More Freshman Honors for Scarlet Knights
Dec 10 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (December 10, 2009) – Three freshmen on the Rutgers football team were named Honorable Mention Freshman All-Americans by CollegeFootballNews.com. True freshman WR Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.), true freshman QB Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) and redshirt freshman DT Scott Vallone (Central Islip, N.Y.) all collected the honors, the second post-season awards for both Savage and Vallone.
In addition, all three freshmen along with true freshman LB Steve Beauharnais (Saddle Brook, N.J.) were named to ESPN.com's All-BIG EAST Freshman team.
Vallone was named to Phil Steele’s Freshmen All-America first team at defensive tackle while Savage was the magazine’s third team Freshmen All-America quarterback.
Vallone has become a major force on Rutgers’ defensive line in his first year as a starter. The New York native has started 11 of the 12 games he has played in. On the season, he has 36 tackles, 7 TFL, 0.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries.
Savage has started 10 games at quarterback for the Scarlet Knights and has thrown for more yards and touchdowns than any true freshman quarterback in BIG EAST history. Savage also ranks third nationally among true freshmen quarterbacks in touchdown passes (12) and fourth nationally among true freshmen quarterbacks in passing yards (1,917).
Sanu is second on the team in receptions (47) and receiving yards (542) in 2009. He has three 100-yard receiving games along with a 100-yard rushing game at Louisville. Sanu is the first Scarlet Knight since 1993 to throw a touchdown, catch a touchdown pass and rush for a touchdown in the same season.
Beauharnais collected All-BIG EAST Freshman team honors after the regular season with 29 tackles and three sacks. He started three of Rutgers’ final four games in the regular season in addition to being a standout on special teams the entire year.
Rutgers closes out the 2009 season Saturday, December 19 in the St. Petersburg Bowl vs. UCF. The Scarlet Knights look to win their fourth straight bowl as Rutgers plays in its fifth consecutive bowl for the first time in school history. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. with live television coverage on ESPN.
To order tickets to the St. Petersburg Bowl, please visit scarletknights.com or call the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU. Fans can also purchase tickets in-person at the Rutgers Ticket Office, located in the Rutgers Athletic Center, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
2026 National Signing Day: Head Coach Greg Schiano - 12/03/25
Wednesday, December 03
Head Coach Greg Schiano Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
Head Coach Greg Schiano Post Game Press Conference - Penn State
Saturday, November 29
Head Coach Greg Schiano Game Week Press Conference - Penn State
Tuesday, November 25
