2010 Rutgers Football Predictions
A lot of people were pegging Rutgers to win the Big East in 2009, but the Scarlet Knights ended up going just 3-4 in conference play. The Scarlet Knights however still finished the season at 9-4 thanks to a perfect non-conference record that included a win over UCF in the St. Petersburg Bowl.
Rutgers will bring back 12 starters in 2010, six on each side of the ball, and while they likely won’t be favorites to win the Big East, they have a great shot at another winning season. Here is a look at what the Scarlet Knights will bring to the table in 2010, plus my prediction on where they finish the season in the Big East.
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Offense: One reason the Scarlet Knights figure to be a tough out for any team this season is the strong play they have back at the quarterback position. Tom Savage threw for 2.211 yards with 14 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions as true freshman in 2009, and was named to the Freshmen All-American team.
The Scarlet Knights also bring back their top two rushers from the 2009 season, led by junior Joe Martinek, who ran for a team best 967 yards and nine touchdowns in 2009. Keep an eye out for sophomore De”Antwan Williams, who figures to get a lot more carries, and will likely take over the No.2 spot previously held by Mohamed Sanu, who will be used more in the passing game this season.
Sanu was second on the team with 346 yards rushing and five touchdowns in 2009, but with top wide out Tim Brown no longer with the team, Sanu is the top receiving threat back, and could be ready for a big season. Look for a couple more young players to make an impact this season, as sophomore Tim Wright and freshman top recruit Brandon Coleman are expected to make their way into the starting lineup this season. The Scarlet Knights also bring back sophomore tight end DC Jefferson, who figures to be even more apart of the offense in his second season as a starter.
The big question mark surrounding the Rutgers offense this season comes on the offensive line, where the Scarlet Knights will have to replace three starters. Senior center Howard Barbieri and junior right tackle Art Forst are the two returning starters for this unit, and Forst figures to be one of the top tackles in the conference this season. Look for junior Desmond Stapleton to take over at left tackle, while junior Desmond Wynn and red-shirt freshman Antwan Lowery are the projected starters at the two guard positions.
Defense: The Scarlet Knights figure to have one of the top defensive units in the Big East this season, and it starts up front where they have tons of experience and three starters returning from the 2009 season. Senior Jonathan Freeney had a team best 9.5 sacks as a backup in 2009, and figures to make a smooth transition into the starting lineup. Senior Alex Silvestro is back at the other end spot, while talented sophomore Scott Vallone and junior Eric LeGrand return at the two tackle spots.
Rutgers will have to find two new starters at linebacker this fall, as they lose 2009 top tackler Damaso Munoz and third leading tackler Ryan D’Imperio. Sophomore Steve Beauharnais is the likely candidate to take over for D’Imperio in the middle, while junior Manny Abreu looks to have the edge to take over the strong-side backer spot held by Munoz. Antonio Lowery will return at weak-side linebacker.
The Scarlet Knights lost one of the best corners in the country in Devin McCourty, and will likely turn to red-shirt freshman Darrell Givens to take over the empty starting spot opposite of junior David Rowe. Senior Joe Lefeged is back as the starting strong safety, and figures to be one of the top safeties in the Big East this season. Look for sophomore Khaseem Greene to step in as the starting free safety, after Greene finished tied for second on the team with two interceptions in 2009 in backup duty.
Big East Prediction – 4th: The Scarlet Knights are likely a better team than the 4th best team in the Big East, but they have a very tough schedule in 2010, as they have to face Pittsburgh, USF, Cincinnati, and West Virginia on the road.
For a complete look at the Big East this season, check out Jimmy Boyd’s 2010 Big East Predictions.
Looking for some help with your college football betting this season? Be sure to stop back for Jimmy Boyd’s expert college football picks when the 2010 season gets underway.