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Fan Vote: Best Play of 2012

Looking at the best plays of the 2012 RFootball season.

By Kevin Recio
Vote for your favorite moment from 2012
Vote for your favorite moment from 2012
Joe Robbins

We are six weeks away from the 2013 college football season. The inaugural/final season of the American Athletic Conference is almost here. Before fall camp gets underway, let's take a look back at our favorite moments from the 2012 season for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. In no particular order:

Jamison Hits the B Button

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This play is one of the most prominent moments from last year, and for good reason. Before the season started, USF was actually picked to finish ahead of Rutgers by several preview publications. Going into the game, the Bulls were still perceived to be a competitive team that could challenge for the Big East title. Jamison had other plans. With a spin move for the ages, Jawan Jamison gave Scarlet Knight fans everywhere a big reason to celebrate.

Duron Harmon Takes It To the House

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This play was more than just a great highlight, as it served as a key turning point in a game against New York's College ACC team. The Orange were on the verge of taking the lead in a hard-hitting game, but Rutgers' special teams came through and completely reversed the momentum for both teams. Jamal Merrell once again used his long frame to make the block, and Harmon did the rest.

The Answer At Arkansas

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In a game full of big plays, Harrison's highlight-reel touchdown grab was one of the best. After back-to-back touchdown throws from Razorback QB Tyler Wilson, it felt as if this was one of those all too familiar moments for Rutgers fans where the wheels fall off completely (think about all of those West Virginia games). Not this time. Nova came up huge in this game from beginning to end, and the toss to Harrison was arguably the prettiest throw of the night.

Defense Shuts Down The Bearcats

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This is the type of play that feeds the beast that is the Rutgers defense. In the third quarter, with their backs against the wall at their own seven yard line, senior leaders Khaseem Greene and Steve Beauharnais completely stonewalled the Cincinnati offensive line and reversed momentum back into Rutgers' favor. In what was a house of horrors for recent RU teams, it was the perfect validation that the 2012 squad was a special group.

3rd & 34

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Going into the second game of the season, many fans still weren't sure what to expect from the running game and Jawan Jamison. Sure, Jamison showed flashes in 2011, but you would be hard pressed to find many to expect an electrifying runner to emerge on the banks with the kind of explosive burst not seen since Ray Rice. Even against a sacrificial FCS team, you could see the 3rd and 34 conversion by Jamison as his dispelling any disbelief that he had the skills to be the workhorse.

One Too Many INTs

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Chandler Whitmer had a terrible game throwing the football, and the Rutgers defense was playing at a super high level. Combine the two, and you have four interceptions thrown, with this gem returned for a touchdown. The overall defensive performance during this game was superb, with lots of TFLs and QB hurries.

Sack, Strip, Fumble

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This play shows how Khaseem Greene perfected the sack, strip, fumble for RU. You can see everything that makes him such a great player in this one highlight: his speed as a former safety, his patience in getting to the QB, and his strength to rip the ball out, a move that he seems to have done a million times on the banks.

Honorable Mentions: