Rutgers to face Notre Dame in New Era Pinstripe Bowl

BRONX, NY - Rutgers University today accepted an invitation to play in the 2013 New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, December 28.

The Scarlet Knights will face off against the University of Notre Dame, with kickoff expected to be at noon. 

Led by second-year head coach and 2012 BIG EAST Coach of the Year Kyle Flood, the Scarlet Knights (6-6) responded to a season-opening loss by winning their next four games, including a 55-52 triple-overtime victory at SMU on October 5. Running back Paul James (nine touchdowns) and wide receiver Leonte Carroo (nine touchdown receptions) each helped lead the Rutgers offense. Linebacker Steve Longa led all freshmen nationally with 111 tackles.

For the Scarlet Knights, it will mark the second time that the school has played in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. In 2011, Rutgers took home the George M. Steinbrenner Trophy, defeating Iowa State, 27-13, in a victory dedicated to Eric LeGrand, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a game against Army in 2010.

“I'm so proud of this team and staff for earning this unprecedented opportunity for Rutgers University,” said Rutgers Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Julie Hermann. “The chance to compete against Notre Dame in a potentially sold-out Yankee Stadium in our own backyard is unparalleled in our history. This is a critical chance to continue our preparation as we move to the prestigious Big Ten Conference.”

This will be Rutgers’ third appearance at the current Yankee Stadium, after the Scarlet Knights also defeated the Army Black Knights, 27-12, on November 12, 2011 in their first game in the Bronx since 1948. Rutgers, whose main campus in Piscataway, N.J., is located less than 50 miles away from Yankee Stadium, also played nine times at the original Yankee Stadium – all against New York University – going 1-7-1. This will mark the ninth time that the school has played in a bowl game, having tallied a 5-1 record in their previous six appearances since 2006.

“This year’s Pinstripe Bowl matchup is truly special as it features two outstanding schools, in Rutgers and Notre Dame, with a great history of playing college football in Yankee Stadium,” said Mark Holtzman, Executive Director of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. “We are confident that each team will only add to their respective legacies in the Bronx in what I am sure will prove to be a memorable experience for all involved during this holiday season.”


Led by head coach Brian Kelly, Notre Dame finished the regular season with an 8-4 record and has combined to amass a 20-5 record over its last two seasons of play. Notable wins this year included a 17-13 victory over Michigan State on September 21, and a 14-10 win over USC on October 19. Wide receiver T.J. Jones led the offense with a team-high 1,042 receiving yards, including 9 touchdown receptions. Linebacker Dan Fox led the defense with a team-high 90 tackles.

Kelly owns a 36-15 (.706) overall record in his four years with the Irish, one of only two head coaches in school history to win eight or more games in each of their first four seasons (also Dan Devine).

For the Irish, it will mark the second time that the school has played at the current Yankee Stadium. On November 20, 2010, Notre Dame defeated Army, 27-3, in the first football game ever played at the venue. Heisman Trophy winners Johnny Lujack and Pete Dawkins served as honorary captains in what was the 50th all-time meeting between the two teams.

“Quite simply, we are thrilled to bring our football program to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl,” said Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly. “We were privileged to play in New York City and Yankee Stadium in 2010. The treatment our University received from the Steinbrenner family, the New York Yankees and the entire organization was unlike anything we’ve experienced in my tenure at Notre Dame.”

Notre Dame holds an all-time mark of 16-6-3 in Yankee Stadium games. In the 1940s alone, while playing at the original Yankee Stadium, Notre Dame claimed consensus national titles in 1943, ’46, ’47 and ’49.  In that same decade of the 1940s, the Irish produced three Heisman Trophy winners in Angelo Bertelli (1943), Lujack (1947) and Leon Hart (1949).

The original Yankee Stadium also played host to the 1928 Notre Dame-Army matchup which resulted in a 12-6 Irish victory.  The game was scoreless at halftime, when Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne gave his now-famous “win one for the Gipper” speech in the locker room.

“We are thrilled to welcome Notre Dame and its student-athletes, alumni and devoted fan base back to New York City and Yankee Stadium to play in the 2013 New Era Pinstripe Bowl,” said Mark Holtzman, Executive Director of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. “No two organizations in the history of American sport are more closely intertwined with such a rich and wonderful history as the New York Yankees and Notre Dame.”

Established in 2010, the New Era Pinstripe Bowl has featured some of the most memorable moments of bowl seasons in just three short years, including the exciting finish in the inaugural 2010 game in which Kansas State missed a game-tying two-point conversion in the final minute. The 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, which saw Syracuse defeat West Virginia 38-14, included a record-setting 213-yard rushing performance by the Orange’s Prince-Tyson Gulley.

Last year’s game also featured six 2013 NFL draft picks, including each of the game’s starting quarterbacks – Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib (Giants) and West Virginia’s Geno Smith (Jets).

Additionally, the New Era Pinstripe Bowl has seen increased attendance in each of its first three years of existence, including a record 41,203 in 2012. This year’s game will be nationally televised by ESPN, which has also secured national and local radio rights for ESPN Radio.

Temple and Rutgers renew football rivalry

PHILADELPHIA  – Temple University and Rutgers University have jointly announced a four-year agreement to play football beginning with the 2020 season and continuing through the 2023 season.

This agreement will continue a rivalry that began in 1948 and will see its 36th contest on November 2, 2013. One-time BIG EAST competitors, the two schools battle in the American Athletic Conference together this season.  Rutgers, however, will move to the Big 10 next year.

“We are excited to announce a four-year agreement to play Rutgers in football starting in 2020,” said Interim Director of Athletics Kevin Clark.  “This is a great series for fans of both teams, and it will continue a geographic rivalry, which is big part of our scheduling philosophy.”

“I know about the Temple-Rutgers rivalry, but hadn’t had a chance to be a part of it,” said Temple head coach Matt Rhule. “This year will be my first year going against them and I know it’s great for both schools to compete against one another when geographically we are so close. I was disappointed to see that they were moving from our conference, but excited now to see that they are back on our schedule in a few years.”

The agreement states that Temple will host Rutgers in 2021 and 2023, while Rutgers will host Temple in 2020 and 2022.

September 19, 2020 – Piscataway, NJ
September 11, 2021 – Philadelphia, PA
September 17, 2022 – Piscataway, NJ
September TBA, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA

Rutgers' Johnson, Lowery named to Outland Watch List

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers junior offensive tackle Kaleb Johnson and senior guard Antwan Lowery have been named to the initial Outland Trophy Watch List, announced today by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Outland Trophy is given annually to the nation’s best interior lineman.

Johnson, one of 25 tackles on the preseason list, is a preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection by Athlon, Phil Steele and Sporting News. He started all 13 games in 2012, earning All-BIG EAST Second Team honors.

Lowery garnered First Team All-BIG EAST recognition after earning the nod in every game of the 2012 season at left guard. One of 20 guards on the list, Lowery is a Preseason All-American Athletic Conference First Team selection by Athlon and Phil Steele.

Johnson and Lowery each helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher Jawan Jamison last season, while anchoring a line that allowed the eighth-fewest sacks in the nation.

Rutgers fires Mike Rice

Rutgers has fired embattled men's basketball coach Mike Rice.

"Based upon recently revealed information and a review of previously discovered issues, Rutgers has terminated the contract of Mike Rice," the university said in a statement.

Rice came under firer after an explosive video showed him physically and verbally abusing his players during practice surfaced.

Athletic Director Tim Pernetti first saw the video in December and suspended Rice for three games and fined him $50,000, an almost ludicrous under reaction.  Only after the video was leaked to ESPN and morphed into a national news story did Pernetti make the decision to fire Rice.


"I am responsible for the decision to attempt a rehabilitation of coach Rice," said Pernetti. "Dismissal and corrective action were debated in December and I thought it was in the best interest of everyone to rehabilitate, but I was wrong. Moving forward, I will work to regain the trust of the Rutgers community."

Rice was originally hired by the school in 2010, and his teams went 44-51 during his tenure, including a mark of 16-38 in the Big East.

Video: Rutgers' Rice Berates Players at Practice

Rutgers' Jamison declares for NFL Draft

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers redshirt sophomore running back Jawan Jamison has elected to forego his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2013 NFL Draft.

Jamison is the sixth player since 2008 at Rutgers to leave school early and enter the NFL Draft. Jamison joins fellow underclassmen Logan Ryan to leave Rutgers early following this season to enter the professional ranks.

“Jawan has been an exciting player for us during his career,” said Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood. “He is a running back with tremendous vision, great balance and has the gift to make people miss in the open field. We wish Jawan well as he begins his journey to play in the NFL.”

The four Scarlet Knights prior to Jamison who elected to forego their final year of eligibility since 2008 have enjoyed a tremendous amount of success at the next level. Ray Rice left Rutgers following his junior season in 2007 and was a second round draft selection of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 NFL Draft. Kenny Britt declared for the 2009 NFL Draft and was a first round pick of the Tennessee Titans while Anthony Davis was selected with the 11th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Rounding out the list of players who left early was Mohamed Sanu last year. He was a third round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Jamison was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection after rushing for a team-best 1,075 yards in 2012. The Starke, Fla., native averaged 4.2 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns on the year. He also caught 28 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns out of the backfield this season.

Jamison was the third RU player since 1976 to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in 2012 and the seventh player at Rutgers to record a 1,000-yard season.

For his career, Jamison rushed for 1,972 yards and 13 touchdowns in 25 games.

Penn State loses another, Pollard transfers to Rutgers

(The Phanatic Magazine)  – Rutgers has confirmed that true freshman defensive tackle Jamil Pollard, a product of West Deptford, N.J. High School, has joined the program, transferring from Penn State.

Pollard (6-foot-3, 280) was widely considered one of the Garden State’s top defensive line prospects in the 2012 recruiting class. Pollard amassed 83 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles in leading West Deptford to a South Jersey Group II title and an 11-1 record as a senior.

As a junior, Pollard registered 56 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and batted down three passes. During his sophomore campaign,Pollard was credited with 58 tackles and three sacks.

Pollard was a two-time All-Courier-Post first-team honoree and a two-time All-South Jersey selection by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A four-star recruit according to Rivals.com, Pollard was ranked the No. 20 defensive tackle prospect nationally in the class of 2012 and the No. 7 prospect in New Jersey. Rated the No. 10 recruit in the state by the Star-Ledger, Pollard was a three-star prospect by Scout.com and ESPN.com.

Rutgers' Sanu drafted by Bengals

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (April 27, 2012) –Rutgers junior All-America wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft Friday evening. The Bengals drafted Sanu with the 83rd overall pick.

“There really isn’t anything Mo can’t do on the football field,” said Rutgers head football coach Kyle Flood. “He embodies what our players are all about – he is smart, fast and tough. For all the reasons the NFL loves Ray Rice, they will love Mo. The Cincinnati Bengals are getting a terrific person – and player – in Mo Sanu.”

Sanu joins a Bengals squad that features former Rutgers All-America running back Brian Leonard on its roster. The last third round draft pick for the Scarlet Knights was OL Jeremy Zuttah (Tampa Bay) in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Bengals drafted a Rutgers player for the first time since selecting consensus All-America TE Marco Battaglia in the 1996 NFL Draft.

Sanu, who left Rutgers a year early, is the fourth Scarlet Knight to forego his final year of eligibility since 2007. The three Scarlet Knights prior to Sanu who elected to forego their final year of eligibility under Schiano’s watch have enjoyed a tremendous amount of success at the next level. Ray Rice left Rutgers following his junior season in 2007 and was a second round draft selection of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 NFL Draft. Kenny Britt declared for the 2009 NFL Draft and was a first round pick of the Tennessee Titans while Anthony Davis was selected with the 11^th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

Sanu finished his career as Rutgers’ and the BIG EAST’s all-time leader in career receptions with 210 after he moved past current NFL running back Brian Leonard (204) in Rutgers’ 27-13 victory over Iowa State in the 2011 New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Sanu was part of two Rutgers’ bowl victories as the Scarlet Knights own the nation’s longest current bowl winning streak at five games with Mississippi State.

The 2011 Maxwell Club Tri-State Player of the Year, Sanu ended the 2011 season with 115 receptions (school and BIG EAST record) for 1,206 yards. The 1,206 yards receiving place Sanu third in RU single-season history and eighth in BIG EAST single-season history. He is currently fourth nationally with 115 receptions and 69 of his receptions in 2011 went for first downs.

A unanimous All-BIG EAST selection in 2011, Sanu was named a Fourth Team All-America selection by Phil Steele and an honorable mention All-America pick by SI.com. Sanu won two major team awards in 2011 as he was named the team’s most valuable offensive player in addition to winning the Homer Hazel Trophy as the team’s most valuable player.

A Freshman All-America selection in 2009 by CollegeFootballNews.com, Sanu set a new BIG EAST record for receptions in a game with 16 in Rutgers’ victory over Ohio in September of this season. 

Rutgers' Flood on signing day

Opening Statement: “We are very excited to announce the 2012 class of signees. To give you a little bit of an idea, there are 20 total players in the class, 18 of them signed today. I will read through the list and give you some information about each one.”

On WR Carlton Agudosi (Somerset, N.J./Franklin): “Carlton is cut from the same mold as a player like Brandon Coleman – tall, long and a guy who is going to win the one-on-one matchups. A guy that should be able to go out and catch the deep balls. We are very excited to have him in our program.”

On OL Brandon Arcidiacono (Holland, Pa./Archbishop Wood): “Brandon is going to be at center for us. He is very athletic, very quick to the second level. When I was the offensive line coach, I was really excited about coaching him. Now as the head coach, I know the next offensive line coach is going to love him just the same.”

On OL Ryan Brodie (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch): “Ryan is going to be one of two guys that are going to be your prototypical NFL-type left tackles. We have two of them and we are very excited about having that. I have had Ryan in camp as the offensive line coach and he really has all the tools and the skills that you are looking for in an offensive lineman. He’s got the height, the size, the length, the ability to change directions with balance to keep his body centered. He is a player that is going to be fun to watch around here for a long time.”

On WR Leonte Carroo (Edison, N.J./Don Bosco Prep): “He is one of two players from Don Bosco that signed with is today from the national champions, Don Bosco Prep High School. Leonte is lightning fast, an All-American track athlete. He also plays on their basketball team, has excellent hands and great ball skills. A strong finisher, that shows up in football and in basketball. He knows how to finish.”

On OL J.J. Denman (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury): “J.J. is a young man that I have had in camp two years. J.J. is a road-grader type offensive lineman – big, strong, barrel-chested, physical, a guy that plays with an attitude. He is the type of offensive lineman that if you are a line coach, that is the kind of guy you want to start with.”

On OL R.J. Dill (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity [Md.]): “He is a transfer from Maryland. He had graduated from Maryland and has one year of eligibility left. He has 30-plus starts playing for them in the ACC at right tackle. That is where we project him competing for a job.”

On PK Kyle Federico (Ponte Verde, Fla./Ponte Verde): “He is also, like R.J. [Dill], on campus. [He has a] strong leg with good accuracy. Again, a guy that we think can come in and play for us right away.”

On DL Darius Hamilton (West Paterson, N.J./Don Bosco Prep): “I have seen Darius play live and he is as disruptive a force as I have ever seen at the high school level. A guy who makes plays in the line of scrimmage on the interior, he makes plays rushing the passer, he makes plays chasing the ball carrier down from sideline to sideline. We are really excited to have Darius in our program today. I think a lot of you are familiar with his father, Keith [Hamilton], who played a number of years in the NFL for the Giants.”

On DB Davon Jacobs (Paterson, N.J./DePaul Catholic): “We think Davon is a lock-down corner – excellent feet, good quickness, excellent change of direction, closing speed that you are looking for in a corner. He is going to be a good one for us.”

On LB Quanzell Lambert (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek): “Quanzell is going to be our middle linebacker. He is going to be the guy that makes the calls, makes the adjustments and ultimately, when the ball is snapped, makes the plays.”

On LB Steve Longa (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook): “If I was going to compare Steve to somebody as a player, it would be Khaseem Greene. He is that type of player and in our defense, that is the will linebacker. A guy that can really run, is physically strong and a guy who is going to be fun to watch in the next couple years. Also, an excellent leader.”

On OL Chris Muller (Perkiomenville, Pa./Boyertown): “I would put Chris in the same classification as Ryan [Brodie]. He is another guy who going forward, has the speed set to be a left tackle, which is what everybody is looking for. Exceptionally strong and really runs well for a guy of his size. In this recruiting class, he was a tremendous leader for us. He, Darius Hamilton and many others really held this recruiting class together over the last four or five days. I think you guys are going to enjoy being around Chris, he’s got a good personality.”

On OL Derrick Nelson (Capitol Heights, Md./Archbishop Carroll): “We had Derrick live in camp this summer at our Big Man Academy. Derrick is going to be an excellent inside player, he runs really well and you are going to like the way that he pulls. He is already physically strong and he is just going to get stronger here in our weight program. We are excited to have Derrick and another young man coming up to us from Maryland.”

On WR Ruhann Peele (Linden, N.J./Linden): “Tremendous ball skills and tremendous ability to make the play and to make things happen when he has the ball. Ruhann is going to be an excellent receiver for us.”

On RB Desmon Peoples (Cheltenham, Pa./Archbishop Wood): “We really feel like Desmon is the quickest running back in the country, bar none. When he has the ball in his hands, boy is he tough to get on the ground. We are excited to get him here and see what he can do for us here at Rutgers.”

On DL Julian Pinnix-Odrick (Montclair, N.J./Montclair): “An extremely disruptive defensive lineman. I watched him play in his state title game. I watched him make [tackles for loss], I watched him personally sack the quarterback in the game. As a defensive lineman, he is not just the guy who is going to take up the blocks, he is going to take on the blocks, get off the blocks and ultimately make the play in the backfield for us.”

On QB Blake Rankin (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg): “Blake has the skills set of everything we were looking for in a quarterback moving forward. He’s got the height, he’s got the arm strength, he’s got the athleticism and he has the speed. He was a sub-4.7 [40-yard dash] in the summer when we timed him here live. Just an excellent young man and just embodies everything you want in a quarterback. He is going to lead your team in season and out.”

On ATH Delon Stephenson (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville): “The last name you might recognize. A guy who can play a lot of different positions. He is the third player from Sayreville to sign with us in the last two years. Delon can do a lot of different things. I saw him in our stadium for his state title game and I walked out of the tunnel with the game already in progress and the first thing that I see is Delon Stephenson making an interception to help change the momentum of the game.”

On WR Ian Thomas (Baltimore, Md./Franklin): “Again Ian Thomas is another receiver who makes plays when the ball is in his hands. He makes people miss. He can go get the ball in a lot of different places, even if it is not thrown perfectly, and ultimately [he can] go get the ball in the end zone.”

On DB Jevon Tyree (Somerset, N.J./South Brunswick): “The same high school that Mohamed Sanu came to us from, the same high school coach there. Jevon is a guy who I really feel can help our cornerback depth as we move forward.”

Closing statement: “That is our class of signees. It is the top-recruiting class we’ve had here at Rutgers and we are very proud of it. Before I open it up for questions, really the people who are responsible for it are the coaches, the assistant coaches and the recruiting staff. Our recruiting staff here is led by Tariq Ahmad and his assistants Jimmy Worth, Sopan Shah and Jessica Larmony and I can’t stress enough the job that they do in that department, day after day after day. Recruiting is about relationships and everybody says that but relationships take time. They are not always the ones that are building the relationships out on the road but when theses players come to campus, they are building relationships with them. They are helping us set our schedules up as coaches so we can make sure we are in the right places at the right times, coordinating the efforts and I can’t thank them enough because really from Friday when I was named the interim head coach until Monday when I was named the head coach, this has been a 24 hour a day job. We always say this is a 24 hour a day job but usually we only work 20. Certainly the last four days they have been working 24/7, along with the assistant coaches and they’ve done a tremendous job. To assign this class the top class in the history of Rutgers football, I’m very proud of that, but they are the ones that deserve the credit in all of this.”

Questions
On getting news last night from three different recruits within 10 minutes: “I think what it does is it helps us build momentum. It is the second year in a row now that the top player in the state of New Jersey has committed to Rutgers. But they are not the only great players that committed to Rutgers over the past two years, or the last three or five years. But every year we’ve been able to – more and more – build that wall around the “State of Rutgers,” so that the players in our area are coming to play for us – the top players. And when a guy like Darius Hamilton does that on TV, what it does is it gives more validity to what we tell the people in this local area. Nineteen of our 20 signees in this class are from the “State of Rutgers.”

On being happy with the class that Rutgers got: “We are ecstatic. We really are ecstatic. What I said to the players and what I said to the recruits when I became the interim coach on Friday was that I plan on being the head coach and on Monday I was the head coach. And then what I said to them again “hey the vision of Rutgers football goes forward and the recruits bought into that. The recruits that were committed to us, they are here on paper today.”

On the difficulty of holding this class together: “It has been a great testament to what I have always believed about recruiting and I think sometimes this gets distorted. If you recruit good people and you deal with them honestly, you can get through any situation. That was what we were able to do with this recruiting class, because at every stage of events from Friday to Monday to Wednesday we were completely open, completely honest and one of the best things that we did was bring Tim Pernetti on the road with us as an assistant coach to show them that. We didn’t hide anything. When I said that night that I fully expected to be the head coach at Rutgers they believed me and they stayed with us. When that came true on Monday it just gave more credit to that way of dealing with people. I think if you deal with people like that in recruiting you have a chance to get through anything.”

On it being more challenging than usual: “Certainly. It was a little trickier this year than most because you had to deal with questions you normally don’t deal with in a normal year.”

On having well known recruits in the area sticking with Rutgers even before Kyle Flood was named head coach: “I think that’s important. The first that we sell at Rutgers football isn’t Kyle Flood. The first thing that we sell is Rutgers football. The second thing that we sell is Rutgers University. Both of those are made up of people and I am one of those people. So it is important to me [that recruits are stuck with Rutgers] but it is important to everybody. In the 2013 class that’ll be pretty important too.”

On the offensive line recruits: “I’ll tell you what, it’ll be hard for me not to coach these guys. So if you see me over there by the O-line drills in the fall you’ll know why. I believe this is the top offensive line recruiting class in the country. I’m not really concerned with what the rankings say. I think that will play out. We had three of the five offensive linemen down on the same weekend and I was able to sit them all in a row and talk to them a little bit and say ‘okay lets talk a little bit about what’s going to happen when you come to Rutgers and what it’s going to be like two, three or four years from now. I think when people look back on this recruiting class of offensive linemen they are going to say there is no doubt that that was the best offensive linemen class in the country.”

On this elevating the expectations of fans: “I think you embrace all the pressures of this job regardless of what people say or think about your recruiting class, at the end of the day everybody gets judged on wins and losses.”

Transcript: New Rutgers coach Kyle Flood talks with media

  COACH FLOOD:  Thank you for coming today.  When I go on the road recruiting and talk to other coaches I know, people I've grown up with, they always say what's the difference between being the assistant head coach and being the head coach?  My old line used to be the head coach drives a red Escalade, and the assistant head coach doesn't.

                The other difference would be one, two, three, four, five ‑‑ about eight video cameras up here when you're speaking to a group of people.

                Before I go any further, I would like to thank President McCormick, the board of Governors, and Tim Pernetti for the honor of being head football coach here at Rutgers University.

                It's an honor to be the head football coach, but it's even more of an honor to be hired by somebody who's one of our own.  Tim Pernetti is a product of the Rutgers football program.  I think everybody knows ‑‑ and he makes it very clear how cherished this program is to him, how important it is to him, and to be the person that he entrusts with it is just a tremendous honor for me.  I want to thank you personally, Tim, for that.

                I'd also like to thank my parents, Jerry and Louise, who are here today.  My wife, Amy, who I believe is right there.  Thank you.  The greatest support system that I think any husband could have, the love of my life.  My children, Kyle, Isabella, James.  My son Joseph, who's about to be born here in about four weeks.  Three weeks, my daughter Isabella says.  Sorry, Isa.  As big a fans as Rutgers has, that's for sure.

                I also need to thank Greg Schiano and his wife, Christie.  Without Greg's vision and drive 11 years ago, the Rutgers football program would not be what it is today.  He's a mentor to me.  He's a friend to me, and somebody that I consider a lifelong friend.  Thank you, Greg.

                This has really been humbling going through this process.  So many people have reached out beforehand.  So many people have reached out since.  I can give you some of the names.  I wrote them down because I didn't want to forget them.  Former football players here, Dino Mangiero, Marco Battaglia, who I went to high school with and came here today and didn't tell me he was coming, I didn't ask him to come, but he's here because of what Rutgers football means to him.

                Bill and Chris Pickel.  I don't know how many of you are historians of the program, but there were four Pickel brothers that played here.  I think all four were captains.  Bill was the oldest, Chris was the youngest.  All four of them are from my high school.  Bill and Chris both reached out to me.  I haven't been able to get back to them yet, but if you're watching, I appreciate it.  Bill Pickel left me a nice message saying we never met, but actually we did meet.  He spoke at my banquet my junior year of high school.  I have his autograph back home.  I wouldn't expect him to remember, but I remember it because it affected my life.

                More current players like Ray Rice, Darnell Stapleton, Brian Leonard, Anthony Davis, Jeremy Zuttah, and many others.  They reached out, saying to me, you know, Coach Flood, you're the right guy.  You're the guy we need at Rutgers, and I appreciated that.  I appreciated that.

                Lastly, before I answer questions, what I would say to you and what I would say to everybody in the State of Rutgers, players, parents, and the like, is the core values of Rutgers football don't come and go with any one person.  This program is built on a philosophy of family.  Forget about me, I love you, which is about sacrifice.  That's a part of Rutgers football.  That's not a part of any past coach, that's not a part of Kyle Flood, and that's not a part of any future coach.  That's something our players carry with them everywhere they go.  It's how they live their lives.  It's really what we're about here at Rutgers.

                My message to the team was very simple.  We're going to do things here in the Rutgers football program.  We're going to raise you from young men to grown men, and we're going to win championships while we do it.  It's an honor to be the head coach at Rutgers.  I'm looking forward to doing the job.  I'm as excited as I've ever been, and I can't wait for tomorrow.  Thank you.

            Q.  If you could just address the need to move quickly because of signing day and everything and also the reaction you got from the high school coaches in New Jersey about Kyle.

                TIM PERNETTI:  Five days ago, when we started this, I think I said to you guys that I thought it was important ‑‑ I wasn't going to lock into any deadline, but I thought it was important to have someone in place before signing day.  But I wasn't going to lock into that.  I was going to take the time I needed, the time necessary to find the right person.  Fortunately, those two things matched up.

                The response from the high school coaches in New Jersey, the community and the State of Rutgers, as Kyle said, has been just outstanding.  That was a key piece of my evaluation for him, outside of meeting him for several hours, was his relationships.  And the relationships are,  not only are they there, they're deep and they've gone back a long time.

            Q.  Kyle, you talked about having 19 years to prepare for this, having never been a head coach.  Who would you say your influences are throughout your coaching career?  Who's had the greatest impact, and what will be your philosophy going forward?

                COACH FLOOD:  Well, certainly, the first head coach that I worked for was Vince O'Connor.  He was the head high school coach at St. Francis Prep High School in Fresh Meadows, queens.  He's been there as the high school coach, the head football coach for over 55 years.  And just a tremendous person in the way he cared for his players.  Whether you were Kyle Flood, who had gone on to play Division III football or Marco Battaglia going on to play in the NFL, when you spoke to Mr. O'Connor, you were the most important person in the world.  It was a valuable lesson to learn as a young football coach.

                And most recently, working for Greg, tremendous motivator, great organizer, and having the pleasure of sitting next to him for seven years had a big effect on me.

            Q.  Kyle, a major influence during the search was the ability to try to keep as many people on staff as possible.  How hard are you working on that, and what are your goals?

                COACH FLOOD:  From the moment Tim made me the interim head coach, I said to the team, and I said to the coaching staff that the vision of Rutgers football is going forward.  We have quality people here.  People are aware of that.  I've been able to advance in my career because people have seen something in me, and it would not surprise me if somebody on the outside saw something in our staff.

                But I think the difference now is Rutgers is not a stop along the way place anymore.  Rutgers is a destination, and I think the people in this program know that.

            Q.  Tim, you've conducted several coaches searches now.  How is this one different given the compressed time frame and also the high profile nature of the position?

                TIM PERNETTI:  Jerry, the timing.  People say, well, the timing's got to be different.  That's got to be the biggest thing.  It's not.  I went through this with basketball.  I put myself ‑‑ and it was really due to my own doing, put myself behind on timing and was able to execute that.  Early returns, at least, were good on that one.

                Quite frankly, this one was a lot different because I think what we were doing with men's basketball was we were trying to set the vision for that program in the midst of the search.  We know the vision for this program.  We knew it.  We knew what it stood for.  We wanted to try to find somebody that believed in all the same things.  That probably would be the biggest difference.

            Q.  Kyle, you've been here for all of the bowl games that this team has gone to under Greg Schiano.  What can you and will you do to bring this program to that next level now?

                COACH FLOOD:  I think consistency is the most important thing in any program.  Consistency of relationships in recruiting has allowed us to advance our recruiting every year.  As we go forward, consistency in coaching is going to allow our players to be trained in the same manner year after year.

                The vision of Rutgers football ‑‑ offense, defense, special teams ‑‑ goes forward as it is today.  That doesn't mean it stays the same.  It gets better.  But what the players are doing and the vision of it will be the same.

            Q.  Kyle, could you give a ‑‑ congratulations, first of all.

                COACH FLOOD:  Thank you.

            Q.  Could you give us an update on Brody and Hamilton.  Have you heard anything from them since you've been hired?

                COACH FLOOD:  By NCAA rule, I can't comment on that until tomorrow, but I'm looking forward to commenting on it.

            Q.  Kyle, what makes you think now you could succeed where Greg couldn't in 11 years, since you were here most of the time?  Obviously, the goal is to win a Big East title and championships.  Greg came close, didn't get it.  Why you as opposed to Greg, who put 11 years in?

                COACH FLOOD:  I don't think it's Kyle Flood as opposed to Greg Schiano.  I think the time is right for Rutgers to win championships.

            Q.  Kyle, can you just talk about your relationships with a lot of the, I guess you say, prominent coaches in New Jersey, the high school coaches, and how you got to know them and everything.

                COACH FLOOD:  I don't really put the high school coaches in those kinds of classifications.  Every high school coach in the State of Rutgers is important to us.  What I've been fortunate enough to do through my career at different places is recruit the same geographic area for a little over 15 years now.  I think, when you do that, you find that the coaches that stay, even if they're not at the same high school, you still have a relationship with.

                And even at times, maybe former players that you've coached, guys like Sammy McDonald, are now out there coaching in high schools locally, and that certainly helps.

            Q.  Kyle, what was your first response or actions once Tim hired you.

                COACH FLOOD:  Thank you.  The first thing I did, if you're asking what that was, was to call my wife.

            Q.  Obviously, being on Greg's staff, you and he are somewhat like minded in philosophy.  But can you talk a little bit about your own philosophy?  Will anything differ as far as offense, defense goes?  You've been thinking a lot about recruiting and getting all those kids here, but any thoughts on that?

                COACH FLOOD:  I think the biggest difference for the players is going to be the personality.  I'm not here to try to be Greg Schiano, nor is my personality the same as Greg Schiano's.  So going forward, they'll see the differences.

                Like I said to the team the first day, the vision is the same, and the vision is constant and consistent.  That's not going to change.  Will there be certain personality things that change?  Absolutely.  What they are, I'll experience them as I go through this process.  But it's not about trying to change something on purpose that's not broken.

            Q.  Tim, what's it been like for you the last few days becoming a college football recruiter, and how helpful have staff members been in successfully keeping the recruiting class together?

                TIM PERNETTI:  It's been great.  And I think it couldn't have happened at a better time.  I think initially, when we talked about it last Thursday and I asked him to step in as interim head coach, he said I think we need to put you on the staff and have you sit down with recruits and their families and explain what's going on.  Initially, I didn't think much about it, but it was the best thing I could have done because I was hearing on the other side what's important to this great class we put together.

                I tell you, I enjoyed it.  I really did enjoy it.  I'm a product of this program.  I want to know what's coming in and going out and how we're developing people.  But in the end, I just followed Kyle's lead.

            Q.  Kyle, what was yesterday like for you?  There were some reports that this job might be going to another person.  I could imagine this, you've had some highs and lows yesterday.  Can you maybe take me through a little bit of what your day was like.

                COACH FLOOD:  Most of my day yesterday was spent recruiting.  I wasn't following anything to see what was going on.  Our job right now as football coaches getting close to that signing date is about recruiting and continuing to build our relationships.

            Q.  Kyle, you talked about your personality maybe being a little different.  From a team on the field perspective, what do you think the personality of Kyle Flood, how will that be embodied in your team?  What kind of team are you looking to put out there?

                COACH FLOOD:  Every team embodies a little bit of the personality of their head coach.  The only thing is it's not about me speaking of any one particular character trait.  We'll play on the field on game day the way we practice.  It will be much more about Khaseem Greene, D.C. Jefferson, Betim Bujari.  It's going to be much more about them.

            Q.  Kyle, could you just talk a little bit ‑‑ most first time coaches step into a job similar of what Greg stepped into, a rebuilding job.  Can you just talk, is that how you assumed your first job would be, and how are you prepared to handle the pressures that come off a nine‑win season?

                COACH FLOOD:  I don't make any assumptions in this business, that's for sure.  I think, if you just watch TV every day, you know not to do that.  When you're given the opportunity to do a job and it's a job you're really excited about, you take that opportunity without hesitation.  The Rutgers football program is going to go on and do some great things here.  I'm excited to be in charge of it.

            Q.  Kyle, could you just talk about the type of offense you want to run at Rutgers.

                COACH FLOOD:  I could actually speak to all three phases.  The vision of the Rutgers football program ‑‑ the offense, the defense, and the special teams ‑‑ you saw that this year.  That is not going to change.

                TIM PERNETTI:  Thank you everyone for coming today.

Rutgers tabs Flood to replace Schiano

PISCATAWAY, N.J.  – Rutgers Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tim Pernetti announced on Tuesday the appointment of Kyle Flood as the 29th head coach at the Birthplace of College Football.

Flood, who served on Rutgers’ coaching staff for the previous seven seasons, assumes the head coaching vacancy created after Greg Schiano resigned his position to become head coach of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

One constant on any coaching staff with Flood is how successful those teams have fared. As an assistant coach, 16 of Flood’s 17 seasons his teams have finished with winning records, including earning a National Championship at Delaware.

The last time Rutgers promoted an assistant coach on staff to the head coaching position was the naming of Frank Burns to replace John Bateman in 1973 — and Burns became the winningest coach in school history.

A highly respected figure in the coaching profession, Flood has served as the assistant head coach of the program since 2008 and has been a key part in Rutgers’ six bowl appearances over his seven-year tenure in Piscataway. In addition to his four years as the assistant head coach, Flood has been in charge of the offensive line since coming to RU in 2005.

Known as an excellent tactician with strong recruiting ties, Flood has served on the coaching staff of the team with the nation’s longest active bowl winning streak at five games. While being part of a program producing victories at a rate unprecedented in Rutgers’ history, Flood has understood the value of academics for the Scarlet Knights. In 2010, Rutgers’ football program ranked first in the nation in Academic Progress Rate and in 2011 the team followed up with the nation’s No. 2 ranking.

During his time 'On the Banks', the Rutgers offensive line has consistently produced top-level talent, including several of which who have gone on to the National Football League. Most recently, Anthony Davis became the highest player ever drafted in Rutgers history as the 11th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. Davis has started every game of his two-year career with the San Francisco 49ers at right tackle and helped guide the 49ers to the NFC Championship game this season.

In 2011, Flood helped tutor true freshman right tackle Kaleb Johnson into one of the nation’s premier rookie offensive linemen, earning Freshman All-America honors. In addition, senior offensive guard Art Forst collected All-BIG EAST first team honors while senior offensive guard Desmond Wynn was named to the All-BIG EAST second team.

Since arriving at Rutgers, Flood has coached 10 All-BIG EAST first or second team selections on the offensive line, one All-American and two Freshman All-America honorees.

Flood has helped engineer some of the most potent offenses in Rutgers history – evident in a record-breaking 2007 season. The Scarlet Knights' offensive line ranked second in the nation with just 10 sacks allowed in addition to an RU offense that became the first in NCAA history to have a 3,000-yard passer, 2,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers in the same season.

The Rutgers offense was ranked 18th nationally in total offense in 2007. The offensive line featured two of the top tackles in the nation in Pedro Sosa and Jeremy Zuttah. Both players earned All-BIG EAST honors and were also invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, with Zuttah becoming a third round selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Flood added run game coordinator to his duties in 2007 and his offensive line helped pave the way for All-American running back Ray Rice, who rushed for a school and then-BIG EAST record 2,012 yards that season. Rice went on to become one of the most-recognizable faces in the NFL en route to consecutive Pro Bowl appearances in 2010 and 2011.

In 2006, Flood coached an offensive line that helped Rutgers to one of its most productive seasons as the group relinquished the fewest sacks in the nation with just eight. His unit was regarded as one of the best in the country and featured Cameron Stephenson and Darnell Stapleton, both who played in the NFL. Flood's corps of hard-nosed blockers helped guide Rice to an All-America season, as he finished second in the nation with 1,794 yards.

Flood came to Rutgers after three seasons at the University of Delaware, where he helped the Blue Hens to a 30-11 record, including a 15-1 mark in 2003 en route to the NCAA FCS National Championship and a share of the Atlantic 10 title in 2004. He also served as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator during his stint.

Prior to his three seasons at Delaware, Flood was offensive line coach at Hofstra from 1997-2001. While at Hofstra, he helped the Pride earn berths in the NCAA FCS playoffs in 1997 and 1999-2001. The Pride were among the top offensive teams in the nation during his tenure, ranking second in total offense, fourth in passing and fifth in scoring in 2001.

Rutgers' Greg Schiano on JoePa's passing

“Joe Paterno embodied the way college football was supposed to be. He educated young men by using the game of football, along with all of its challenges, in preparation for the real world. He was a great thinker, who was never afraid to say and act on what he believed. He leaves a tremendous legacy with the thousands of players and coaches he worked with. I will miss him deeply. My prayers are with Sue and the entire Paterno family.”

Four Rutgers players set for postseason action

PISCATAWAY, N.J.  – Four members of the 2011 Rutgers football team – DE Manny Abreu (Union City, N.,J.), DL Justin Francis (Opa-Locka, Fla.), FB Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) and OL Desmond Wynn (Bear, Del.) will participate in postseason all-star games in January and February.

Abreu will play for the “Stars” squad in the Casino Del Sol All-Star game on Monday, January 16 at 9 p.m. from Kino Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports Arizona and FSN affiliates across the nation. This marks the first year of the Casino Del Sol All-Star game.

Francis and Wynn are the 14th and 15th Scarlet Knights to play in the East-West Shrine game Saturday, January 21 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The NFL Network has live coverage of the East-West Shrine game beginning at 4 p.m. on January 21. The two players are the first from RU to appear in the game since Jacksonville Jaguars’ OL Kevin Haslam played in the 2010 contest.

Martinek is participating in the Players All-Star Classic February 4 in at War Memorial Field in Little Rock, Arkansas. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. on both Comcast /Charter Sports Southeast (CSS) and Cox Sports Television (CST) for the first-year game.

All four players were key contributors to Rutgers’ 9-4 record in 2011 and the program’s fifth consecutive bowl victory with a 27-13 win over Iowa State in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. The Scarlet Knights are tied with Auburn and Mississippi State for the longest active bowl winning streak nationally.

Scarlet Knights in Postseason All-Star Games
Player                          Game                                                   Date
Manny Abreu, DE        Casino Del Sol All-Star game               Monday, January 16
Justin Francis, DL        East-West Shrine game                      Saturday, January 21
Desmond Wynn, OL     East-West Shrine game                      Saturday, January 21
Joe Martinek, RB         Players All-Star Classic

Rutgers' Sanu declares for NFL Draft

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Junior All-America wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) has elected to forego his final year of eligibility and enter the 2012 NFL Draft.

Sanu, who is expected to be a late first or early second round selection, is the fourth player in the Greg Schiano era at Rutgers to leave school early and enter the NFL Draft.

The three Scarlet Knights prior to Sanu who elected to forego their final year of eligibility under Schiano’s watch have enjoyed a tremendous amount of success at the next level. Ray Rice left Rutgers following his junior season in 2007 and was a second round draft selection of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 NFL Draft. Kenny Britt declared for the 2009 NFL Draft and was a first round pick of the Tennessee Titans while Anthony Davis was selected with the 11th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

Sanu finishes his career as Rutgers’ and the BIG EAST’s all-time leader in career receptions with 210 after he moved past current NFL running back Brian Leonard (204) in Rutgers’ 27-13 victory over Iowa State in the 2011 New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Sanu was part of two Rutgers’ bowl victories as the Scarlet Knights own the nation’s longest current bowl winning streak at five games with Mississippi State.

The 2011 Maxwell Club Tri-State Player of the Year, Sanu ended the 2011 season with 115 receptions (school and BIG EAST record) for 1,206 yards. The 1,206 yards receiving place Sanu third in RU single-season history and eighth in BIG EAST single-season history. He is currently fourth nationally with 115 receptions and 69 of his receptions in 2011 went for first downs.

A unanimous All-BIG EAST selection in 2011, Sanu was named a Fourth Team All-America selection by Phil Steele and an honorable mention All-America pick by SI.com. Sanu won two major team awards in 2011 as he was named the team’s most valuable offensive player in addition to winning the Homer Hazel Trophy as the team’s most valuable player.

A Freshman All-America selection in 2009 by CollegeFootballNews.com, Sanu set a new BIG EAST record for receptions in a game with 16 in Rutgers’ victory over Ohio in September of this season.

Rutgers' Sanu named Tri-State Player of the Year by Maxwell Club

The Maxwell Club has announced that Rutgers wide receiver Mohamed Sanu was chosen as the Club's 11th Tri-State Player of the Year.

Sanu was named the team's most valuable offensive player in addition to winning the Homer Hazel Trophy as team MVP Sunday. He was a unanimous selection for All-BIG EAST First Team honors following his record-setting season. He shattered the school and conference single-season receptions record with 109 in 2011, ranking fifth nationally. Sanu, who is second in Rutgers history in career receptions with 204, totaled 109 receptions for 1,144 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 regular season games in 2011.

Sanu is fifth nationally with 109 receptions in 2011. He has gone over the 100-yard mark in seven games in 2011 and has six games of double-digit receptions this season. He was named as an All-American selection by SI.com and by Phil Steele's College Football magazine.

Sanu starred at South Brunswick High School before enrolling at Rutgers University in 2009. He joins former Scarlet Knights Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) and Kenny Britt (Tennessee Titans) as recipients of the Tri-State Player of the Year award.

Sanu will be honored Friday, March 2, 2012 at the 75th Maxwell Club National Awards Gala which will be held at the Harrah's Atlantic City Resort. Also receiving awards at this event will be; Andrew Luck - Stanford University (Maxwell Award), Tyrann Mathieu - LSU (Chuck Bednarik Award), and Archie Manning - National Football Foundation (Francis "Reds" Bagnell Award). The Maxwell Football Club will announce the winners of the Bert Bell Award (Professional Player of the Year) and Earl "Greasy" Neale Award (Professional Coach of the Year) on January 10, 2012.

Tickets for the Maxwell Football Club National Awards Gala are available for purchase on the Club's website www.maxwellfootballclub.org or by calling 215-643-3833.

LeGrand koins Rutgers radio network

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano announced Tuesday that senior Eric LeGrand has joined the Rutgers Football Radio Network as an analyst. LeGrand will be on the broadcast for a segment during the pre-game show, at halftime and on the post-game show for every game this season.

"I think it's really cool," Schiano told reporters following practice Tuesday. "He's going to do post (game), pre (game) and halftime. So we're going to get our E-Rock report."

LeGrand, who is looking to become a sports broadcaster after graduation, began his career behind the microphone during the Scarlet-White game as the Scarlet Knights concluded spring practice. LeGrand spent the third quarter calling the action for RVision, the official broadband network of Rutgers Athletics.

The Rutgers Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the establishment of the “Eric LeGrand Believe Fund” to support Eric LeGrand and his family. LeGrand, a defensive tackle for the Scarlet Knights, suffered a spinal cord injury Oct. 16, 2010 vs. Army.

LeGrand continues the rehabilitation process as an outpatient at the Kessler Rehabilitation Center.

Contributions to the fund are not tax deductible and can be made by sending a check payable to the “Eric LeGrand Believe Fund” to:

“Eric LeGrand Believe Fund”
PNC Wealth Management
Attn: Kimberly G. Kingsland, Senior Trust Advisor
One Palmer Square Suite 201
Princeton, NJ 08542

Rutgers nets 5 recruits

The Rutgers football program welcomed the first five members of its 2011 recruiting class Tuesday as Johnathan Aiken (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Anthony DiPaula (Manalapan, N.J.), Dallas Hendrikson (St. Ansgar, Iowa), Kenneth Kirksey (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and Djwany Mera (Hollywood, Fla.) have enrolled at Rutgers. The five student-athletes begin classes today and will participate in spring practice for the Scarlet Knights in March.

2011 Rutgers Football Recruiting Class

Player                    Pos.  Ht.    Wt.     Hometown/High School (Previous School)        High School Coach

Johnathan Aiken   DB    5-11  185    Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Chaminade                        Tim Tyrell
Anthony DiPaula    P       6-1    215    Manalapan, N.J./St. John Vianney                      Skip Edwards
Dallas Hendrikson C       6-2    295    St. Ansgar, Iowa/St. Ansgar (Iowa Western CC) Drew Clevenger      
Kenneth Kirksey    DL     6-1    280    Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland (Fork Union)        John Maronto
Djwany Mera         DE     6-4    255    Hollywood, Fla./South Broward (Hargrave)                  Allen Held

Johnathan Aiken
Defensive Back • 5-11 • 185
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. • Chaminade

Defensive back who only played one year of high school football in 2009 at Chaminade for head coach Tim Tyrell … helped guide team to a 12-1 record as junior … named First Team All-Broward County by the Miami Herald … totaled 95 tackles and blocked six kicks … three-star rated recruit by Rivals.com, Scout.com, and ESPN Scouts, Inc. … rated the No. 59 cornerback prospect nationally by Rivals.com … No. 51 safety recruit in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc. … listed as the No. 64 cornerback by Scout.com … Florida Class 2B first team all-state selection by the Florida Sports Writers Association in 2009.


Anthony DiPaula
Punter • 6-1 • 215
Manalapan, N.J. • St. John Vianney High School

Three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for head coach Skip Edwards at St. John Vianney High School … led the Shore Conference with 10 field goals, with a long of 46 yards … averaged 43.4 yards per punt, which also led the conference … scored 52 points as a senior, the most by any kicker in the conference … connected on 70 extra points over his career … only two of his 34 kickoffs were returned … Asbury Park Press All-Shore Second Team selection … finished his senior season 10-of-12 on field goal attempts … All Shore Media All-Conference First Team honoree at punter.

Dallas Hendrikson
Center • 6-2 • 295
St. Ansgar, Iowa • St. Ansgar High School • Iowa Western CC

Two-year starter at center for head coach Scott Strohmeier at Iowa Western Community College … two-time All-Midwest Football Conference First Team selection … helped guide Iowa Western to the Midwest Football Conference Championship in only the program’s second year in 2010 … team finished the season 9-2, including a 9-0 mark in the regular season and climbed as high as No. 2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association national rankings … team concluded the 2010 campaign ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA national rankings … played at St. Ansgar High School for head coach Drew Clevenger … was a three-time Class 1A all-state selection for the Saints at tackle in high school … all-around athlete who also placed eighth in the state championship in the shot put during his senior year of high school … excellent prep wrestler who ended his senior season third in the state with a 41-3 record at the 285-pound class.

Kenneth Kirksey
Defensive Line • 6-1 • 280
Daytona Beach, Fla. • Mainland High School • Fork Union Military Academy

Defensive lineman who just finished fall semester at Fork Union Military Academy for head coach John Shuman … Fork Union finished the season 6-3 … rated the No. 19 prospect nationally on the prep school level by Rivals.com .. played on the high school level for head coach John Maronto at Mainland High School … two-time Daytona Beach News-Journal First Team All-Area selection on defense … guided the Buccaneers to a 9-3 record and the 2009 FHSAA Class 6A Football Championship regional finals … monster senior season with 106 tackles and eight sacks … rated the No. 12 prospect in Central Florida by the Orlando Sentinel … No. 63 defensive tackle in the nation according to ESPN’s Scouts, Inc. … key cog in Mainland’s 11-1 record as a junior … First Team All-Area selection on defense by the Orlando Sentinel … finished junior season with 81 tackles, including 20 for loss … credited with eight sacks as well during junior campaign … Florida Sports Writers Association Third Team All-State selection on defense in 2008.

Djwany Mera
Defensive End • 6-4 • 255
Hollywood, Fla. • South Broward High School • Hargrave Military Academy

Defensive end prospect who completed one season at Hargrave Military Academy for head coach Troy Davis …. four-star recruit by Rivals.com and the No. 9 prep school prospect in the country … three-year varsity letterwinner and three-year starter for head coach Allen Held at South Broward High School … played on the defensive line and offensive line as well as tight end his senior season in 2009 … Second Team All-Broward County selection by the Miami Herald as a senior … 103 tackles, 38 tackles for loss and a school-record 21 sacks in 2009 … named team captain and defensive MVP … totaled 16 sacks earning second team all-county honors as a junior …  also lettered two years in wrestling and was 38-2 at the 215-pound weight class during his senior season … compiled a 36-6 record at 189 pounds his junior season.

Savage plans to transfer from Rutgers

Rutgers sophomore quarterback Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) and freshman running back Casey Turner (Jacksonville, Fla.) have informed Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano their intent to transfer and have been granted conditional releases.

“We wish Tom and Casey the best in their future endeavors,” said Schiano.

Savage played in 18 games during his two-year career in Piscataway and competed 52.2 percent of his passes. He finished his career with 2,732 yards passing with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Turner redshirted in 2010 after suffering a groin injury and did not see any game action for the Scarlet Knights. He will transfer to Florida A&M.

Rutgers' LeGrand interview set for ESPN

ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi conducted the first interview with Rutgers defensive lineman Eric LeGrand since he was paralyzed in a collision during a game against Army on Oct. 16. In the interview, scheduled to debut on ESPN on Friday, Jan. 7 during the 9 a.m. edition of SportsCenter,

LeGrand told Rinaldi that he has full sensation in his entire body and movement in his shoulders. Rinaldi spoke to LeGrand at the Kessler Institute in West Orange, N.J., where he is in rehabilitation.

In the feature, LeGrand said while lying on the field at the New Meadowlands, he had “the fear of death” and that he “could pass out and die here.” He added he couldn’t do “a thumbs up” motion while on the stretcher when he was removed from the field because it felt like “1,000 pounds was on this thumb” when he tried to move it.

Doctors initially believed that he would not regain any feeling or movement below the neck, but LeGrand has exceeded their expectations. His paralysis has been diagnosed as incomplete and he has been able to breathe on his own without the use of a ventilator since late November. 

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said about LeGrand, “He believes that he’s going to be up and moving again. There’s no doubt in his mind.”

The feature will also be available to view on ScarletKnights.com after its initial airing on SportsCenter.

For information on Eric LeGrand and the Eric LeGrand Believe Fund, please visit  ScarletKnights.com/Believe.

Hafley joins Rutgers coaching staff

Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano announced today that Jeff Hafley has joined the Rutgers coaching staff as an assistant coach.

“Jeff is a great addition to our program”, said Schiano. “He is a Jersey guy who knows what we are all about. We welcome Jeff and his wife Gina to our family.”

Hafley, a native of Montvale, N.J., spent five years at the University of Pittsburgh, including the previous three seasons as Pitt’s secondary coach.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to work with a great group of coaches and student-athletes in my home state,” stated Hafley. “Words can’t describe my excitement level to return home, and start coaching ‘On the Banks’.”

Over the last two seasons, Hafley coached four players that earned All-BIG EAST accolades and has built a strong reputation as an excellent recruiter.

Prior to Pitt, Hafley served at the University of Albany for four seasons (2002-05), including his final two as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. In his initial two years Hafley was a graduate assistant who coached Albany's defensive tackles and outside linebackers.

Hafley coached the running backs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2001. In addition, he also worked significantly with WPI's special teams and coached the kickers.

Hafley was a four-year wide receiver at Siena College from 1997-2000. He began his coaching career at his alma mater while recovering from three separate surgeries that kept him off the field. Hafley is a 2001 cum laude graduate of Siena with a bachelor's degree in history. He earned his master's from Albany in 2003.