No. 92 Rutgers

2002 record: 1-11

Big East finish: 8th

2002 offensive stats (National rank, Big East rank):

Rush: 51.7 ypg (116, 8)

Pass: 162.3 ypg (97, 6)


2002 defensive stats (National rank, Big East rank):

Rush: 207.0 ypg (106, 8)

Pass: 198.0 ypg (37, 4)

Offensive Projected Starters:

SE 89 Shawn Tucker (So.)

FL 8 Tres Moses (Jr.)

LT 62 Mike Williamson (Sr.)

LG 77 Rich McManis (Sr.)

C 63 Will Vogt (So.)

RG 66 Clint Dato (Jr.)

RT 76 John Glass (Jr.)

TE 47 Ray Pilch (Jr.)

QB 11 Ryan Hart (So.)

RB 2 Clarence Pittman (Jr.)

FB 37 Brad Cunningham (Jr.)

Defensive Projected Starters:

DE 1 Raheem Orr (Sr.)

DT 95 Gary Gibson (Sr.)

DT 98 Luis Rivas (So.)

DE 92 Alfred Peterson (Jr.)

SLB 42 Brian Bender (Sr.)

MLB 49 Brian Hohmann (Sr.)

WLB 38 Will Gilkison (So.)

CB 32 Nate Jones (Sr.)

CB 24 Brandon Haw (Sr.)

FS 3 Terry Bynes (So.)

SS 20 Jarvis Johnson (Jr.)

Special Teams Projected Starters:

K 43 Ryan Sands (Sr.)

P 30 Joe Radigan (So.)

KR 32 Nate Jones (Sr.)

PR 8 Tres Moses (Jr.)

Schedule:

A. 30 Buffalo

S. 6 at Michigan State

S. 13 at Army

S. 27 Navy

O. 4 Virginia Tech

O. 11 at West Virginia

O. 18 Pittsburgh

O. 25 at Temple

N. 8 at Connecticut

N. 15 Boston College

N. 22 at Miami

N. 29 Syracuse

Outlook

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has won just three games in his two
seasons on the job. His team has failed to win a Big East game in 14
attempts. Last year, the Knights stumbled through a 1-11 season that
included home losses to Buffalo and Division I-AA Villanova.


"We need to start winning some games," says Schiano, a New Jersey
native charged with the difficult - some say impossible - task of turning
Rutgers into a consistent winner in the Big East.


Defensively, the Knights appear poised for some success with a unit that
returns seven starters and adds some promising young talent.


A major overhaul was needed on offense after Rutgers finished last or
next to last nationally in almost every major category. Schiano hired former
Utah coordinator Craig Ver Steeg to install an offense that relies heavily
on a two-back set and a timing passing game.

Offense

Schiano's surprising late-season decision not to redshirt quarterback
Ryan Hart could pay major dividends this fall. Hart started the final four
games as a true freshman and played well enough to be considered the
quarterback of the future. Hart will oversee a re-designed offense being
installed by Ver Steeg, who inherits a unit that finished as the nation's
worst during a 1-11 season.


There's a solid cast at wide receiver, with big-play threat Tres Moses
healthy again after missing nine games with a knee injury. Promising true
freshman Marcus Daniels could contribute immediately.


The top four rushers return, but that's not necessarily a good thing, since
Rutgers averaged just 51.7 yards rushing per game. Markis Facyson led
the Knights with a mere 398 yards rushing.


New offensive line coach Mario Cristobal faces a daunting challenge with
a unit that was at the root of most of the offensive problems last year.
Transfers John Glass, Clint Dato and Ron Green are being counted on to
make a difference.

Defense

For long stretches last year, Rutgers' defense was more than
respectable. But with little relief from the Knights' offense, breakdowns
inevitably occurred. The unit returns seven starters, although the potential
loss of defensive end Ryan Neill, recovering from knee surgery, will hurt.
Senior Raheem Orr is a mainstay up front.


Brian Hohmann slides over from weak-side linebacker to the middle to fill
the void created by Gary Brackett's graduation. Brian Bender is back at the
strong side - for now. He will be pushed by talented sophomore William
Beckford, who was academically ineligible last season.


The secondary returns three starters. Schiano tried linebacker Terry
Bynes at the vacated free safety spot in the spring but didn't seem
pleased with the results. Rutgers has a rising star in junior strong safety
Jarvis Johnson and a pair of solid corners in Brandon Haw and speedy
Nate Jones.

Specialists

After returning two kickoffs 100 yards for touchdowns and finishing sixth
nationally in kickoff returns, Nate Jones was named the Big East's
co-Special Teams Player of the Year. The senior averaged 28.3 yards per
return last year. With Tres Moses healthy again and able to resume his
duties as the punt returner, Rutgers has big-play capability any time an
opponent kicks the ball.

Final Analysis

Rutgers' hopes for topping the three-win plateau for the first time since
1998 will come down to one thing: the offensive line. Cristobal's
challenge is to piece together a unit that will simply allow the offense a
chance to function - something it often couldn't do last season. Rutgers
not only finished last nationally in total offense and scoring (and next to
last in rushing), the Knights averaged just 1.5 yards per rush and punted
a school-record 93 times. The problem wasn't close to being solved in
the spring, meaning the uncertainty will linger until the Aug. 30 opener
against Buffalo. With a favorable schedule, promise at the skill positions,
a quarterback to build around in Hart and a defense that should be solid,
the 2003 season hinges on the offensive line play and whether or not five
newcomers can make a difference.

To order the 2003 Athlon Sports Big East edition click on the magazine
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