The Monday Morning Kickoff
Training camp kicks off today and, as has been customary over the better part of the last decade, the Scarlet Knights will start off with a new offensive coordinator. This time around, former Big Ten head coach of the year Jerry Kill will be running the RU offense.
“He's brought leadership. He's brought confidence,” head coach Chris Ash said of Kill last week. “He's brought a head coach's view to the offensive side of the ball. His flexibility in terms of using our personnel and devising a scheme and system that fits what we have right now and what we can recruit every single year is really what he's brought to the table. And it's been a lot of fun in the few months we've been together, and excited to get on the football field with him here in a couple of weeks.”
Starting senior left guard Dorian Miller is hoping to finish his final season on a high note and has been encouraged by what he has seen out of his teammates.
“I really feel a sense of urgency from a lot of guys,” Miller said. “I feel like guys are really tired of not making the postseason and some of the guys on the team have never been to a bowl game. So I feel like the locker room is hungry for a successful season and the younger guys are going to step into some shoes that may have been a little too big for them before. They are ready to take on more responsibility, so I am anxious and excited to see how guys look at camp.”
Joining the Scarlet Knights is yet another transfer as defensive back Tre Avery, formerly known as Kareem Felder, joined the Scarlet Knights after redshirting last year at Toledo. Avery will have to sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules.
Today’s practice will be the team’s first of the summer and Scarlet Nation will be on hand with practice updates, news, photos and video.
Recruiting still remains in high gear as the RU staff hosted a contingent of visitors last week. Among them was highly-touted three star offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal of Conway, S.C.
“I pretty much hung out with the whole coaching staff and some of the football players too,” O’Neal said. “My favorite part of the visit was seeing the graphic design building and meeting everyone who was there. They also have a building that's dedicated to my major alone.”
Rutgers also played host to Ohio defensive end Brandon Derrow of St. Frances De Sales in Columbus.
“It was a real good visit, I really enjoyed it,” Derrow said. “I took a tour of all the football facilities then toured the campus and then visited the business school and went back to the football facilities to meet with coaches.”
Stay logged onto Scarlet Nation and check in with The Round Table for all the latest recruiting news and tidbits.