The Monday Morning Kickoff
A view from the gridiron (Rutgers Football)
Recruiting continues for the Scarlet Knights as offers have been going out to junior prospects all over the country. Last week, the coaches sent a slew of offers outside the state of New Jersey. One of them went tout to linebacker Marquis Traylor of Brighton, Tenn.
"My coach, Darren Stevens, got a call from two of the Rutgers coaches, Ash and Busch, saying that Rutgers wanted to be the first to offer me,” Traylor said. “To get an offer from them is a blessing. I know that Rutgers has an awesome coaching staff, gets players ready for the NFL, and a lot of players got drafted too.”
Offers also went out closer to home and one of them was issued to Paramus Catholic defensive back Jarrett Paul.
“I sat down with Coach Ash and he told me how he's trying to change the program at Rutgers,” Paul said following last Thursday’s visit to campus. “He wants guys with high character, high work ethic, and loves the game of football. He told me that he feels I'm one of those guys and then he offered me.
The Scarlet Knights are also a finalist for grad senior transfer running back Gus Edwards, who is leaving the University of Miami for his final season of college football. He talked to Scarlet Nation about his plan to decide today.
“I am down to Rutgers and Oklahoma State and I will decide and be signing on Monday,” Edwards said.
Stay logged onto Scarlet Nation’s The Round Table for all the latest recruiting news and updates.
The take from center court (Rutgers Basketball)
The close calls continued for Rutgers as the Scarlet Knights fell just shy of upsetting Michigan at home last week. Rutgers just could not finish as the team suffered a 68-64 loss to the Wolverines.
“This is a process,” head coach Steve Pikiell said following the Michigan loss. “This is the best league in the country. I don't care what anyone says. Night in and night out from top to bottom, from the No. 1 team to No. 13, this league is really good. Look at the teams' records and look at the coaches that are coaching at these places. Our guys are fighting.”
Rutgers is now 13-16 on the year and will face No.24 Maryland at home on Tuesday night with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network.
On the mat (Rutgers Wrestling)
The RU grapplers finished the regular season 12-5 and undefeated at home. The Scarlet Knights also finished in a tie for a No.12 national ranking in the final NWCA regular season Coaches Poll.
Junior 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault finished the season with a No.5 national ranking while five other Scarlet Knights also placed in the top 20 in their respective weight classes. Next up for Rutgers is the Big Ten Championships, hosted by Northwestern on March 4-5.