HuskerOnline – Nebraska Opponent Spring Review: Rutgers

As Nebraska enters a essential fifth season below head coach Scott Frost in 2022, we determined to have a look at the place issues stand with the Huskers’ 12 opponents popping out of spring practices.

Immediately we proceed with Rutgers, which can be rebuilding within the 2022 season. Richard Schnyderite of TheKnightReport.Internet gave us his ideas on the Scarlet Knights’ spring and their week-six matchup with Nebraska in New Jersey.

1. Quarterback battle

Like many applications within the spring, Rutgers has a quarterback battle between three gamers.

Sixth-year quarterback Noah Vedral is the frontrunner as he has began two seasons for the Scarlet Knights after transferring from Nebraska. Final season, Vedral accomplished 181-of-304 passes with 1854 passing yards and 7 touchdowns. The Wahoo, Neb. native rushed for 297 yards on 102 makes an attempt.

The opposite two quarterbacks in competitors with Vedral are sophomores Gavin Wimsatt and Evan Simon.

Wimsatt, who’s from Owensboro, Ky., performed in 4 video games as a freshman and accomplished 9 passes for 45 yards and rushed for 68 yards. Simon performed in six video games in 2021, going 16-for-28 for 145 yards.

2. Rebuilding the offensive line

Rutgers introduced in 11 new offensive linemen together with seven freshman and 4 transfers. Schnyderite stated Rutgers followers have been watching to see if the brand new additions can win over the beginning spots from final seasons starters.

The transfers are Minnesota switch Curtis Dunlap Jr., Colorado State switch Mike Ciaffoni, FCS switch J.D. DiRenzo and JUCO switch Willie Tyler III, who was at Texas throughout his sophomore and junior years.

As for the freshman, two inside linemen have been on campus for spring follow. 4-star inside lineman Jacob Allen from Princeton, N.J. highlights the group. Rutgers has 4 inside linemen and three tackles in its freshman class.

3. Changing two NFL draft picks on offense

Rutgers misplaced its star gamers on the offense sides of the ball to the 2022 NFL draft.

Huge receiver Bo Melton was chosen within the seventh spherical by the Seattle Seahawks. At Rutgers, Melton was on the Biletnikoff Award Watch Record as he ranks amongst the most effective receivers in Rutgers historical past.

Melton is third in program historical past with 56 video games performed, sixth with 164 receptions, tied for eight with 5 100-yard receiving video games and tenth with 2,011 receiving yards.

Working again Isaih Pacheco was chosen within the seventh spherical by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Since his freshman season in 2018, Pacheco performed in each recreation (44) for the Scarlet Knights.

He left Piscataway, N.J. with 2,442 profession speeding yards and 18 touchdowns. Pacheco knotched 249 receiving yards on 47 receptions and one receiving landing.

The Scarlet Knights want to interchange their main rusher and receiver for the final three seasons on this upcoming season.

Schnyderite: “A number of followers do not actually discuss it and clearly, most teaching staffs are all the time going to concentrate on one recreation at a time. So I suppose the principle focus proper now’s Boston School for each the fan base and the teaching workers.

“However I feel Rutgers thinks they’ve a fairly good shot in opposition to Nebraska this 12 months. Clearly, outcomes aren’t exhibiting what Nebraska is doing, as they type of struggled a bit bit final 12 months by way of document, however they did seem like a fairly strong workforce at instances. So I feel it needs to be an fascinating matchup for each applications.”

Schnyderite: “Their out-of-conference schedule is a bit fascinating this 12 months as a result of Boston School has a fairly good workforce below Jeff Hafley. Temples up and down however once more, new teaching workers so it ought to have not less than two if not three out-of-conference wins.

“After which it will get that Large Ten slate the place it will get actually troublesome. They’re taking part in in opposition to Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State again to again to again to again then Iowa and Ohio State again to again.

“I need to say anyplace between three to 4 wins proper now. It’ll be robust. I do assume they may snag a Large Ten win or two relying on how Nebraska does, how Indiana does (and) Maryland, I feel these are the three winnable ones.

“I most likely say round three wins proper now. However it’s undoubtedly a rebuilding 12 months. It is a long-haul rebuild for Rutgers. When (Greg) Schiano got here in, he type of knew that was occurring. However who is aware of, perhaps they will pull some magic out of that.”