Yesterday was Big East Media Day in Newport, Rhode Island, and Kyle Flood made quite a few accouterments regarding the roster:
Sophomores Rashad Knight and Fred Overstreet are both leaving the program and will transfer elsewhere. Overstreet, a Florida native, was unlikely to be a contributer at Rutgers since he was buried on the depth chart by a number of linbackers (he's headed to Towson), but Knight is a significant loss. A former 4 star recruit out of Florida, Knight is a hard hitting safety with good ball skills who was listed as the co-back up free safety on the depth chart. He would have likely contributed on special teams this year and the starting strong safety spot was his for the taking in 2013, with Duron Harmon and Wayne Warren both in their last year of eligibility this year. There may be reasons unrelated to football as to why he is
transferring.
On the injury front, defensive end David Milewski will miss the entire season after suffering his third ACL tear. The red shirt sophomore showed signs of promise during spring ball, after making the successful conversion from linebacker to defensive end. It's really unfortunate for this kid to suffer another significant injury, but Rutgers has plenty of depth at this position and should absorb this loss.
In other injury news, red shirt sophomore offensive lineman Frank Quartucci has retired from football due to a chronic hip injury. The Hamilton West alum Quartucci was a reserve center/guard and he will remain with the team as a student assistant coach.
2012 signee Delon Stephenson did not qualify academically for Rutgers and will attend Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia with hopes of joining the Scarlet Knights in 2013. Stephenson is a running back and defensive back and was listed as a 3 star athlete by the recruiting services. His brother Daryl is a defensive lineman at Rutgers.
After these bits of news, Rutgers has 83 players on scholarship at the moment, according to my unofficial count.
With Knight, Overstreet and Stephenson either leaving or never making it to campus it should put the count at 82, right? Pollard takes one of the ships and now the count should be 83. Unless Flood gave a ship up to someone during the spring or early summer knowing Stephenson wasn't going to make it. Could Flood hold the ship for Stephenson if he makes it in January?
ReplyDeleteWalk on running back Paul James was put on scholarship this spring. I'm guessing Flood probably will hold the scholarship for Stephenson.
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