PISCATAWAY – When Greg Schiano returned as Rutgers football’s head coach nearly five years ago, he brought with him the hope that the Scarlet Knights could once again be transformed from a bottom feeder into a program respected throughout college football.
Schiano was the architect of the program’s original rebuild that began nearly two decades ago.
Rutgers needed him to do it again, this time in a conference that boasts some of the most prestigious bluebloods in the sport.
Four seasons into this second rebuild, it’s so far, so good.
The Scarlet Knights, who last year pulled off a 7-6 season for their first winning campaign in 10 years, are on the cusp of what could become a breakout season, armed with a highly ranked defense, stud running back and a schedule that’s the most manageable Rutgers has seen since joining the Big Ten a decade ago.
National analysts and pundits have taken notice – some, like ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, calling Rutgers a dark horse to make a run at the College Football Playoff. Others have expressed the belief that the Scarlet Knights, who start their season Aug. 29 against Howard at SHI Stadium, could hit the 10-win mark.
Simply put, expectations are high.
Perhaps at times, too high.
“That’s another thing they have to deal with that they haven’t dealt with in probably 10 years,” said former Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel, who’s now one of the team’s radio color commentators. “There are some expectations now on this team. It’s good there are some senior leaders and some veteran leaders on the team, but it’s something none of those kids have dealt with in their careers while at Rutgers.”
Following the Rutgers football blueprint
There are few people more familiar with Schiano’s ability to rebuild Rutgers than Teel, who helped lead Rutgers to its best season in program history in 2006, a campaign that included a win over then-No. 3 Louisville and a national ranking that reached as high as No. 7.
The Scarlet Knights had losing records each of the first four seasons of Schiano's first stint. They then went 7-5 in 2005 before the program-changing 11-2 season.
Rutgers had a formidable defense, strong running game and a special teams unit that had the ability to change a game with one play.
Sound familiar?
Kyle Monangai led the Big Ten in rushing in 2023. Rutgers last season ranked 16th in the country in total defense. And on special teams, the Scarlet Knights scored off a blocked punt twice last season, something they’ve done 14 times total under Schiano.
“There’s obviously a blueprint,” Teel said. “He did it once. Frankly when he got back, we might’ve been the worst team in all of college football. That’s not a joke. They just weren’t good. There’s definitely a blueprint. I think there’s a commitment to what they want to do and who they want to be. I think that’s the most important thing in any level of football. You need to have an identity.”
So now the question is what can Rutgers do in 2024.
Rutgers football's 2024 schedule more manageable − at least on paper
The Scarlet Knights benefitted from the elimination of Big Ten divisions. They won’t have to battle Ohio State, Penn State or reigning national champion Michigan.
Instead they’ll host conference newcomers Washington and UCLA. They’ll also make a cross-country trip to play USC.
Rutgers will also host Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, while making trips to Nebraska, Maryland and Michigan State.
Only one of those teams – USC – was ranked in the preseason Associated Press Top 25.
Arguably the biggest game of the season will be Sept. 21 at Virginia Tech, which received votes in the preseason poll.
The more manageable schedule – on paper least – is in Rutgers’ favor. Teel believes Rutgers could hit the eight- or nine-win mark, but cautioned “you’re still playing Big Ten-caliber teams.”
In addition to Monangai and the loaded defense, the offense has a year of experience running Kirk Ciarrocca’s system and a quarterback in Minnesota transfer Athan Kaliakmanis Rutgers hopes can ignite a more productive passing game.
But it doesn’t have to all fall on Kaliakmanis.
“I think the nice part, similar to when I took over as a sophom*ore in ’06, is that you have a great run game, you have the best back in the conference,” said Teel, who had the luxury of handing the ball off to Ray Rice back in 2006, “and an offensive line that’s gotten better and has more depth as the last couple years have gone on.”
MORE After serving royalty and presidents, this chef found a home with Rutgers football
Rutgers isn't drinking the 'poison'
All of that is fueling expectations from outside the program. All of that has fans dreaming of what the upcoming season could look like.
The one person who isn’t paying attention to any of that is the man orchestrating the turnaround.
“You hear all that stuff, it’s like poison, right?” Schiano said. “If it’s sitting on the counter it doesn’t harm you. If you start drinking it, you’re in trouble.”
So inside the program, the only focus is on finishing training camp strong with a game against Howard approaching.
Expectations outside the program may be high, but none of that will determine how far the 2024 Scarlet Knights can go.
Regardless, Schiano is doing exactly what he was brought back to do.
“I just remember Coach always talking about keeping it within the walls of the program,” Teel said. “That’s where the important stuff was. At the end of the day, the people that are picking Rutgers to be good or picking Rutgers to be bad, they have no ability to cause an outcome in a game whether it’s good or bad. You stick to the people in the building and you let the rest take care of itself.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football rebuild following proven 'blueprint'
