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
Conference	Big Ten Conference
	East Division
2016 record	2–10 (0–9 Big Ten)
Head coach	Chris Ash (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Drew Mehringer (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Power spread
Defensive coordinator	Jay Niemann (1st season)
Base defense	Multiple
Captains	Chris Muller (5th year) Derrick Nelson (5th year) Darius Hamilton (5th year) Julian Pinnix-Odrick (5th year)
Home stadium	High Point Solutions Stadium (Capacity: 52,454)

2016 Big Ten Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 7 Penn State xy$		8	–	1					11	–	3
No. 6 Ohio State x^		8	–	1					11	–	2
No. 10 Michigan		7	–	2					10	–	3
Indiana		4	–	5					6	–	7
Maryland		3	–	6					6	–	7
Michigan State		1	–	8					3	–	9
Rutgers		0	–	9					2	–	10
West Division
No. 9 Wisconsin xy		7	–	2					11	–	3
Iowa		6	–	3					8	–	5
Nebraska		6	–	3					9	–	4
Minnesota		5	–	4					9	–	4
Northwestern		5	–	4					7	–	6
Illinois		2	–	7					3	–	9
Purdue		1	–	8					3	–	9
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).

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	2:00 pm	at No. 14 Washington*	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	P12N	L 13–48	58,460
September 10	12:00 pm	Howard*	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	W 52–14	45,245
September 17	12:00 pm	New Mexico*	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	ESPNews	W 37–28	39,680
September 24	12:00 pm	Iowa	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	ESPN2	L 7–14	44,061
October 1	12:00 pm	at No. 2 Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	BTN	L 0–58	105,830
October 8	7:00 pm	No. 4 Michigan	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	ESPN2	L 0–78	53,292
October 15	12:00 pm	Illinois	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	ESPNews	L 7–24	42,640
October 22	12:00 pm	at Minnesota	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	ESPNU	L 32–34	46,096
November 5	12:00 pm	Indiana	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	L 27–33	37,345
November 12	12:00 pm	at Michigan State	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN	L 0–49	73,701
November 19	8:00 pm	No. 9 Penn State	High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	L 0–39	51,366
November 26	12:00 pm	at Maryland	Maryland Stadium College Park, MD	ESPNews	L 13–31	30,220
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Schedule Source:[2]

Game summaries

at Washington

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	0	3	0	10	13
#14 Huskies	24	10	14	0	48

Howard

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	14	0	0	0	14
Scarlet Knights	7	7	21	17	52

New Mexico

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lobos	21	0	0	7	28
Scarlet Knights	7	21	3	6	37

Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hawkeyes	0	7	0	7	14
Scarlet Knights	0	0	0	7	7

at Ohio State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	0	0	0	0	0
#2 Buckeyes	6	24	21	7	58

Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
#4 Wolverines	14	29	14	21	78
Scarlet Knights	0	0	0	0	0

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

	1	2	3	4	Total
Fighting Illini	0	7	10	7	24
Scarlet Knights	0	0	0	7	7

at Minnesota

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	3	7	13	9	32
Golden Gophers	21	0	10	3	34

Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hoosiers	13	0	13	7	33
Scarlet Knights	10	7	7	3	27

at Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	0	0	0	0	0
Spartans	21	14	14	0	49

Penn State

	1	2	3	4	Total
#9 Nittany Lions	6	3	16	14	39
Scarlet Knights	0	0	0	0	0

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

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	0	7	6	0	13
Tarrapins	14	7	7	3	31

Roster and staff

2016 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Janarion Grant Sr WR 2 Ahmir Mitchell Fr WR 3 Jawuan Harris  Fr RB 4 Trey Sneed Fr QB 5 Chris Laviano  Jr WR 6 Mohamed Jabbie Fr RB 7 Robert Martin Jr RB 8 Josh Hicks Jr QB 11 Hayden Rettig  Jr QB 12 Zach Allen  Jr WR 13 Carlton Agudosi  Sr QB 14 Tylin Oden Fr QB 15 Jack Clements  Fr WR 16 Christopher Parker  Fr QB 17 Giovanni Rescigno  So QB 18 Michael Dare  Fr QB 19 Troy Anthony Sr RB 20 Devan Carter  Jr WR 21 Jelani Garvin Fr WR 22 Prince Taylor Fr WR 23 Dacoven Bailey Fr RB 24 Charles Snorweah  Fr WR 26 Ahmed Bah Fr WR 27 McDerby Ceneus Fr RB 28 Aslan Pugh Fr RB 32 Justin Goodwin Sr WR 41 Thomas Koprowski Fr TE 42 Nick Arcidiacono Sr TE 43 George Behr  So WR 46 Davante McDuffie Jr OL 54 Kamaal Seymour Fr OL 55 Michael Maietti Fr OL 60 Dorian Miller  Jr OL 61 Mike Lonsdorf Fr OL 63 Jim Onulak Fr OL 64 Skiy Pyrame  Fr OL 65 Tariq Cole  So OL 66 Nick Krimin Fr OL 69 Derrick Nelson (C)  Sr OL 70 Chris Muller (C)  Sr OL 71 Marcus Applefield  So OL 72 Manny Taylor  Fr OL 73 Jonah Jackson  Fr OL 74 Sam Howson Fr OL 75 Zach Venesky  Fr OL 77 J. J. Denman  Sr OL 79 Zack Heeman  So WR 80 Alex Schoen  Jr TE 81 Matt Flanagan  Jr WR 82 Ntwademela Perry  So WR 83 Rashad Blunt  Fr WR 84 John Tsimis  Jr TE 86 Nakia Griffin-Stewart  Fr WR 87 Vance Matthews  Sr WR 88 Andre Patton Sr TE 89 Jerome Washington So	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 2 Kiy Hester  So LB 5 Ronnie James So DL 7 Elorm Lumor Fr DB 9 Saquan Hampton  So DB 10 Blessuan Austin So DB 11 Isaiah Wharton  So DL 12 Myles Nash  Jr LB 14 Solomon Manning Fr LB 15 Trevor Morris So DB 17 K. J. Gray Fr DB 18 Damon Hayes Fr DB 20 Marcus Parker  Sr DB 21 Ross Douglas  Jr DL 22 Quanzell Lambert  Sr DB 25 Jarius Adams So LB 26 Deonte Roberts So DB 27 Kobe Marfo So LB 28 Najee Clayton So DB 29 Lawrence Stevens Fr LB 30 Andre Hunt  Jr DB 31 Anthony Cioffi Sr LB 33 Greg Jones  Sr LB 34 Talib Abdur-Ra'oof  So LB 35 Eric Margolis  So LB 36 T. J. Taylor  Jr LB 37 Max Anthony  Fr LB 38 Jim Brady Fr DB 39 Sandy Anya  Jr DB 40 Brian Chase  Fr LB 40 Kevin Marquez Sr DB 43 D'Won Walker  Fr LB 44 Tyreek Maddox-Williams Fr DB 45 Dylan Rogers Fr LB 47 Isaiah Johnson Sr LB 49 Brandon Russell  So DL 50 Julius Turner Fr DL 51 Sebastian Joseph-Day  Jr DL 53 Julian Pinnix-Odrick (C)  Sr LB 55 Austin Rosa  Fr LB 56 Rashawn Battle Fr DL 58 Kemoko Turay  Jr DL 59 Darnell Davis  Jr DL 67 Kenneth Roman  Fr DL 75 Darius Hamilton (C)  Sr DL 90 Ron'Dell Carter  Fr DL 92 Eric Wiafe  So DL 93 Jason Griggs Fr DL 95 Jon Bateky So DL 96 Willington Previlon  Fr DL 98 Jimmy Hogan  So DL 99 Kevin Wilkins  So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class LS 62 Matthew Sportelli Fr LS 85 Alan Lucy Jr P 94 Michael Cintron  So PK 97 Jared Smolar Fr PK 98 David Bonagura  Jr P 99 Tim Gleeson  Sr P 99 Gavin Haggerty  Fr	Head coach Chris Ash 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

Weekly Weekly Awards Player Award Date Awarded Ref. Janarion Grant Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week September 5, 2016 [8]

All-Conference All-Big Ten Player Selection Ref. Tariq Cole Honorable Mention (Coaches) [9] Blessuan Austin Honorable Mention (Media) [10]

References

1. "Big Ten Conference Announces 2016-2017 Football Schedules" (Press release). Rutgers University Department of Athletics. July 11, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
2. "2016 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
3. "Postgame Notes: #4 Michigan 78, Rutgers 0". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
4. "Ground Attack, Defensive Blanket Key U-M's Shutout Win". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
5. "Michigan-Rutgers Box Score". ESPN.com. ESPN. October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
6. Note: Claims that Michigan's nine touchdowns are a program record ignore the accomplishments of Fielding H. Yost's "Point-a-Minute" teams that scored more than nine touchdowns on multiple occasions. Michigan's single-game record is actually 22 touchdowns, a feat accomplished twice – on October 26, 1901, against University of Buffalo and on October 24, 1904, against West Virginia. These games occurred before the forward pass was legalized in 1906; therefore, all points scored would have been via rushing touchdowns.
7. Werner, Barry (October 8, 2016). "Stunning stats from Michigan's 78-0 destruction of Rutgers". FoxSports.com. Fox Sports. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
8. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". www.bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. September 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
9. "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
10. "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.