Hello and welcome to my new Rutgers football blog Knight on the Raritan. I am currently a freshman journalism major at Rutgers and I have played football my whole life, so I figured now that my playing days are over, I'll blog about the Scarlett Knights football team. I planned on doing a bunch of season preview stuff, but that never materialized over the summer, so my first post is a preview of the Knights season opener against Norfolk State. (I'll probably still do a season preview and make a prediction for every game.)
Rutgers comes into tonight's opener looking for their first 1-0 start since 2007 after dropping the season opener to Cincinnati last year and Fresno State the season prior. They will be opposed by the Spartans of Norfolk State. Norfolk State was a solid team last year, finishing 7-4 in the MEAC, and finishing in the top 3 in both offense and defense in the conference. They are however, only a FCS school. So they really should not be a problem for the Scarlett Knights.
Offensively,I expect a big numbers from Tom Savage and Mohamed Sanu in the air, and Joe Martinek on the ground. The biggest thing to look for from the Knights offensively tonight, is how well the offensive line gels in their first taste of game action as a unit. The starting 5 has played together all through out camp, but have only a combined 4 starts at their current positions.
Defensively, there are no big concerns, other then a number of players making their first career start.
Also watch San San Te, he's had an up and down camp as the Knight's kicker.
Rutgers should win this one easily, 45-10. I don't see any reason why the Knights would have a let down in the season opener. They are just too good to lose to a team of Norfolk State's caliber.
Here's the starting line up via The Daily Targum:
QB- Tom Savage So.
RB- Joe Martinek Jr.
FB- Edmond Laryea Sr.
WR- Mohamad Sanu So.
WR- Mark Harrison So.
TE- D.C. Jefferson So.
LT- Desmond Stapleton Jr.
LG- Desmond Wynn Jr.
C- Howard Barbieri Sr.
RG- Caleb Ruch Jr.
RT- Art Forst Jr.
DE- Jonathan Freeny Sr.
DT- Charlie Noonan Sr.
DT- Scott Vallone So.
DE- Alex Silvestro Sr.
OLB- Manny Abreu Jr.
MLB- Steve Beauharnais So.
OLB- Antonio Lowery Sr.
CB- David Rowe Jr.
CB- Brandon Bing Sr.
FS-Khaseem Greene So.
SS- Joe Lefeged Sr.
