Rutgers Sets Depth Chart For Week 1

Julian Pinnix-Odrick (Jeff Auger – Double G Media)

Rutgers football released the depth chart for the ensuing week one matchup this Saturday Sept. 5 at noon at High Point Solutions Stadium against Norfolk State. The game will be televised on ESPNews with Shawn Kenney and Al Groh on the call.

Hayden Rettig will get the start at quarterback with classmate Chris Laviano (along with WR Leonte Carroo, CB Ruhaan Peele, P Tim Gleeson, and LB Kevin Marquez) suspended for the first half of the game.

It is unclear whether Laviano will play at all in the second half, or if Rettig has won the job for the season after the pair of redshirt sophomores battled throughout the spring and summer to start under center.

Head coach Kyle Flood said during his weekly press conference he expects senior running back Paul James to start, mixed in with Justin Goodwin, Robert Martin, and Josh Hicks.

With Carroo out for the first half, Andre Patton and Carlton Agudosi will start, with Janarion Grant and Vance Mathews mixed in as well.

South Carolina graduate transfer Kaiwan Lewis is set to start at middle linebacker.

Sebastian Joseph and Kevin Wilkins, along with Quanzell Lambert figure to rotate at nose tackle. Lambert is ahead of Kemoko Turay at the right defensive end spot, who is listed as questionable.

***

Senior defensive tackle Darius Hamilton will miss the contest and is week-to-week head coach Kyle Flood said during the weekly Big Ten Conference Weekly Football Coaches Teleconference Tuesday. Junior Julian Pinnix-Odrick will get the start.

According to the injury report, redshirt freshman safety Kiy Hester is out for the game which means junior Davon Jacobs will start at strong safety.

Cornerback Nadir Barnwell is listed as ‘out’ with an upper body injury. As far as the update regarding his seasonal eligibility status, Flood said, “I have not gotten any update on the team’s eligibility for the first game. That’s usually a compliance report I’ll receive one to two days before the game.”

Other notables that are out include running back Desmon Peoples, wide receiver John Tsimis, and punter Tim Gleeson. Joe Roth will handle the punting duties.

Despite being listed as questionable, sophomore Dre Boggs will start at cornerback. The other corner spot will be manned by freshman Blessuan Austin with redshirt freshman Isaiah Wharton and freshman Jarius Adams in the mix. Peele enters in the second half. Look for juniors Anthony Cioffi and Delon Stephenson to play some corner as well in sub-packages.

Rutgers Football Depth Chart (Week 1, Norfolk State)

OFFENSE

QB: Hayden Rettig/Giovanni Rescigno or Chris Laviano

RB: Paul James or Josh Hicks or Robert Martin or Justin Goodwin

FB: Sam Bergen/Razohnn Gross

TE: Nick Arcidiacono/Matt Flanagan or Charles Scarff

WR: Carlton Agudosi/Vance Matthews or Leonte Carroo

WR: Andre Patton/Janarion Grant

LT: Keith Lumpkin/Zack Heeman

LG: Dorian Miller/Tariq Cole

C: Derrick Nelson/Zach Venesky

RG: Chris Muller/Marcus Applefield

RT: J.J. Denman/Ryan Brodie

DEFENSE

DE: Quanzell Lambert/Kemoko Turay

NT: Sebastian Joseph/Kevin Wilkins

DT: Julian Pinnix-Odrick/Eric Wiafe or Jon Bateky

DE: Djwany Mera/Jimmy Hogan

WLB: Steve Longa/Deonte Roberts

MLB: Kaiwan Lewis/Isaiah Johnson

SLB: Quentin Gause/Eric Margolis or Kevin Marquez

CB: Dre Boggs/Ruhann Peele or Jarius Adams

FS: Delon Stephenson/Anthony Cioffi

SS: Davon Jacobs/Andre Hunt

CB: Blessuan Austin/Isaiah Wharton

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Kyle Federico/Chris Gough

P: Joey Roth/Michael Cintron

LS: Alan Lucy/Alex Hutchings

H: Joey Roth/Brian Verbitski

Rutgers Football Injury Report

Dre Boggs Upper Body Questionable, Ronnie James Lower Body Questionable, Kemoko Turay Upper Body Questionable

Talib Abdur-Ra’oof Lower Body Out, Nadir Barnwell Upper Body Out, George Behr Lower Body Out, Tim Gleeson Lower Body Out, Darius Hamilton Lower Body Out, Jawuan Harris Lower Body Out, Kiy Hester Lower Body Out, Dontae Owens Lower Body Out, Desmon Peoples Upper Body Out, Nick Rafferty Upper Body Out, Austin Rosa Lower Body Out, Charles Snorweah Upper Body Out, TJ Taylor Lower Body Out, John Tsimis Lower Body Out, Brian Verbitski Lower Body Out, Jacquis Webb Lower Body Out

Keep it locked to DoubleGSports as we await opening kickoff this Saturday.