Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football: History, Roster, Schedule, and More

Rutgers Scarlet Knights football is the intercollegiate football team for Rutgers University. The team competes in the Big Ten Conference, a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference. Rutgers was founded in 1869, making it the oldest college football program in the United States. The Scarlet Knights have won two national championships, in 1869 and 1870.

Team Name: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Short Name: Scarlet Knights
Team Owner(s): Rutgers University
Prominent Players:
- Noah Vedral (quarterback)
- Bo Melton (wide receiver)
- Mohamed Toure (wide receiver)
- Christian Isidor (running back)
- Avery Young (linebacker)
- Mohamed Sanborn (linebacker)
- Tre Avery (defensive back)
- KeAndre Lambert-Smith (wide receiver)
- Jacob Allen (offensive lineman)

Some of the most prominent players in Rutgers football history include:

George Woodruff (1869-1872): Woodruff was the first captain of the Rutgers football team and led the team to its first two national championships.
Paul Robeson (1915-1918): Robeson was a two-time All-American for Rutgers and went on to become a star in the theater and film.
Kyle Flood (2012-2015): Flood led the Scarlet Knights to a 68-39 record in four seasons, including two bowl appearances.
Greg Schiano (2001-2011): Schiano led the Scarlet Knights to a 65-43 record in 11 seasons, including a Big East championship in 2006.

Rutgers football is a storied program with a rich history. The Scarlet Knights have won two national championships and have produced some of the greatest players in college football history. The team is currently competing in the Big Ten Conference, one of the most competitive conferences in college football.

History about Rutgers Football Team

Here is some information about the history of Rutgers football:

Founding: Rutgers football was founded in 1869, making it the oldest college football program in the United States. The first game was played on November 6, 1869, against Princeton University. Rutgers won the game 6-4, and it is considered to be the first intercollegiate football game ever played.
Early years: Rutgers football was very successful in the early years. The team won two national championships, in 1869 and 1870. Rutgers also won the first intercollegiate football championship, the 1873 College Football Championship Game.
Mid-century decline: Rutgers football experienced a decline in the mid-20th century. The team went through a period of losing seasons and did not win a bowl game from 1950 to 1974.
Recent success: Rutgers football has experienced a resurgence in recent years. The team has won four bowl games since 2005, and it has been ranked in the Top 25 of the AP Poll three times.
Current status: Rutgers football is currently competing in the Big Ten Conference. The team has had some success in the Big Ten, but it has not yet won a conference championship.

Here are some other interesting facts about Rutgers football:

The Scarlet Knights have played in 12 bowl games, winning four of them.
Rutgers has had 11 players drafted in the NFL Draft, including Paul Robeson, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
Rutgers’ home stadium, Rutgers Stadium, is named after former head coach Robert L. Foster.
The Scarlet Knights’ mascot is a knight named Scarlet.

Here are some of the team’s most notable moments in history, year-wise:

1869: Rutgers plays Princeton in the first intercollegiate football game. Rutgers wins 6-4.
1870: Rutgers wins its second national championship, defeating Princeton again.
1873: Rutgers wins the first intercollegiate football championship game, defeating Princeton 8-0.
1915: Paul Robeson, one of the greatest players in college football history, enrolls at Rutgers.
1918: Robeson leads Rutgers to a 9-1 record and a national championship.
1976: Rutgers wins its first bowl game since 1950, defeating West Virginia in the Garden State Bowl.
2005: Rutgers wins its second bowl game since 1976, defeating Kansas State in the Insight Bowl.
2006: Rutgers wins its first Big East Conference championship.
2012: Rutgers wins its third bowl game since 2005, defeating Iowa State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
2016: Rutgers joins the Big Ten Conference.

Rutgers football is a storied program with a rich history. The Scarlet Knights have won two national championships, have played in 12 bowl games, and have had 11 players drafted in the NFL Draft. The team is currently competing in the Big Ten Conference, one of the most competitive conferences in college football.

Coaching Staff Information about Rutgers Football Team

Here is some information about the team’s coaching staff, including their names, backgrounds, and coaching philosophies:

Head Coach: Greg Schiano

Background: Schiano is a former college football player and coach. He played defensive back at Boston College from 1986 to 1989. He then began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Boston College in 1990. Schiano has been a head coach at three different schools, Rutgers (2001-2011), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-2013), and Ohio State (2016-2017).
Coaching Philosophy: Schiano is known for his tough, defensive-minded approach to coaching. He believes that the best way to win football games is to stop the other team from scoring. Schiano also emphasizes discipline and toughness in his players.

Offensive Coordinator: Kirk Ciarrocca

Background: Ciarrocca is a former college football player and coach. He played quarterback at Penn State from 1994 to 1997. He then began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Penn State in 1998. Ciarrocca has been an offensive coordinator at three different schools, Western Michigan (2015-2016), Penn State (2017-2020), and Minnesota (2021).
Coaching Philosophy: Ciarrocca is known for his pro-style offense. He emphasizes balance in his offense, with a mix of running and passing plays. Ciarrocca also believes in developing his players and getting them ready to play at the next level.

Defensive Coordinator: Joe Harasymiak

Background: Harasymiak is a former college football player and coach. He played linebacker at Western Michigan from 1993 to 1997. He then began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan in 1998. Harasymiak has been a defensive coordinator at two different schools, Western Michigan (2014-2017) and Rutgers (2018-present).
Coaching Philosophy: Harasymiak is known for his aggressive, attacking defense. He believes that the best way to stop the other team from scoring is to pressure the quarterback and force turnovers. Harasymiak also emphasizes discipline and toughness in his players.

These are just a few of the members of the Rutgers football coaching staff. The team has a talented and experienced coaching staff that is committed to winning football games.

Rutgers Football Team information about players

Here is a table of some of the team’s key players, including their names, jersey, positions, height, weight, high school, and ratings:

Player	Jersey	Position	Height	Weight	High School	Rating
Noah Vedral	12	Quarterback	6’4″	225 lbs	Council Rock North (PA)	3-star
Bo Melton	10	Wide Receiver	6’3″	210 lbs	Old Bridge (NJ)	4-star
Mohamed Toure	81	Wide Receiver	6’4″	220 lbs	Bergen Catholic (NJ)	4-star
Christian Isidor	21	Running Back	5’11”	210 lbs	DePaul Catholic (NJ)	3-star
Avery Young	44	Linebacker	6’2″	235 lbs	Don Bosco Prep (NJ)	4-star
Mohamed Sanborn	17	Linebacker	6’2″	230 lbs	Paramus Catholic (NJ)	4-star
Tre Avery	27	Defensive Back	6’0″	185 lbs	Peddie School (NJ)	3-star
KeAndre Lambert-Smith	5	Wide Receiver	6’1″	190 lbs	St. Peter’s Prep (NJ)	4-star
Jacob Allen	70	Offensive Lineman	6’5″	295 lbs	Bergen Catholic (NJ)	4-star

This is just a small sample of the team’s key players. The Scarlet Knights have a talented roster that is full of potential.

Rutgers Football Team’s last 10 years of records

Year	Wins	Losses
2022	6	6
2021	4	7
2020	3	6
2019	2	10
2018	1	11
2017	4	8
2016	4	8
2015	5	7
2014	6	6

As you can see, Rutgers football has had a mixed bag of results in the last 10 years. The team has had some success, but it has also had some struggles. The Scarlet Knights are hoping to turn things around in the 2023 season.

Here are some additional notes about Rutgers football’s last 10 years of records:

The team has had two winning seasons in the last 10 years (2014 and 2022).
The team has had seven losing seasons in the last 10 years.
The team’s best season in the last 10 years was in 2014, when the team went 6-6 and won the Quick Lane Bowl.
The team’s worst season in the last 10 years was in 2017, when the team went 1-11.

Season Preview: Rutgers Football Team

Roster changes:

There have been a few major changes to the Rutgers football roster since the end of the 2022 season. The team lost a few key players to graduation, including wide receiver Bo Melton and linebacker Avery Young. However, the team also added a few key transfers, including quarterback Noah Vedral from Nebraska and linebacker Mohamed Sanborn from Wisconsin.

Strengths:

The Scarlet Knights have a few strengths that could help them be successful in the 2023 season. The team has a talented quarterback in Noah Vedral, who is a dual-threat quarterback that can both run and pass the ball. The team also has a talented group of wide receivers, led by KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Mohamed Toure. The Scarlet Knights also have a strong defense, led by Mohamed Sanborn and Avery Young.

Weaknesses:

The Scarlet Knights also have a few weaknesses that could hinder their success in the 2023 season. The team’s offensive line is inexperienced, and the team’s running game could struggle as a result. The team’s defense is also susceptible to giving up big plays, and the team will need to improve in this area if they want to be successful.

Potential challenges:

The Scarlet Knights will face a few challenges in the 2023 season. The team’s schedule is challenging, with games against Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. The team will also need to improve their consistency if they want to be successful.

Overall outlook:

Overall, the Scarlet Knights have a chance to be successful in the 2023 season. The team has a talented roster, and the team has a new head coach in Greg Schiano, who is known for his ability to turn around programs. However, the team will need to overcome their weaknesses and play consistently if they want to be successful.

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
September 3	Northwestern	SHI Stadium	12:00 PM ET
September 9	Temple	SHI Stadium	7:30 PM ET
September 16	Virginia Tech	SHI Stadium	3:30 PM ET
September 23	Michigan	Michigan Stadium	3:30 PM ET
September 30	Wagner	SHI Stadium	12:00 PM ET
October 7	Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium	12:00 PM ET
October 14	Illinois	Memorial Stadium	3:30 PM ET
October 21	Purdue	SHI Stadium	3:30 PM ET
October 28	Indiana	Memorial Stadium	3:30 PM ET
November 4	Nebraska	SHI Stadium	3:30 PM ET
November 11	Maryland	SHI Stadium	3:30 PM ET
November 18	Penn State	SHI Stadium	3:30 PM ET

FAQs about the Rutgers Football team

What is the history of Rutgers football?

Rutgers football is the oldest college football program in the United States. The first game was played on November 6, 1869, against Princeton University. Rutgers won the game 6-4, and it is considered to be the first intercollegiate football game ever played.

Who is the head coach of Rutgers football?

The head coach of Rutgers football is Greg Schiano. Schiano is a former college football player and coach. He played defensive back at Boston College from 1986 to 1989. He then began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Boston College in 1990. Schiano has been a head coach at three different schools, Rutgers (2001-2011), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-2013), and Ohio State (2016-2017).

What are the Scarlet Knights’ biggest rivals?

The Scarlet Knights’ biggest rivals are Princeton, Penn State, and Maryland. These three schools are all located in the state of New Jersey, and they have all been playing Rutgers football for over 100 years.