Scarlet Knights Game Preview
Nov 03 | Football
SYRACUSE (2-6, 1-3
) at RUTGERS (3-5, 2-2)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 8 12:00 PM
Site: Piscataway, N.J.
Stadium: Rutgers Stadium
Series Record: Syracuse leads, 28-9-1
Last Meeting: Rutgers 38, Syracuse 14 (2007)
Last Meeting at Rutgers: Rutgers 38, Syracuse 7 (2006)
Television: ESPNU (National) - Dave Armstrong - Play-by-Play, Larry Coker - Analyst, Melissa Knowles - Sidelines
Radio: The Rutgers Radio Network can be heard on WOR (AM-710) and WCTC (AM-1450) Chris Carlin (Play-by-Play), former Rutgers TE Tim Pernetti (Color Analyst) and Anthony Fuccilli (Sideline Reporter) on the call. Marc Malusis serves as the rre-game and post-game host. The game can also be heard on the Internet at www.scarletknights.com, the official athletics website of Rutgers University.
Student Radio: WRSU 88.7 FM
Internet: ScarletKnights.com (audio)
Rutgers (3-5, 2-2 BIG EAST) carries a two-game winning streak into Saturday's home game vs. Syracuse (2-6, 1-3 BIG EAST). Kickoff is set for 12 noon with national television coverage in HD on ESPNU. Dave Armstrong, Larry Coker and Melissa Knowles will call the action for ESPNU.
The Rutgers Radio Network will begin its pregame coverage at 11 a.m. Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Tim Pernetti (analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sidelines) will have the call.
Going for Four Straight vs. Syracuse
Rutgers looks to win its fourth straight game vs. Syracuse Saturday at Rutgers Stadium. The three-game winning streak for the Scarlet Knights vs. the Orange is the longest in series history for Rutgers.
Rutgers has won four of the last five meetings vs. Syracuse dating back to the 2004 season. Since 1999, Rutgers is 3-1 at home vs. Syracuse.
Offensive Explosion
In Rutgers' 54-34 victory at No. 17 Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, the Scarlet Knights secured their first road victory over a ranked team since Sept. 24, 1988 at No. 15/13 Penn State (21-16 win).
Rutgers' 54 points at Pittsburgh was the second-best point total in BIG EAST play for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers defeated Temple 62-0 on Oct. 2, 1993.
The 54 points scored were the most points scored against a nationally-ranked opponent on the road in Rutgers' history.
| TEEL |
Man of Teel
Senior QB Mike Teel was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and USA Today's National Player of the Week for his six-touchdown performance in the victory at Pittsburgh.
Teel threw for a career-high 361 yards and a school record six touchdowns. He became the first player in BIG EAST history to throw five touchdown passes in the first half in a league game.
Teel was only the fourth player in BIG EAST history to throw six touchdowns in a BIG EAST game. He finished the first half 12-for-15 for 311 yards and five touchdowns with one interception.
More Notes on the Pitt Victory
With 361 yards passing, Mike Teel recorded the seventh-best single-game yardage total in school history and the third-highest total in a BIG EAST game.
The 54 points scored were the most in a BIG EAST game by a Greg Schiano coached team during his tenure at Rutgers.
Red Zone Success
In BIG EAST play, Rutgers ranks first in the conference in red zone offense (9-for-9, 7 TDs) and first in red zone defense (8-for-11, 5 TDs).
The Scarlet Knights have rushed for three touchdowns and threw for four touchdowns in the red zone offensively.
BIG EAST Notes
Rutgers ranks second in the BIG EAST in conference games only with 10 sacks in four games. The Scarlet Knights are averaging 2.50 sacks per game in league play, trailing only USF (2.75 per game).
Rutgers leads the league in fourth down success in conference play by going 3-for-5 (60%) in 2008. The Scarlet Knights are the only team in the league to convert three fourth down attempts in conference play this year.
On defense, Rutgers has limited BIG EAST opponents to a 30.9% success rate, the second-best figure in the league.
Individually, Mike Teel leads the BIG EAST in conference games with 224.5 passing yards per game and is third in the league in passing efficiency (136.0) and total offense (215.8).
Kenny Britt leads the BIG EAST in conference games in receptions per game (7.5) and receiving yards per contest (113.0).
| BRITT |
The Century Club
Junior WR Kenny Britt became Rutgers' all-time leader in career 100-yard receiving games with his eighth 100-yard game at West Virginia. Britt finished the contest with 151 yards on 12 catches.
Britt added to his school record with his 10th career 100-yard performance in the victory over Pittsburgh. The Bayonne, N.J., native caught five passes for 143 yards and a career-high three touchdowns vs. the Panthers. In the Pitt win, Britt hauled in a career-long 79-yard touchdown reception.
Seven of Britt's 10 career 100-yard receiving games have come away from Piscataway.
Britt ranks ninth in the nation in receptions per game (7.3) and is seventh in the country in receiving yards per contest (102.0).
Britt's 100-yard receiving performances
Date Rec.-Yards-TD Opponent
10-13-07 6-176-1 at Syracuse
11-29-07 12-173-2 at Louisville
10-4-08 12-151-0 at West Virginia
10-25-08 5-143-3 at #17 Pittsburgh
1-5-08 6-125-1 vs. Ball State^
11-3-07 8-122-0 at #16 Connecticut
9-15-07 4-121-2 vs. Norfolk State
12-2-06 10-119-0 at #15 West Virginia
9-11-08 8-109-0 vs. North Carolina
10-18-08 9-107-0 vs. Connecticut
^ in Toronto, Ontario (International Bowl)
Britt Continues Assault on Record Books
Kenny Britt is second in school history with 2,386 career receiving yards. Britt owns the single-season school record with 1,232 receiving yards set in 2007. Britt is seventh in Rutgers' career annals with 142 receptions and tied for fourth with 13 career touchdown receptions.
Britt is just 137 yards shy of the all-time receiving yards record at Rutgers. He has also caught a pass in 26 straight games, the 11th longest streak in the BIG EAST.
Rutgers Career Receiving Yards Leaders
1. Tres Moses (2001-05) 2,522
2. Kenny Britt (2006-present) 2,386
3. Andrew Baker (1981-84) 2,268
Rutgers Career Reception Leaders
1. Brian Leonard (2003-06) 207
2. Tres Moses (2001-05) 192
3. Marco Battaglia (1992-95) 171
4. Jim Guarantano (1989-92) 158
5. Chris Brantley (1990-93) 144
6. Clark Harris (2003-06) 143
7. Kenny Britt (2006-present) 142
8. Andrew Baker (1981-84) 127
Rutgers Career Touchdown Reception Leaders
1. Chris Brantley (1990-93) 17
2. Marco Battaglia (1992-95) 16
Tres Moses (2001-05) 16
4. Kenny Britt (2006-present) 13
Brian Leonard (2003-06) 13
Bob Simms (1957-59) 13
Britt in the Active Career Rankings
Kenny Britt is fourth among Football Bowl Subdivision active players with a career average of 16.8 yards per reception. He is fifth among active players nationally in receiving yards per game (82.3), 19th in career receiving yards (2,386) and 19th in receptions per game (4.9).
Sack the Quarterback
Rutgers sacked Cincinnati's Chazz Anderson a season-high four times Oct. 11 at Nippert Stadium. Jamaal Westerman, Ryan D'Imperio and Alex Silvestro each recorded a sack while Damaso Munoz and George Johnson shared a sack.
In a New York State of Mind
Rutgers has won six consecutive games vs. teams from the state of New York. The Scarlet Knights were 3-0 in 2007 vs. New York opponents, including a 38-14 victory over Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.
Three members of the starting secondary for the Scarlet Knights hail from the Empire State - Nanuet's Devin and Jason McCourty along with New Rochelle's Courtney Greene.
Four members of the Rutgers coaching staff have direct ties to New York. Assistant head coach/offensive line coach Kyle Flood is a native of Bayside, played collegiately at Iona and coached at C.W. Post and Hofstra.
Special teams coordinator Chris Rippon spent 12 seasons at Syracuse from 1993-2004 while secondary coach Ed Pinkham served for 10 seasons on the staff at Colgate in Hamilton, NY. from 1996-2007. Linebackers coach Bob Fraser also coached the linebacking unit at Colgate from 1998-05.
Defensive line coach Gary Emanuel coached the defensive line at Syracuse from 1991-93 as well.
Getting Defensive
Rutgers limited Morgan State to 109 yards of total offense on Sept. 27, the fewest yards ever allowed by a Rutgers squad under Greg Schiano. The Scarlet Knights limited the Bears to eight first downs and 32 yards rushing in the 38-0 victory.
It marked the third straight season RU has posted a shutout win.
Fewest Total Yards Allowed During Schiano Era
Date Opponent Total Yards Allowed
9/27/08 Morgan State* 109
9/16/06 Ohio 119
9/15/07 Norfolk State* 122
9/9/06 Illinois* 126
11/26/05 Cincinnati 146
11/9/07 at Army 152
10/14/06 at Navy* 161
12/28/06 Kansas State (Texas Bowl) 162
9/23/06 Howard 172
11/25/06 Syracuse 191
11/29/03 Syracuse 198
* Shutout victory
What Can Brown Do for You?
Junior WR Tim Brown has given the Rutgers offense the big play in 2008 and throughout his career. The Miami native leads the team this season with four receiving touchdowns and 17.1 yards per reception.
He has nine career touchdown receptions and has averaged 36.2 yards per TD catch over his career.
For his career, Brown has 50 receptions for 849 yards and nine touchdowns. Nearly 20 percent of the time Brown has caught a pass it has gone for a touchdown.
| YOUNG |
Welcome Back Kordell
Redshirt sophomore RB Kordell Young made his return from a torn ACL and earned the start at running back in the season-opener vs. Fresno State.
The West Deptford, N.J., native rushed for a career-high 94 yards on a career-high 26 carries in the season-opener vs. Fresno State.
He missed the next four games due to a sore knee before returning for the Cincinnati game.
Young started at UC and led all RU players with 78 yards rushing. He also threw the first touchdown pass of his career on a 17-yard TD pass to Jack Corcoran.
In four games this season, Young is averaging 83.8 yards per game.
Young, one of six starters from South Jersey on the roster, suffered his knee injury in the third game of the 2007 season vs. Norfolk State and was forced to miss the remainder of the year.
Slowing Down the Nation's Best
The Rutgers defense held the nation's leading rusher in Connecticut's Donald Brown to 107 rushing yards on 27 attempts, including just seven yards in the second half on Oct. 18. It was his lowest output of the season by 39 yards and was 70.8 yards below his per game average.
The game vs. UConn also marked the second time in 2008 Rutgers played against the nation's leading rusher. On Sept. 20 at Navy, the Scarlet Knights faced that week's national leading rusher in Shun White of Navy, who was held to 85 yards.
Slowing Down the Opponent
The Rutgers defense held Cincinnati (13) and Connecticut (10) to their lowest point totals of the season.
First Start for True Freshman Forst
True freshman RG Art Forst earned his first career start at Cincinnati. He was the first true freshman to start for the Scarlet Knights in 2008 and the first true freshman offensive lineman to start since Anthony Davis started against Ball State in the 2008 International Bowl last season.
He is the third true freshman to start on the offensive line in the last five years. Former Scarlet Knight and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jeremy Zuttah started as a true freshman during the 2004 season.
Te Time
Redshirt freshman PK San San Te has connected on six of his last seven field goal attempts, including a career-long 50-yard field goal at Cincinnati on Oct. 11. The North Carolina native is 6-for-9 on field goal attempts on the season.
Te is one of seven freshmen nationally to make a field goal from 50 yards or longer in 2008.
| D'IMPERIO |
D'Imperio Manning the Middle
Junior MLB Ryan D'Imperio has manned the middle of the Rutgers' defense in 2008 and has been one of the team's top defenders. He is tied for fifth in the BIG EAST with 7.63 tackles per game. D'Imperio recorded 11 tackles in the 12-10 victory over Connecticut on Oct. 18 and was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
On the season, D'Imperio has 61 tackles, 6.0 for loss and one sack.
Rutgers Stadium Sold Out for 2008
For the second consecutive season, Rutgers is sold out for its entire home schedule. With the seven home games sold out for 2008, it moves Rutgers' consecutive sell-out streak at Rutgers Stadium to 17 games, the longest streak in the BIG EAST.
The most fans in school history - 349,306 - entered the gates at Rutgers Stadium in 2007. Rutgers averaged a school-record 43,663 fans per game in 2007.
| BROOKS |
The Freshman 100
Jourdan Brooks became the eighth freshman during Greg Schiano's tenure at Rutgers to rush for 100 yards in a game with his 134-yard performance at Navy.
Below is the list of freshmen who have eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a game under Schiano at Rutgers:
Player Att.-Yards-TD Opponent (Date)
Ray Rice 27-217-0 at UConn (10-22-05)
Ray Rice 24-195-2 Cincinnati (11-26-05)
Brian Leonard 33-184-2 at UConn (11-8-03)
Justise Hairston 31-161-4 vs. Navy (9-27-03)
Ray Rice 26-158-0 USF (11-5-05)
Brian Leonard 37-138-1 Syracuse (11-29-03)
Jourdan Brooks 22-134-2 at Navy (9-20-08)
Brian Leonard 16-132-1 at Army (9-13-03)
Markis Facyson 32-129-1 Army (9-14-02)
Justise Hairston 27-115-1 at WVU (10-11-03)
Ray Rice 15-114-0 Pittsburgh (9-30-05)
Ray Rice 20-108-0 Arizona St. (12-27-05)
Jason Nugent 26-106-1 at BC (11-30-02)
Marcus Jones 30-105-1 at WVU (11-3-01)
Clarence Pittman 31-104-0 at Tennessee (9-28-02)
Comparing First Starts at Running Back
With 134 yards at Navy, Jourdan Brooks is among elite company in Rutgers history for rushing yards by a player in their first career start.
Player Opponent Att.-Yards-TD
Terrell Willis at Army (10-16-93) 37-221-4
Jourdan Brooks at Navy (9-20-08) 22-134-2
"JJ" Jennings vs. Colgate (11-20-71) 21-108-3
Bruce Presley vs. West Virginia (11-14-92) 27-105-0
Kordell Young vs. Fresno State (9-1-08) 26-94-0
Mason Robinson vs. North Carolina (9-11-08) 16-82-0
Ray Rice at Illinois (9-3-05) 12-55-0
Brian Leonard vs. Buffalo (8-30-03) * 6-11-0
* started at fullback
Finding the End Zone
Jourdan Brooks scored a career-high three touchdowns against Morgan State. It was the most rushing touchdowns by a Rutgers freshman since Sept. 27, 2003, when Justise Hairston scored four touchdowns vs. Navy. Brooks scored all three of his touchdowns in the first half against the Bears.
| MALAST |
34 On the Tackle
Senior LB Kevin Malast has been as steady as they come in the BIG EAST at linebacker since becoming a starter in 2007. After finishing second on the team with 92 tackles as a junior, Malast leads RU and is fourth in the BIG EAST in tackles in 2008. He has 62 tackles on the season.
Malast led all players in the Fresno State game with nine tackles and has posted at least seven stops in five games this season.
Welcome to Rutgers
Here is the list of Scarlet Knights who have made their first career appearances this season:
Player Year Pos.
Marvin Booker Fr. LB (special teams)
Jourdan Brooks R-Fr. RB
Marcus Cooper Fr. WR
Teddy Dellaganna R-So. P (starter)
Art Forst Fr. RG (starter)
Patrick Kivlehan Fr. DB (special teams)
Al-Ghaffaar Lane R-Fr. LB (special teams)
Eric LeGrand Fr. DE/FB
Joe Martinek R-Fr. RB
Marlon Romulus R-So. OL
David Rowe Fr. DB
Caleb Ruch R-Fr. RG (starter)
San San Te R-Fr. PK (starter)
Wayne Thomas R-Fr. DL (special teams)
Scott Vallone Fr. DL
Rutgers Stadium Expansion
The Board of Governors of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, approved a plan in January of 2008 to expand Rutgers Stadium.
The $102 million project, which will increase the stadium's seating capacity to 56,000, will be funded entirely by the revenue generated from ticket sales for the 14,000 new seats and from private donations. Rutgers students will continue to have access to football tickets free of charge.
The first phase of the project - a new mezzanine level with club seats and loge boxes - opened to rave reviews Sept. 1 at the Fresno State game.
Airing it Out
Senior QB Mike Teel set a school record with 20 touchdown passes in 2007. He also finished second in single-season school history with 3,147 yards passing.
Teel is the second player in Rutgers history with three consecutive 300-yard passing games. Ryan Hart (2002-05) holds the school record for consecutive 300-yard passing games with seven during the 2004 season.
Teel is second in Rutgers history with seven, 300-yard passing games.
The senior from Oakland, N.J. is 24-13 as Rutgers' starting quarterback. He has started 34 consecutive games under center.
| TVERDOV |
Tough Up the Middle
Senior captain and DT Pete Tverdov is one of the team's defensive anchors in 2008. He is third in the BIG EAST in tackles for loss per game with 1.25 TFLs per contest. Tverdov has recorded a TFL in all seven games he has played in this season.
Dating back to 2007, Tverdov has registered a TFL in 10 straight games.
He started the season in strong fashion in the first game of the year vs. Fresno State. Tverdov was all over the field in the opener, finishing with seven tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one QB hurry and a pass breakup.
Spanning Three Centuries
Rutgers Football, now in its 139th season, has played only three opponents in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The three - Army, Navy and North Carolina - are all on the 2008 schedule.
Three Straight Bowls for Rutgers
For the first time in school history, the Scarlet Knights played in a bowl for the third consecutive season with their appearance in the 2008 International Bowl.
Rutgers won its second straight bowl - another first in school history - with a 52-30 victory over Ball State in the International Bowl.
Starting a Bowl Tradition
Before Greg Schiano's arrival at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights played in one bowl game in 131 seasons of football. In seven seasons at the helm of the program, Schiano has guided Rutgers to three straight bowl games.
The Scarlet Knights are one of 34 teams to play in three consecutive bowls. Among BCS members, Rutgers is one of 25 schools to play in three straight bowl games and just one of three BIG EAST programs to play in three consecutive bowls (Rutgers, West Virginia, USF). All-time, Rutgers is 2-2 in postseason play.
Block Party
Junior CB Devin McCourty has been one of the team's top special teams standouts throughout his career. McCourty has blocked four career kicks, including the third punt block of his career vs. Navy on Sept. 20. All four of McCourty's blocked kicks have led to Rutgers touchdowns.
McCourty has also scored two touchdowns in his career on a pair of interception returns. He returned a pick 36 yards for a touchdown vs. Cincinnati in 2007 and returned an INT 38 yards for a score his freshman year in 2006 vs. Illinois.
| MARTINEK |
Joe Mart
Redshirt freshman Joe Martinek made the most of his first extensive action of his career Sept. 20 at Navy. Martinek recorded his first career rushing attempt, gaining seven yards on a 1st and 10 at the 12-yard line in the first quarter. One play later, he posted his first career touchdown on a five-yard rush with 5:22 to play in the first quarter.
Martinek finished with career-highs in attempts (8) and rushing yards (61) against the Midshipmen.
Martinek was the 2006 Gatorade New Jersey State Player of the Year and is the all-time leading rusher in New Jersey high school football history with 7,589 rushing yards and 80 touchdowns.
He finished his high school career as the No. 38 rusher in high school history with 7,589 rushing yards.
Martinek also made one of the season's best special teams plays with a tackle on UConn's opening kickoff return of the second half, tackling the kick returner at the one-yard line.
| BINES |
From LB to DT
Junior DT Blair Bines started the spring at linebacker and moved to defensive tackle in preseason camp. Only three games into the season at Navy, Bines earned his first career start at DT for an injured Pete Tverdov.
One of the most versatile players on the roster, the New York native has also lined up at fullback this year for the Scarlet Knights.
Bines recorded Rutgers' first safety since 2005 as he tackled UConn's Donald Brown in the end zone in the 12-10 win over the Huskies. It marked the second game-winning safety in Bines' career. He also won a game on a safety during his senior year in high school at William Floyd HS on Long Island.
Comeback in the Kitchen
Junior SS Zaire Kitchen has been one of the best stories of the season for the Scarlet Knights. Kitchen has overcome three ACL surgeries during his career, including two at Rutgers, and has made it all the way back into the starting lineup Sept. 20 at Navy. In his first career start vs. the Mids, Kitchen tallied two tackles.
Kitchen played in nine games in 2007 before his season was cut short with a torn ACL against Pittsburgh. During his freshman campaign in 2006, Kitchen played in 11 games before an ACL injury ended his year prematurely.
In 28 career games, the hard-hitting Kitchen has 42 tackles. The Hightstown native also has one career interception, which secured the victory over No. 2 USF in 2007.
In the victory over #17 Pittsburgh, Kitchen totaled four tackles and forced a key fumble on a Pittsburgh punt return.
Not in a Rush
Since Greg Schiano took over as defensive coordinator for the Scarlet Knights, Rutgers' defense has limited the opposition to less than 100 yards rushing 16 times, including three games with negative yards rushing.
Ten times during Schiano's tenure as defensive coordinator, the Rutgers defense has yielded less than 200 yards of total offense to an opponent.
The "Chop Shop"
A school-record crowd of 44,267 were in attendance as the Scarlet Knights upset No. 2 USF 30-27 last season The Scarlet Knights have posted the eight largest crowds in school history over the last two seasons.
Currently, the growing waiting list for season tickets is over 12,000 as the Scarlet Knights have played in front of 13 straight sellout crowds at Rutgers Stadium, the longest current streak in the BIG EAST.
South Jersey Scarlet Knights
South Jersey has become a hot spot for Rutgers' recruiting in recent years as the Scarlet Knights have six starters from the southern part of the Garden State.
Below are six South Jersey standouts who are currently the starter at their respective position:
Center - Ryan Blaszczyk (Medford Lakes)
Running Back - Kordell Young (West Deptford)
Fullback - Jack Corcoran (Atlantic City)
Defensive End - George Johnson (Glassboro)
Defensive Tackle - Alex Silvestro (Gibbstown)
Middle Linebacker - Ryan D'Imperio (Sewell)
| DELLAGANNA |
Teddy D
Redshirt sophomore P Teddy Dellaganna played a large role in Rutgers' 12-10 victory over Connecticut and was named BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week. His second half opening kickoff pinned UConn to start from its own one-yard line. He also pinned UConn inside its own 10-yard line to start three other drives in the second half, starting from the 3, 2 and 10-yard lines.
In the win over Pitt, Dellaganna averaged 50.3 yards per punt in the victory.
Career Numbers vs. Syracuse
Below are select player career statistics vs. Syracuse:
Kenny Britt (10 rec., 270 yards, 3 TD)
6 rec., career-high 176 yards, 1 TD in 2007
Courtney Greene (19 tackles, 1 INT)
Started all three years vs. Syracuse
Devin McCourty (8 tackles, 1 PBU, 1 blocked punt)
Three tackles, PBU and blocked punt in 2007
Jason McCourty (6 tackles, 1 FR)
Damaso Munoz (10 tackles, FF)
Mike Teel (43-of-71, 659 yards, 6 TD, 3 INT) Started all three years vs. Syracuse, first career start at the Carrier Dome in 2005
Jamaal Westerman (12 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks)
Five tackles, 2.0 sacks at Syracuse in 2007
Teel in the Record Books
Mike Teel has a chance to own Rutgers' all-time records for career passing yards and career touchdowns.
Career Passing Yards
1. Ryan Hart (2002-05) 8,482
2. Mike Teel (2005-present) 7,688
3. Scott Erney (1986-89) 7,188
Career Touchdowns
1. Ryan Hart (2002-05) 52
2. Mike Teel (2005-present) 43
Ray Lucas (1992-95) 43
Career Attempts
1. Ryan Hart (2002-05) 1,217
2. Scott Erney (1986-89) 1,128
3. Mike Teel (2005-present) 981
Career Completions
1. Ryan Hart (2002-05) 735
2. Scott Erney (1986-89) 614
3. Mike Teel (2005-present) 551
Career Yards of Total Offense
1. Ryan Hart (2002-05) 8,149
2. Mike Teel (2005-present) 7,503
3. Scott Erney (1986-89) 7,320
After the Pitt win, Teel passed West Virginia's Marc Bulger (1996-99) and Temple's Henry Burris (1993-96) and moved into seventh place in BIG EAST history in career passing yards.
Teel passed Syracuse's Donovan McNabb (1995-98) for seventh place on the BIG EAST career completions list with 551.
Teel passed Temple's Henry Burris (1993-96) and moved into eighth place on the BIG EAST career total offense list with 7,503 yards.
| WESTERMAN |
Racking Up The Sacks
Senior DE Jamaal Westerman ranks fourth in school history in career sacks with 24. Westerman totaled 50 tackles and finished second on the squad with 14 tackles for loss in 2007.
Career Sacks
1. Nate Toran (1973-76) 52
2. Dan Gray (1975-77) 29
3. Dino Mangiero (1976-79) 26
4. Jamaal Westerman (2005-present) 24
Consistent Courtney
Since he arrived on campus as a freshman in 2005, Courtney Greene has
| GREENE |
started at free safety for the Scarlet Knights. The New Rochelle, N.Y., native, has started 46 consecutive games and is fifth in Rutgers history with 355 career tackles.
Career Tackles
1. Tyronne Stowe (1983-86) 533
2. Jim Dumont (1979-83) 448
3. Brian Sheridan (1993-97) 389
4. Pat Udovich (1986-89) 363
5. Courtney Greene (2005-present) 355
Rutgers in the NFL
As of Nov. 2, 14 former Scarlet Knights are on NFL rosters, including the captains of the previous two Super Bowl winners - Shaun O'Hara with the New York Giants and Gary Brackett of the Indianapolis Colts. Of the 14 players currently in the NFL from Rutgers, 13 were coached by Greg Schiano at Rutgers.
Player (Letters at RU) NFL Team
Gary Brackett (1999-02) Indianapolis
Last Game: Started at MLB; 11 tackles vs. Patriots
Eric Foster (2003-07) Indianapolis
Last Game: Started at DT, 4 tackles, QB hurry vs. Pats
Gary Gibson (2001-04) Carolina
Last Game: Bye week
Nate Jones (2000-03) Miami
Last Game: 1 tackle on special teams vs. Broncos
Brian Leonard (2003-06) St. Louis
Out for the season with a shoulder injury
Ryan Neill (2001-02, 04-05) Buffalo
Last Game: Started at LS vs. Jets
Shaun O'Hara (1997-99) N.Y. Giants
Last Game: Started at C in win vs. Cowboys
Joe Porter (2003-06) Green Bay
Last Game: Member of the practice squad
Brandon Renkart (2003-06) N.Y. Jets
Last Game: Member of the practice squad
Ray Rice (2005-07) Baltimore
Last Game: Started at RB; career-high 154 yards vs. Browns, 7.3 yards per carry
Derrick Roberson (2003-06) Baltimore
Last Game: Member of the practice squad
L.J. Smith (1999-02) Philadelphia
Last Game: Not active vs. Seahawks
Darnell Stapleton (2005-06) Pittsburgh
Last Game: Plays tonight vs. Redskins
Jeremy Zuttah (2004-07) Tampa Bay
Last Game: Started at LG vs. Chiefs
No. 3 Nationally in APR
The Rutgers football team was ranked No. 3 in the nation in the Academic Progress Rate according to the latest APR figures released by the NCAA. The Scarlet Knights have a four-year APR score of 977, which covers the academic years of 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
The top five Football Bowl Subdivision schools in terms of APR are Stanford (986), Navy (979), Rutgers (977), Duke (977) and Air Force (976). For the second consecutive year, Rutgers football has the best APR mark of any state university in the nation.
The Rutgers football team was one of only six Football Bowl Subdivision programs to be ranked in the top 10 percent in the APR scores. Rutgers is the lone state university on the list and the only institution to have its football team ranked in the top 10 percent of the APR and to have won a bowl game last season.
Top Five Football Bowl Subdivision APR Scores
1. Stanford (986)
2. Navy (979)
3. Rutgers (977)
Duke (977)
5. Air Force (976)
