11/19/09 - (CB) - Devin McCourty, rSr, 5-11, 190 Joe Lefeged learned the value of preparation last year while playing next to Rutgers' star safety Courtney Greene. "He could diagnose plays before they even started, based on what the offensive lines was doing or how the receivers were lining up," Lefeged said. "He was calling out plays before they even happened on the field." Greene has moved on to the NFL, but his kind of meticulous preparation has continued. Lefeged, a junior strong safety, has learned how to do many of the things Greene excelled at, while senior cornerback Devin McCourty has become perhaps not only the team's best defensive player, but its leader. "Devin gets us together at night to watch film after meetings, and that really helps in practice," Lefeged said. McCourty, who's staked his claim as the Big East's top cornerback this season, also draws high praise from head coach Greg Schiano. "I think he prepares incredibly hard, and I am talking one of the top five I have been around, either college or pro," Schiano said Monday. "He works very hard at it and practices very hard. Every day he goes out there, he is playing a football game in practice. So then it is no mystery that when he gets in the games, he makes plays." - Brian Bennett, ESPN
11/17/09 - (CB) - Devin McCourty, rSr, 5-11, 190 11/17/09 NFL DRAFT SCOUT RISER: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights haven't had their best season, but the 31-0 shellacking of South Florida in front of a national audience Thursday night spotlighted one of the best players. McCourty led his team with nine tackles, two for loss, forced a fumble on a USF punt return and blocked a punt which led to a field goal. His speed and fluidity in coverage, willingness to support the run and special teams acumen (a not-so-little aptitude scouts and coaches notice) should allow him to be picked earlier than his twin brother, Jason, a sixth-round pick by Tennessee last April. - Chad Reuter, The SportsXchange, NFLDraftScout.com
11/16/09 - (RB) - Kordell Young, rJr, 5-09, 190 Rutgers running back Kordell Young is going to miss the rest of the season with an injury to his right knee. Coach Greg Schiano announced on Monday that the third-down specialist will need season-ending surgery after being hurt on Thursday night in the Scarlet Knights’ upset of then-No. 23 South Florida. This is the second time in three seasons Young has been sidelined because of knee surgery. He was lost in the third game of the 2007 season after injury his left knee, a problem that has required multiple surgeries. Young, who missed the first two games this season because of a procedure on his left knee, had nine carries for 28 yards and seven receptions for 48 yards. The Scarlet Knights (7-2) will play at Syracuse (3-7) on Saturday. - AP Sports
11/16/09 - (CB) - Devin McCourty, rSr, 5-11, 190 BIG EAST WEEK 11 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty, who was named BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week, had a forced fumble on punt coverage and came up with his sixth career blocked kick with a punt block in the Scarlet Knights’ 31-0 win against USF. McCourty also had 36 yards on kickoff returns and registered a team-high nine tackles to help Rutgers to its first shutout of a BIG EAST opponent since 1993. - BIG EAST football
11/16/09 - (WR) - Mohamed Sanu, Fr, 6-2, 215 BIG EAST WEEK 11 HONOR ROLL: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers — Had five receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown to go with 13 rushing yards and a two-point conversion in a 31-0 win against USF. - BIG EAST football
11/16/09 - (OLB) - Antonio Lowery, rJr, 6-2, 225 BIG EAST WEEK 11 HONOR ROLL: Antonio Lowery, LB, Rutgers — Had eight tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in a 31-0 win against USF. - BIG EAST football
11/13/09 - (QB) - Tom Savage, Fr, 6-5, 230 Instead of getting even with Rutgers, No. 23 South Florida didn’t even get on the scoreboard for the first time in a regular-season game in its 13-year history. Tom Savage threw for two touchdowns and Rutgers forced four turnovers, blocked a punt and recorded seven sacks in embarrassing the error-prone Bulls 31-0 in a nationally televised game on Thursday night. The victory was the fourth straight for Rutgers (7-2, 2-2 Big East) over South Florida (6-3, 2-3), and this one made the Scarlet Knights bowl eligible for the fifth straight season. The only other time South Florida was shut out was 14-0 in the Meineke Bowl in 2005 against North Carolina State. Savage threw touchdown passes of 25 yards to Mohamed Sanu and 26 yards to Tim Brown. Joe Martinek ran for 128 yards, including a 37-yard score. San San Te kicked field goals of 36, 26 and 49 yards. South Florida came into this game seeking revenge. The Bulls thought the Scarlet Knights ran up the score last year in a 49-16 victory and they promised to make amends, noting that coach Jim Leavitt had been discussing the Rutgers game since training camp opened. - AP Sports
11/12/09 - (WR) - Tim Brown, Sr, 5-08, 165 With four games left in the regular season, the Scarlet Knights are officially out of the Big East title race. Both of the Rutgers losses have come against conference teams, and with Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and West Virginia flying high, they are the only teams that have a mathematical chance of making the BCS bowl as the Big East representative. Still, at 6-2 entering this week's meeting with South Florida, Rutgers will be eligible for a bowl game with its next victory. Assuming that happens and there are still games left against Syracuse and Louisville the Scarlet Knights will likely be headed to their fifth bowl game in a row. To put that in perspective, there are seven fifth-year seniors on the roster. Each is in great position now to graduate with a bowl appearance every year on the roster. When they arrived on campus, the fifth-year seniors who had just left had never seen a bowl game. In fact, it had been 27 years since the Scarlet Knights had reached the postseason. Given the team's losses in the offseason six of last year's starters are now on NFL rosters a Big East title may not have been a realistic goal. Butt he way the Scarlet Knights have been playing, the 2009 senior class should at least be able to continue the school-record streak of bowl trips. PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Tim Brown isn't just catching more passes, he's continuing to stretch the field. The senior is averaging 21.9 yards per catch, and his five touchdowns average 47.8 yards apiece. He's well on his way to joining ex-teammate Kenny Britt in being selected in the NFL Draft.
11/12/09 - (QB) - Tom Savage, Fr, 6-5, 230 PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Tom Savage - The true freshman has done a fine job since taking over the starting quarterback's job, with the possible exception of holding onto the ball too long. He'll continue to be tested in the season's final month, however, with all four opponents remaining in the regular season Big East teams.
11/04/09 - (CB) - Devin McCourty, rSr, 5-11, 190 No one is enjoying the bye week more at Rutgers than Devin McCourty. The cornerback was on the field for 111 plays in the Scarlet Knights’ last-second 28-24 victory over Connecticut on Saturday. The fifth-year senior played all 86 plays on defense and 25 plays on special teams, where he participates on both punt teams and both kickoff teams. What made the performance even more impressive is that McCourty scored on a 98-yard return on the opening kickoff, had six tackles and broke up two passes. “That’s probably the most tired I’ve ever been after a game,” McCourty said. “When we got back to the locker room I just sat on the floor for like five minutes just to rest.” The 86 plays that the Rutgers’ defense faced was two shy of the 88 run by Temple in 2002, the most since Greg Schiano became the Scarlet Knights coach. “Devin is really a great college football player,” Schiano said. “He’s played very well at the cornerback spot and he has done everything on the special teams. He’s blocked punts, he’s returned kickoffs, he’s been a flier on the punt team. He really serves so many roles. Rutgers returns to action next Thursday at home against South Florida. - AP Sports
11/02/09 - (CB) - Devin McCourty, rSr, 5-11, 190 BIG EAST WEEK 9 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty, who was named BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week, returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to help Rutgers to a 28-24 win at Connecticut. It was the Scarlet Knights’ first touchdown on a kickoff return since Willie Foster went 93 yards for a score against Villanova Sept. 10, 2005. McCourty also downed a third-quarter punt on the Connecticut 2-yard line. - BIG EAST football
11/02/09 - (WR) - Tim Brown, Sr, 5-08, 165 BIG EAST WEEK 9 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rutgers wide receiver Tim Brown was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week after he had five receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns — including the game-winning 81-yard TD with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter — to lift Rutgers to a 28-24 win at Connecticut. Brown averaged 32.4 yards per catch against the Huskies and also scored on a 37-yard reception in the second quarter. Brown’s gamewinner came just 16 seconds after Connecticut had taken its first lead of the game. - BIG EAST football
11/02/09 - (OLB) - Damaso Munoz, rSr, 6-0, 220 BIG EAST WEEK 9 HONOR ROLL: Damaso Munoz, LB, Rutgers — Had seven tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception in a 28-24 win at Connecticut. - BIG EAST football
10/31/09 - (WR) - Tim Brown, Sr, 5-08, 165 Tim Brown scored on an 81-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left to give Rutgers an improbable 28-24 win over Connecticut, handing the Huskies their second straight emotional defeat following the death of cornerback Jasper Howard. Brown, one of Howard’s best friends growing up in Miami, got behind cornerback Robert McClain, just after UConn had scored to take the lead. He finished the game with 162 yards receiving and two touchdowns. It was the first conference win of the season for Rutgers (6-2, 1-2 Big East) and the second consecutive defeat for Connecticut (4-4, 2-2) since Howard was stabbed to death outside a school dance on Oct. 18. Backup quarterback Zac Frazer threw for 333 yards and a touchdown for Connecticut, leading UConn on two fourth-quarter drives after they trailed 21-10. - AP Sports
10/26/09 - (RB) - Joe Martinek, rSo, 6-0, 215 BIG EAST WEEK 8 HONOR ROLL: Joe Martinek, RB, Rutgers — Ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in a 27-10 win at Army. - BIG EAST football
10/26/09 - (OT) - Anthony Davis, Jr, 6-6, 325 OT Anthony Davis was benched for the first quarter vs. Army for being late to a team lunch. He got into the game at the start of the second quarter, and there will be no further sanctions for his tardiness.
10/26/09 - (WR) - Tim Brown, Sr, 5-08, 165 WR Tim Brown had four catches for 101 yards against Army, the seventh time he's broken the 100-yard mark in his career. That ties him for second place on the school's all-time list, though unless he gets a fifth year of eligibility the senior won't match former teammate Kenny Britt's 14 games with 100-plus receiving yards.
10/26/09 - (RB) - Joe Martinek, rSo, 6-0, 215 GAME BALL GOES TO: RB Joe Martinek - First the bad news. Martinek did fumble the ball on one of his 25 carries. But on the other 24, he did his job, finishing with 139 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns against the Cadets.
10/23/09 - (RB) - Joe Martinek, rSo, 6-0, 215 Joe Martinek had 139 yards rushing and scored twice on short runs, linebacker Steve Beauharnais scored off his own blocked punt and Rutgers beat Army 27-10 on Friday night at rainswept Michie Stadium. It was the sixth straight victory for Rutgers (5-2) over Army (3-5) and evened the series at 18-all. The Black Knights have lost 12 straight games against Big East teams since beating Rutgers 37-35 in 1997. Tom Savage finished 10 of 20 for 164 yards to become just the second freshman quarterback in Rutgers history to win a road game. Ryan Cubit won his first road game at Buffalo in 2001 in his first career start. Lonnie Liggins scored Army’s lone touchdown on a 17-yard run. The Scarlet Knights ranked 11th nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 91.5 yards per game, gave up 197 on the ground to Army’s triple option offense. But the Black Knights only converted 1 of 11 third downs and punted seven times. Rutgers entered the game ranked second in the nation with a plus-2 turnover margin and the Scarlet Knights kept up their stellar defensive play when the game was on the line, forcing two consecutive turnovers after Army moved within a touchdown early in the third. - AP Sports
10/23/09 - (WR) - Tim Brown, Sr, 5-08, 165 THIS WEEK'S GAME: Rutgers at Army, Oct. 23 Army dominated this series before Greg Schiano led the resurgence at Rutgers, but now the Scarlet Knights are on a roll. If Schiano's crew can win on the road, it will mark the sixth straight against the Cadets and even the all-time series at 18 wins apiece. KEYS TO THE GAME: Rutgers should be able to beat Army, but the danger is if the Cadets can move the ball on the ground. That will eat up clock and shorten the game, giving Army its best chance of an upset. So avoiding sloppiness on defense is imperative. PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Tim Brown's likely to be a prime force on the return team in addition to the top threat at receiver this week. Joe Lefeged's struggle on special teams a week ago give the senior an increased workload, and he's dangerous enough to break one at any time.
10/23/09 - (QB) - Tom Savage, Fr, 6-5, 230 PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Tom Savage is coming off an up-and-down game against the Panthers, but he should get more time to throw this weekend. The thing to watch is what he does with the extra time does he get rid of the ball quickly, or does he hold on to the ball longer than usual? If it's the latter, that might not bode well for when the pass rush increases in Big East play.
10/23/09 - (OLB) - Manny Abreu, rSo, 6-3, 245 PLAYERS TO WATCH: LB Manny Abreu doesn't start but should play a lot with both Ryan D'Imperio and Antonio Lowery banged up. He and the rest of the linebacking corps have a big job ahead of them in stopping the Cadets' ground attack.
10/19/09 - (CB) - Devin McCourty, rSr, 5-11, 190 BIG EAST WEEK 7 HONOR ROLL: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers — Had 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and registered his fifth career blocked kick with a punt block in a 24-17 loss to Pittsburgh. - BIG EAST football
10/19/09 - (CB) - Devin McCourty, rSr, 5-11, 190 GAME BALL GOES TO: CB Devin McCourty - The senior did his job on defense, shutting down Pitt's star wideout Jonathan Baldwin. He held the sophomore to one catch for 17 yards, led the Scarlet Knights with 11 tackles and blocked a punt.
10/16/09 - (CB) - Devin McCourty, rSr, 5-11, 190 SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Pitt has a solid offense passing the football, but the player to key on is freshman TB Dion Lewis. He's averaging 123 yards through his first six collegiate games. Lewis spent his senior season at a local high school (Blair Academy) and had fit right into the void left by current Philadelphia Eagle LeSean McCoy. PLAYERS TO WATCH: CB Devin McCourty - The senior cornerback is starting to stand out on the defense. Four different defenders have scored touchdowns this season and he isn't one of them. But he'll be counted on anyway to be a lockdown cover corner this week.
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