2024 Big Ten Football Media Day Preview - Rutgers University Athletics (2024)

• The all-time wins leader in Rutgers football history, Greg Schiano is in his fifth season back and 16th overall as the head football coach "On the Banks." The second tenure in the Big Ten has seen a rebuild headed in a positive direction, highlighted by exciting victories, bowl appearances, academic success and a pipeline of players elevating to the NFL. All of this has taken place with increased fan support evidenced by unprecedented attendance records.
• Overall, Schiano has directed the Scarlet Knights to eight bowl appearances with six bowl championships, winning the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, the team's second bowl appearance over the last three years. He has coached 104 RU players who signed NFL contracts and guided the program to the top APR score in the nation during his time leading Rutgers football. The 2006 National Coach of the Year owns three nine-win campaigns and coached 18 Rutgers All-America selections.
• The Scarlet Knights showed continued progress in 2023 with seven wins for the program's first winning season since 2014. The campaign was capped by a 31-24 win over Miami in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. The regular season schedule ranked as the second-hardest nationally by ESPN, including wins over bowl participants Northwestern and Virginia Tech, plus an 18-point comeback in the fourth quarter to top Michigan State and 276 rushing yards to defeat Indiana on the road. In addition, Rutgers saw 13 different players recognized in the All-Big Ten voting, the second-highest total for the program in a season. DB Max Melton was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Cardinals at No. 43 overall, the highest pick from RU since 2010.

KYLE MONANGAI

• The Big Ten's leading rusher in 2023, Kyle Monangai racked up 1,262 rushing yards with seven 100-yard games and three with 150 or more yards. The running back was voted Second Team All-Big Ten, ranked No. 12 nationally, second in the league and sixth in the school record book with 242 carries.
• He scored eight touchdowns, including a score on 163 rushing yards to garner MVP in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl win over Miami. The Roseland, New Jersey, native rated as the top running back in the Big Ten, best in the Power 5 and No. 5 nationally by Pro Football Focus.
• Monangai is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and enters 2024 with 1,942 career rushing yards, seeking to become the 16^th player in program history to reach 2,000. He served as a team captain in 2023.

TYREEM POWELL

• Tyreem Powell has played in 33 games the last three seasons, totaling 144 tackles with eight for loss and five sacks, adding eight passes defended (seven breakups, one interception) and a forced fumble.
• The linebacker led Rutgers with 53 tackles last year before missing the final five games due to injury. The Vineland, New Jersey, native posted a career-high 11 stops in the win over Virginia Tech, contributing sacks versus Northwestern and at Michigan.
• Powell is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

MOHAMED TOURE

• Mohamed Toure returned to the field after missing the 2022 season to play all 13 games and rank second on the defense with 93 tackles, including a team-high 9.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. He posted a career-high 11 stops versus Maryland and had an interception against Ohio State.
• The linebacker from Pleasantville, New Jersey, was named as a Comeback Player of the Year semifinalist, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in the coaches and media votes and rated as the No. 7 linebacker in the Big Ten by Pro Football Focus.
• Toure enters 2024 with 168 career tackles, 22.5 tackles-for-loss, 13.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and two interceptions in 37 games. He served as a team captain in 2023.