2016 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

The 2016 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Scarlet Knights' third season as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and a member of the East Division. The team was led by Chris Ash, who is in his first season. Rutgers played its home games at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. They finished the season 2–10, 0–9 in Big Ten play to finish in last place in the East Division.

2016 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record2–10 (0–9 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDrew Mehringer (1st season)
Offensive schemePower spread
Defensive coordinatorJay Niemann (1st season)
Base defenseMultiple
Captains
  • Chris Muller (5th year)
  • Derrick Nelson (5th year)
  • Darius Hamilton (5th year)
  • Julian Pinnix-Odrick (5th year)
Home stadiumHigh Point Solutions Stadium
Seasons
← 2015
2017 →
2016 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 7 Penn State xy$ 81  113 
No. 6 Ohio State x^ 81  112 
No. 10 Michigan 72  103 
Indiana 45  67 
Maryland 36  67 
Michigan State 18  39 
Rutgers 09  210 
West Division
No. 9 Wisconsin xy 72  113 
Iowa 63  85 
Nebraska 63  94 
Minnesota 54  94 
Northwestern 54  76 
Illinois 27  39 
Purdue 18  39 
Championship: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Rutgers announced its 2016 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2016 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Scarlet Knights will host Big Ten foes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Penn State, and will travel to Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Ohio State.[1]

The team will host two of the three non–conference games which are against Howard Bison from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the New Mexico Lobos from the Mountain West Conference, and Washington Huskies from the Pac-12 Conference (Pac-12).

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 32:00 pmat No. 14 Washington*P12NL 13–4858,460
September 1012:00 pmHoward*BTNW 52–1445,245
September 1712:00 pmNew Mexico*
  • High Point Solutions Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
ESPNewsW 37–2839,680
September 2412:00 pmIowa
  • High Point Solutions Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
ESPN2L 7–1444,061
October 112:00 pmat No. 2 Ohio StateBTNL 0–58105,830
October 87:00 pmNo. 4 Michigan
  • High Point Solutions Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
ESPN2L 0–7853,292
October 1512:00 pmIllinois
  • High Point Solutions Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
ESPNewsL 7–2442,640
October 2212:00 pmat MinnesotaESPNUL 32–3446,096
November 512:00 pmIndiana
  • High Point Solutions Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 27–3337,345
November 1212:00 pmat Michigan StateBTNL 0–4973,701
November 198:00 pmNo. 9 Penn State
  • High Point Solutions Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 0–3951,366
November 2612:00 pmat MarylandESPNewsL 13–3130,220
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[2]

Game summaries

At Washington

1234Total
Scarlet Knights0301013
#14 Huskies241014048

Howard

1234Total
Bison1400014
Scarlet Knights77211752

New Mexico

1234Total
Lobos2100728
Scarlet Knights7213637

Iowa

1234Total
Hawkeyes070714
Scarlet Knights00077

At Ohio State

1234Total
Scarlet Knights00000
#2 Buckeyes62421758

Michigan

1234Total
#4 Wolverines1429142178
Scarlet Knights00000

After its game against Ohio State, Rutgers returned home to face Michigan in Michigan's first road game of the season. Michigan defeated Rutgers 49–16 in the previous meeting.[3]

Michigan won in a historic blowout, 78–0.[4] Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter via a four-yard touchdown run from Ty Isaac. Michigan added to its lead via a 30-yard touchdown pass from Speight to Chesson. Michigan added 29 points in the second quarter via a seven-yard touchdown run from Peppers, two one-yard touchdown runs from Hill, a two-point conversion Garrett Moores rush, and a four-yard touchdown run from Peppers, which made the score 43–0 in favor of Michigan at half-time. Michigan added 14 points in the third quarter via an 11-yard touchdown pass from John O'Korn to Hill, and a 15-yard touchdown run from Karan Higdon. Michigan added 21 points in the fourth quarter via a 13-yard touchdown run from Bobby Henderson, a 44-yard touchdown run from Higdon, and a 34-yard touchdown run from Isaac.[5]

The game was a statistical domination for Michigan. Michigan accumulated 600 yards of offense and eleven touchdowns (nine rushing, two passing); the nine rushing touchdowns tied for the most in modern program history.[6] Khalid Hill recorded three touchdown scores, making him the first Michigan player with three or more scores since Chesson had four in 2015 against Indiana. Michigan improved to 6–0 for the first time since 2011 and recorded its first shutout since the previous season against Northwestern. Michigan's defense held Rutgers to only 39 total yards, two first downs, 14 three-and-outs and 0-for-17 on third down. Michigan recorded its largest margin of victory—during either conference or non-conference play—since it defeated Chicago 85–0 in 1939. This was also the largest margin of victory in any Big Ten game since the same Michigan victory over Chicago.[3] The defeat was Rutgers' worst loss since an 82–0 loss to Princeton in 1888.[7]

Illinois

1234Total
Fighting Illini0710724
Scarlet Knights00077

At Minnesota

1234Total
Scarlet Knights3713932
Golden Gophers21010334

Indiana

1234Total
Hoosiers13013733
Scarlet Knights1077327

At Michigan State

1234Total
Scarlet Knights00000
Spartans211414049

Penn State

1234Total
#9 Nittany Lions63161439
Scarlet Knights00000

Penn State piled up 39 points despite the game taking place during an ice storm and limited Rutgers to 87 yards, 5 first downs, and 1-14 third down conversions, managing only 1 yard in the entire second half.

At Maryland

1234Total
Scarlet Knights076013
Tarrapins1477331

Roster and staff

2016 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR1Janarion GrantSr
WR2Ahmir MitchellFr
WR3Jawuan Harris  Fr
RB4Trey SneedFr
QB5Chris Laviano  Jr
WR6Mohamed JabbieFr
RB7Robert MartinJr
RB8Josh HicksJr
QB11Hayden Rettig  Jr
QB12Zach Allen  Jr
WR13Carlton Agudosi  Sr
QB14Tylin OdenFr
QB15Jack Clements  Fr
WR16Christopher Parker  Fr
QB17Giovanni Rescigno  So
QB18Michael Dare  Fr
QB19Troy AnthonySr
RB20Devan Carter  Jr
WR21Jelani GarvinFr
WR22Prince TaylorFr
WR23Dacoven BaileyFr
RB24Charles Snorweah  Fr
WR26Ahmed BahFr
WR27McDerby CeneusFr
RB28Aslan PughFr
RB32Justin GoodwinSr
WR41Thomas KoprowskiFr
TE42Nick ArcidiaconoSr
TE43George Behr  So
WR46Davante McDuffieJr
OL54Kamaal SeymourFr
OL55Michael MaiettiFr
OL60Dorian Miller  Jr
OL61Mike LonsdorfFr
OL63Jim OnulakFr
OL64Skiy Pyrame  Fr
OL65Tariq Cole  So
OL66Nick KriminFr
OL69Derrick Nelson (C)  Sr
OL70Chris Muller (C)  Sr
OL71Marcus Applefield  So
OL72Manny Taylor  Fr
OL73Jonah Jackson  Fr
OL74Sam HowsonFr
OL75Zach Venesky  Fr
OL77J. J. Denman  Sr
OL79Zack Heeman  So
WR80Alex Schoen  Jr
TE81Matt Flanagan  Jr
WR82Ntwademela Perry  So
WR83Rashad Blunt  Fr
WR84John Tsimis  Jr
TE86Nakia Griffin-Stewart  Fr
WR87Vance Matthews  Sr
WR88Andre PattonSr
TE89Jerome WashingtonSo
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB2Kiy Hester  So
LB5Ronnie JamesSo
DL7Elorm LumorFr
DB9Saquan Hampton  So
DB10Blessuan AustinSo
DB11Isaiah Wharton  So
DL12Myles Nash  Jr
LB14Solomon ManningFr
LB15Trevor MorrisSo
DB17K. J. GrayFr
DB18Damon HayesFr
DB20Marcus Parker  Sr
DB21Ross Douglas  Jr
DL22Quanzell Lambert  Sr
DB25Jarius AdamsSo
LB26Deonte RobertsSo
DB27Kobe MarfoSo
LB28Najee ClaytonSo
DB29Lawrence StevensFr
LB30Andre Hunt  Jr
DB31Anthony CioffiSr
LB33Greg Jones  Sr
LB34Talib Abdur-Ra'oof  So
LB35Eric Margolis  So
LB36T. J. Taylor  Jr
LB37Max Anthony  Fr
LB38Jim BradyFr
DB39Sandy Anya  Jr
DB40Brian Chase  Fr
LB40Kevin MarquezSr
DB43D'Won Walker  Fr
LB44Tyreek Maddox-WilliamsFr
DB45Dylan RogersFr
LB47Isaiah JohnsonSr
LB49Brandon Russell  So
DL50Julius TurnerFr
DL51Sebastian Joseph-Day  Jr
DL53Julian Pinnix-Odrick (C)  Sr
LB55Austin Rosa  Fr
LB56Rashawn BattleFr
DL58Kemoko Turay  Jr
DL59Darnell Davis  Jr
DL67Kenneth Roman  Fr
DL75Darius Hamilton (C)  Sr
DL90Ron'Dell Carter  Fr
DL92Eric Wiafe  So
DL93Jason GriggsFr
DL95Jon BatekySo
DL96Willington Previlon  Fr
DL98Jimmy Hogan  So
DL99Kevin Wilkins  So
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
LS62Matthew SportelliFr
LS85Alan LucyJr
P94Michael Cintron  So
PK97Jared SmolarFr
PK98David Bonagura  Jr
P99Tim Gleeson  Sr
P99Gavin Haggerty  Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Drew Mehringer (Offensive Coordinator)
  • Jay Niemann (Defensive Coordinator)
  • Vince Okruch (Special Teams Coordinator)
  • A. J. Blazek (Offensive Line)
  • Shane Burnham (Defensive Line)
  • Bill Busch (Defensive Backs)
  • Aaron Henry (Assistant Defensive Backs)
  • Zak Kuhr (Running Backs)
  • Jafar Williams (Wide Receivers)
  • Kenny Parker (Head Football Strength and Conditioning)
  • Sean Barowski (Defensive Assistant)
  • Collin Bauer (Defensive Assistant)
  • David Galante (Offensive Assistant)
  • Mark Rosenbaum (Offensive Assistant)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: November 23, 2016

Awards and honors

All-Conference

All-Big Ten
PlayerSelectionRef.
Tariq ColeHonorable Mention (Coaches)[9]
Blessuan AustinHonorable Mention (Media)[10]

References