Photo by: Gabby Ricciardi/Rutgers Athletics
Abraham Earns PFF First Team All-Big Ten
Dec 03 | Football
Cornerback posted seven pass breakups
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Led by a first-team selection for DB Kessawn Abraham, seven from Rutgers football were recognized on the Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten teams released this week. The picks are based on PFF's grades and advanced statistics.
Rutgers Football Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten Honors
First Team: DB Kessawn Abraham
Second Team: PR Aron Cruickshank
Third Team: WR Bo Melton, DL Julius Turner
Honorable Mention: P Adam Korsak, OL Raiqwon O'Neal, LB Olakunle Fatukasi
Starting the final 11 games at cornerback, Abraham recorded seven pass breakups with 39 tackles on the season. He recorded three tackles-for-loss, including one on a fourth down late in the fourth quarter at Illinois to help seal the victory. The New York native most recently returned a blocked PAT 85 yards for a defensive two-point conversion against Maryland. Abraham posted a season-high seven tackles versus Ohio State and broke up two passes each in games versus Northwestern and Delaware.
ARON CRUICKSHANK
Cruickshank recorded 153 yards on eight punt returns, including a 62-yard touchdown versus Delaware. The performance helped earn Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. Cruickshank added 55 yards on two punt returns versus Temple. Overall, the New York native finished second on the Scarlet Knights with 743 all-purpose yards (316 kickoff return, 244 receiving, 153 punt return, 30 rushing) in seven games played. Cruickshank owns five career kick return touchdowns (four kickoff, one punt).
BO MELTON
Melton recorded 55 receptions for 618 yards on the season, totaling a team-best 823 all-purpose yards (618 receiving, 116 kickoff return, 51 rushing, 38 punt return). The wide receiver had six games with at least five catches and posted two games of at least 100 receiving yards with a high of 125 versus Delaware. The New Jersey native finishes his career ranked sixth in the school record book with 164 career receptions and ninth with 2,011 yards. A member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list, he played in 56 career games for the Scarlet Knights and accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl.
JULIUS TURNER
Tying for the program record with 57 career games played, Turner started all 12 games at nose guard in 2021. He posted 38 tackles with five for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Mississippi native notched a season-high seven stops versus Michigan State, adding a forced fumble at Northwestern and a pass batted down at Indiana. Turner was instrumental up front in helping the rushing defense improve by 41 yards per game from last season. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten in both the coaches' and media vote.
ADAM KORSAK
Korsak, one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, helped the Scarlet Knights to a net punt of 45.34, first nationally and setting a new NCAA record. Opponents had a return of less than four yards 67-of-70 attempts, with 63 times recording a zero or negative return. In addition, Korsak pinned 37 inside the 20 with 15 settling at the 10 or closer and four times stopping a punt at the 1-yard line. The Aussie boomed 19 at least 50 yards on the way to setting a new program record with a 45.9 average, recording zero touchbacks. The two-time team captain has posted 122 consecutive attempts without a touchback dating back to 2019 and was voted First Team All-Big Ten in the coaches' vote.
RAIQWON O'NEAL
O'Neal played in 10 games with eight starts at left tackle in 2021. The Scarlet Knights had nine games allowing two or less sacks and rushed for over 200 yards in the wins over Illinois (230), Temple (220) and Indiana (218). The South Carolina native scored his second touchdown in as many seasons with a 7-yard lateral at Indiana.
OLAKUNLE FATUKASI
A semifinalist for the Butkus Award as one of the top linebackers in the nation, Fatukasi ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with 9.9 tackles per game. That included a season-high 13 stops versus Northwestern and Syracuse with four games in double figures overall in 2021. The New York native claimed the Bednarik Award Player of the Week following a performance with four tackles-for-loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a safety in the win over Temple. Overall, he posted team highs with 89 tackles and 11 tackles-for-loss, along with two forced fumbles and two pass breakups in nine games, earning Third Team All-Big Ten in the media vote. Fatukasi's 302 career tackles ranks 12th in program history.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel and bookmark Rutgers.Football, the Scarlet Knights' dedicated recruiting site.
Rutgers Football Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten Honors
First Team: DB Kessawn Abraham
Second Team: PR Aron Cruickshank
Third Team: WR Bo Melton, DL Julius Turner
Honorable Mention: P Adam Korsak, OL Raiqwon O'Neal, LB Olakunle Fatukasi
KESSAWN ABRAHAMKessawn Abraham has been named First Team All-Big Ten by @PFF_College. @KessawnA | #CHOP 🪓 pic.twitter.com/2M1OorRGk7
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) November 30, 2021
Starting the final 11 games at cornerback, Abraham recorded seven pass breakups with 39 tackles on the season. He recorded three tackles-for-loss, including one on a fourth down late in the fourth quarter at Illinois to help seal the victory. The New York native most recently returned a blocked PAT 85 yards for a defensive two-point conversion against Maryland. Abraham posted a season-high seven tackles versus Ohio State and broke up two passes each in games versus Northwestern and Delaware.
ARON CRUICKSHANK
Cruickshank recorded 153 yards on eight punt returns, including a 62-yard touchdown versus Delaware. The performance helped earn Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. Cruickshank added 55 yards on two punt returns versus Temple. Overall, the New York native finished second on the Scarlet Knights with 743 all-purpose yards (316 kickoff return, 244 receiving, 153 punt return, 30 rushing) in seven games played. Cruickshank owns five career kick return touchdowns (four kickoff, one punt).
BO MELTON
Melton recorded 55 receptions for 618 yards on the season, totaling a team-best 823 all-purpose yards (618 receiving, 116 kickoff return, 51 rushing, 38 punt return). The wide receiver had six games with at least five catches and posted two games of at least 100 receiving yards with a high of 125 versus Delaware. The New Jersey native finishes his career ranked sixth in the school record book with 164 career receptions and ninth with 2,011 yards. A member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list, he played in 56 career games for the Scarlet Knights and accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl.
JULIUS TURNER
Tying for the program record with 57 career games played, Turner started all 12 games at nose guard in 2021. He posted 38 tackles with five for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Mississippi native notched a season-high seven stops versus Michigan State, adding a forced fumble at Northwestern and a pass batted down at Indiana. Turner was instrumental up front in helping the rushing defense improve by 41 yards per game from last season. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten in both the coaches' and media vote.
ADAM KORSAK
Korsak, one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, helped the Scarlet Knights to a net punt of 45.34, first nationally and setting a new NCAA record. Opponents had a return of less than four yards 67-of-70 attempts, with 63 times recording a zero or negative return. In addition, Korsak pinned 37 inside the 20 with 15 settling at the 10 or closer and four times stopping a punt at the 1-yard line. The Aussie boomed 19 at least 50 yards on the way to setting a new program record with a 45.9 average, recording zero touchbacks. The two-time team captain has posted 122 consecutive attempts without a touchback dating back to 2019 and was voted First Team All-Big Ten in the coaches' vote.
RAIQWON O'NEAL
O'Neal played in 10 games with eight starts at left tackle in 2021. The Scarlet Knights had nine games allowing two or less sacks and rushed for over 200 yards in the wins over Illinois (230), Temple (220) and Indiana (218). The South Carolina native scored his second touchdown in as many seasons with a 7-yard lateral at Indiana.
OLAKUNLE FATUKASI
A semifinalist for the Butkus Award as one of the top linebackers in the nation, Fatukasi ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with 9.9 tackles per game. That included a season-high 13 stops versus Northwestern and Syracuse with four games in double figures overall in 2021. The New York native claimed the Bednarik Award Player of the Week following a performance with four tackles-for-loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a safety in the win over Temple. Overall, he posted team highs with 89 tackles and 11 tackles-for-loss, along with two forced fumbles and two pass breakups in nine games, earning Third Team All-Big Ten in the media vote. Fatukasi's 302 career tackles ranks 12th in program history.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel and bookmark Rutgers.Football, the Scarlet Knights' dedicated recruiting site.
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