobb, David (July 25, 2023). "Big Ten football predicted order of finish for 2023: Michigan picked to win conference title over Ohio State". CBS Sports . Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  7. "2023 Football Schedule". Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Retrieved December 20, 2022.