Depth Chart Review, Point Spread, & One Mission For Rutgers Fans For Penn State Game

There are no changes to the depth chart this week as Rutgers prepares for the last home game of the season against #9 Penn State. The Scarlet Knights are currently listed as -27.5 point underdogs in game that will honor the senior class for their careers with the program. It will be interesting to see how Rutgers performs on Saturday after their disappointing 49-0 loss to Michigan State last weekend. Ash stated his message to the team yesterday as preparation for Penn State began.

After the worst game of his Rutgers career, Gio Rescigno will start at quarterback this game and the last against Maryland, according to Ash, barring injury. Robert Martin, who saw his first action at running back this past weekend since the Illinois game on October 15th, rushed for 32 yards on 8 carries and added one reception for 7 yards. He did not start in the game and there is no update as to whether he will this weekend. Hopefully, he will be close to full strength and able to resemble the reliable back he has been most of his career.

Penn State (8-2) comes to Piscataway riding a six game winning streak after defeating Indiana on the road Saturday by the score of 45-31. They have beaten Iowa (6-4), Minnesota (7-3), and Ohio State (9-1) during that stretch and have a legitimate chance to win the Big Ten East division and appear in the conference championship game. Rutgers faces a very difficult task this weekend and a good turnout from the Penn State faithful should be expected.

I did want to state that despite the very disappointing season it has been, I really hope that Rutgers fans come out in droves for this game to salute the senior class. We will have more coverage on those playing their last home game of their careers later this week, but it’s important we as fans give proper appreciation for the dedicated student-athletes in this program. Players like Darius Hamilton, Julian Pinnix-Odrick, Chris Muller, Sebastian Joseph, Anthony Cioffi and every other member of the senior class have played their hearts out for Rutgers. Obviously the results haven’t been there the past two years, but there have been a lot of factors and difficult times these men have dealt with. As upsetting as this season has been, seeing High Point Solutions over run with navy blue and white with chants of “We Are” during Senior Night would be a damn shame and there would be no one to blame but ourselves. That’s my PSA for the week. Show up and support R team. Also, be classy towards the opposition’s fan base and take the high road! On to the depth chart:

OFFENSE

QB: Gio Rescigno / Chris Laviano OR Zach Allen

RB: Robert Martin / Josh Hicks OR Justin Goodwin

TE: Nick Arcidiacono / Matt Flanagan

WR: Jawuan Harris / John Tsimis

WR: John Tsimis / Vance Matthews

WR: Andre Patton / Carlton Agudosi

LT: Tariq Cole / Zack Heeman

LG: Dorian Miller / Zach Venesky

C: Derrick Nelson / Jonah Jackson

RG: Chris Muller / Marcus Applefield

RT: Kamaal Seymour / J.J. Denman

Notes: The running game struggled so badly against Michigan State that backup quarterback Tylin Oden led Rutgers with 40 yards rushing, all of them coming late in the game. That obviously needs to change for Rutgers to have any chance of making it a game against Penn State.

DEFENSE

DE: Darnell Davis / Jimmy Hogan OR Ron’Dell Carter

NT: Sebastian Joseph / Kevin Wilkins

DT: Darius Hamilton / Jon Bateky

DE: Julian Pinnix-Odrick /Myles Nash

WLB: Trevor Morris / Eric Margolis

MLB: Deonte Roberts / Kevin Marquez

SLB: Tyreek Maddox-Williams / Ronnie James

CB: Isaiah Wharton / Ross Douglas

FS: Saquan Hampton / Kiy Hester OR K.J. Gray

SS: Anthony Cioffi / Lawrence Stevens

CB: Blessuan Austin / Damon Hayes

Notes: Despite up and down play from Deonte Roberts this season, he did log 17 tackles in the loss to Michigan State.....True freshman Damon Hayes continued his solid play this season in the secondary, notching a career high 10 tackles, including one for a loss, on Saturday.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: David Bonagura / Jared Smolar

P: Michael Cintron / Tim Gleeson

LS: Alan Lucy / Matthew Sportelli