Ito Named Sporting News Freshman All-American
Dec 07 | Football
PISCATAWAY, NJ - Freshman kicker Jeremy Ito (Redlands, CA) has been named to the 2004 Sporting News Freshman All-America team, earning third team honors.
In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, Ito connected on 15-of-24 field goals, although six of his misses were from 40 or more yards, including three greater than 50. He began his collegiate career by tying a school record with four FG's in a 19-14 win over Michigan State on Sept. 4, earning BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The following week, he set a Rutgers Stadium record with a 48-yard field goal and earned BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week honors again on Oct. 18, after connecting on all three field goal attempts and his lone PAT try in a 16-6 win over Temple on Oct. 16.
Ito concluded his season second nationally among freshmen in both field goals and scoring (73) and led all BIG EAST newcomers in both categories. He nailed six field goals of 40 or more yards, two more than Rutgers had managed in the last four seasons combined. Ito made at least one FG in each of his first nine games in 2004, converting six-straight attempts at one point, and was successful of 28-of-29 PAT's.
Ito is the third freshman to earn All-America recognition in the last four years under head coach Greg Schiano, joining defensive lineman Alfred Peterson (2001) and running back Brian Leonard (2003).
