Rutgers fourth-year junior Saquan Hampton has returned to his starting free safety spot, but now he is free from the injuries that nagged him through last season. Hampton was injured in game one of last season and those troubles seemed to stay with him.

He still managed to start seven games and collect 46 tackles, but the scarlet nation only saw a glimpse of what Hampton can do as the starting free safety.

“I am much smarter and playing much faster than I have ever played,” Hampton said. “Each day, Coach [Bill] Busch is on us every day in terms of knowing what the offense is going to do before the play happens. I am doing much better than that.”

Health is also a non-issue heading into the start of the 2017 season.

“It feels good to be 100 percent,” Hampton said. “I am just taking my time and making sure my routine is right each and every day; getting the right treatments. It feels good to be back.”

That could all lead to a breakout year for Hampton.

“I am definitely trying to make a name for myself this year and provide for the defense as best as I can,” Hampton said.

Hampton is also part of a Rutgers secondary that is considered to be far and away the best position group on the team.

“I think we can be real good as long as everybody knows their assignments and are playing at a fast level," Hampton sad. "I feel like we have the secondary to compete with anybody in the Big Ten.”

Now that year two under head coach Chris Ash is set to begin, Hampton and the entire defense expects to take another step towards restoring Rutgers to a post-season team.

“The approach is the same, but our defense is all used to each other now. We are all playing faster. We know our assignments better than we did a year ago. That is a good sign.”