Rutgers Football All-Americans
DT John Alexander
1975: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
A native of Plainfield, New Jersey, Alexander posted 48 tackles with six sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery in 1975. The defensive tackle started all 11 games on a 9-2 team and also was a key contributor on the undefeated 1976 team that led the country in total defense (179.2), rushing defense (83.9) and scoring defense (7.4). Alexander would be drafted by the Miami Dolphins.
TE Alan Andrews
1984: Second Team (Associated Press)
Andrews collected 40 receptions for 511 yards in eight games played. That included two touchdown catches with one in the win at Louisville. The Succasunna, New Jersey, native would be drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
RB Bill Austin
1958: First Team (Associated Press)
A native of Fanwood, New Jersey, and Scotch Plains High School graduate, Austin captured the imagination of the college football community in the late 1950s. A member of the inaugural Rutgers Football Hall of Fame Class in 1988, the 1958 Rutgers football media guide referred to Austin as "a natural leader with an even temperament." The Scarlet's team captain in 1958, Austin led Rutgers to an 8-1 record with 747 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, as the team led the nation in scoring offense (33.4). Austin was selected by Washington in the 1959 NFL Draft.
FL Andrew Baker
1984: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Known as "Shake and Bake," the Trenton, New Jersey, native also received the Homer Hazel Trophy as the team's most valuable player in 1984 after posting 42 catches for 583 yards and three touchdowns. Baker was known for the acrobatic, leaping catches that he routinely made.
DT George Bankos
1988: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
A force in the middle, Bankos posted 34 tackles with two sacks in 1988. That included being part of the late goal-line stand to beat No. 15 Penn State at Beaver Stadium. The Whitehall, Pennsylvania, native served as a captain for the Scarlet Knights.
TE Marco Battaglia
1994: Honorable Mention (UPI)
1995: First Team (Associated Press, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association, Football News, Pro and College Football News Weekly, UPI)
In 1993, Battaglia caught 27 passes. In 1994, that number swelled to 58. By 1995, he was being hailed as the nation's best tight end. Following a 69-catch, 894-yard, 10-touchdown season in 1995, there was no longer a debate as to who was the nation's best. He was a consensus First Team All-American and appeared on the Bob Hope Christmas Special. Battaglia was also named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year. The signature game of his career came at Giants Stadium against Penn State. In a game televised nationally by ESPN, he grabbed 13 catches for 184 yards and scored three touchdowns. Combining speed, strength and the heart of a lion, the 6-3, 245-pounder was the second tight end taken in the 1996 NFL draft, a second-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals.
HB Henry Benkert
1924: Second Team (All-Sports Magazine)
Named an All-American in 1924, "Heinie" led the East in scoring with 100 points. Also a Second Team All-American in lacrosse, Benkert gained 2,124 yards during his career. He served on the Rutgers football staff between 1944 and 1949 and played professionally with the New York Giants and three other pro teams.
WR Kenny Britt
2008: Third Team (Associated Press, Phil Steele)
2008: Honorable Mention (SI.com, Pro Football Weekly)
One of the best receivers in program history, Britt capped his career posting a school-record 1,371 receiving yards on 87 receptions with seven touchdowns in 2008. That included eight 100-yard games, registering a high of 197 against Army and leading the nation with 114.2 receiving yards per game. Britt became the first player in Rutgers history picked in the first round of the NFL Draft after being selected by the Tennessee Titans at No. 30.
QB Frank Burns
1948: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
A captain for the 1948 team that went 7-2, Burns finished his career as the program’s all-time leader in career passing yards (2,751) at the time. He would earn an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl and pick up MVP honors. After a professional career, Burns served as head coach for the Scarlet Knights from 1973-83 and won 78 games, the most in program history at the time.
DB Deron Cherry
1980: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
A defensive back and punter for the Scarlet Knights, Cherry capped his career with 42 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries with 50 punts for an average of 39.3 yards and a long of 65 in 1980. A team captain from Riverside, New Jersey, he would make the Pro Bowl six times during a 12-year NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
TE Larry Christoff
1972: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Christoff hauled in a team-leading 27 passes for 278 yards during the Scarlet Knights’ 7-4 1972 campaign. The production also earned the Northampton, Pennsylvania, native a share of the Homer Hazel Award.
FL Brian Cobb
1987: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Cobb led the Scarlet Knights with 878 all-purpose yards (545 kickoff return, 267 receiving, 41 rushing, 25 punt return) in 1987. The Steelton, Pennsylvania, native contributed a 94-yard kickoff return in the win over Kentucky and scored two touchdowns on 16 receptions.
KR Aron Cruickshank
2020: Honorable Mention (Phil Steele)
One of four players tied for the nation's lead, and the only in the Big Ten, with two kickoff return touchdowns during the unprecedented 2020 season, Cruickshank averaged 26.8 yards on 25 kickoff returns to also earn Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten honors. He picked up 671 combined kick return yards to rank fourth nationally and first in the Big Ten. That includes a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Purdue that sparked a 17-0 scoring run to overcome a 10-point deficit and pull ahead for a road victory. Then against Nebraska, Cruickshank ripped off a 98-yard kickoff return to put the Scarlet Knights ahead in the third quarter. Overall, Cruickshank ranked second on the team with 936 all-purpose yards by adding 239 receiving on 37 receptions and 26 rushing. The Brooklyn, New York, native hauled in his first collegiate receiving touchdown on a fourth down to help tie the game with 27 seconds remaining and force overtime versus Michigan.
C Joe Daddario
1953: Honorable Mention (UPI)
From Egg Harbor, New Jersey, Daddario saw action on both sides of the ball for the Scarlet Knights. He earned All-America honors his senior year in 1953 as a center. The season started with an upset victory over Virginia Tech.
OL Anthony Davis
2007: First Team, Freshman (The Sporting News, Rivals, Football Writers Association of America)
2007: Second Team, Freshman (College Football News, Scout.com)
2009: Second Team (Walter Camp Football Foundation)
2009: Third Team (Sporting News)
2009: Honorable Mention (Pro Football Weekly)
A local product from Piscataway, New Jersey, Davis made an immediate impact playing all 13 games as a true freshman in 2007. In his eight games starting at right guard, Rutgers averaged 213.6 rushing yards and 430.1 yards of total offense per game. Davis did not allow a sack during the season, as the Scarlet Knights allowed just 10 sacks on the year, the second-fewest total in the NCAA. In 2009, Davis capped his career with 12 starts at left tackle, helping the Scarlet Knights to a win in the St. Petersburg Bowl over UCF. The performance also earned First Team All-Big East honors. Blocking for the Rutgers all-time passing (Mike Teel) and rushing (Ray Rice) leader, Davis was drafted by San Francisco in the first round, pick No. 11, becoming the program’s highest-ever draft selection.
LB Jim Dumont
1982: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
1983: Third Team (Associated Press)
A two-time All-America honoree and Homer Hazel Award winner, Dumont left as the program’s all-time leader in career tackles (448). The linebacker posted 133 stops in 1982 with two sacks and an interception to collect honorable mention status. Then in 1983 as a captain, he made the third team with 154 tackles (104 solo) with two picks. The Levittown, Pennsylvania, native was drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
QB Scott Erney
1988: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
One of the best quarterbacks in program history, Erney set school single-season records with 188 completions, 339 attempts, 2,123 passing yards and 2,192 yards of total offense in 1988. That included 15 touchdown passes, posting three in games against Cincinnati, Temple and Colgate, and two scores on the ground. The Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, native recorded a school-record 35 completions with 436 passing yards versus Vanderbilt. He led the team to road victories over Michigan State and No. 15 Penn State, winning the Homer Hazel Award for the second of three times.
PK Alex Falcinelli
1982: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
A native of Harmony Township, New Jersey, Falcinelli converted 12-of-15 field goals and all 16 extra points to lead the team with 52 points in 1982. That included four makes of at least 50 yards with a school record at the time of 51 three times, versus William & Mary and twice against No. 6 Pittsburgh. The 80 percent accuracy mark ranks as one of the best in a season in program history.
DT Eric Foster
2006: First Team (Football Writers Association of America)
2006: Third Team (Associated Press)
2006: Honorable Mention (SI.com)
2007: Second Team (Sporting News)
After suffering a season-ending knee injury during what began as a bright redshirt-sophomore campaign, Foster re-emerged in 2006 as one of the nation's top defensive linemen. Having tallied 30 tackles over his first two seasons, the Homestead, Florida, native nearly doubled that figure as a junior, finishing the year with 51 tackles, including six sacks and a team-best 14 tackles-for-loss. He added the honor of Defensive Tackle of the Year by the New Jersey Sports Writers and was the recipient of the David Bender Trophy. Then in 2007, Foster posted 64 tackles with a team-high 15 for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
G Al Garrett
1916: Third Team (Walter Camp)
Known as “Budge,” Garrett played on both sides of the ball and was honored at offensive guard for coach George Foster Sanford. He later played professionally and taught at Rutgers-Newark.
S Courtney Greene
2005: First Team, Freshman (Football Writers Association of America, College Football News)
2005: Second Team, Freshman (Rivals.com)
2005: Third Team, Freshman (The Sporting News)
Greene started all 12 games as a freshman and posted double-digit stops in eight contests. The 116 tackles overall ranked second in the Big East, adding 5.5 for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles. The safety opened his collegiate career with 11 tackles and a forced fumble at Illinois and concluded the season with 12 tackles, including one tackle-for-loss, a forced fumble and two pass breakups, in the Insight Bowl against Arizona State. The New Rochelle, New York, native had a season-best 14 stops with a forced fumble, which led to a Rutgers score, in the 31-21 victory over Navy on Oct. 29, giving the Scarlet Knights their sixth win and gaining bowl eligibility.
LB Khaseem Greene
2011: Third Team (Phil Steele)
2011: Honorable Mention (SI.com)
2012: Second Team (Walter Camp Football Foundation, SI.com)
2012: Third Team (Associated Press, CBSSports.com)
Greene earned All-America honors in back-to-back seasons at linebacker for the Scarlet Knights. In 2011, he led the Big East and ranked 12th nationally with 141 tackles, including 14 for loss. The Elizabeth, New Jersey, native won Big East Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season in 2012 after posting 136 tackles with 12 for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, five pass breakups, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Earning the Homer Hazel Award, the Rutgers defense ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense (14.2) and 10th in total defense (311.6) that season.
DB Jack Grossman
1931: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
An all-around athlete, Grossman gained 866 yards rushing, 415 on kickoff and punt returns and threw for 274 in scoring 12 touchdowns in 1931. The team captain added 2,425 yards punting, played basketball and baseball and later saw action in the NFL with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
WR Jim Guarantano
1992: Honorable Mention (UPI)
Guarantano concluded a standout career for the Scarlet Knights with 56 catches for 755 yards and six touchdowns in 1992. Also earning First Team All-Big East honors, he started all 11 games and served as a captain for a team that went 7-4. The Lodi, New Jersey, native left as the program’s all-time leader in career receptions (158).
E Homer Hazel
1923: First Team (Walter Camp)
1924: First team (Walter Camp)
Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, Hazel led Rutgers to identical 7-1-1 records in his final two seasons, earning All-America laurels in each. During the 1924 campaign, Hazel established school records for most points after a touchdown and longest completed pass. His speed and quickness served him well, for he once recovered his own kickoff in the enemy end zone for a touchdown. Carrying 226 pounds over a 5-foot-11 frame, Hazel lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track at Rutgers. The annual football team MVP award is named in his honor.
DE Alec Hoke
1987: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
The defensive end from Princeton, New Jersey, ended his career with 83 tackles for the Scarlet Knights. That included five sacks on seven tackles-for-loss, adding an interception.
G Bob Howard
1955: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Howard earned All-America and All-East honors in his final season on the gridiron. The Newburgh, New York, native was a standout offensive lineman at guard and also saw action at linebacker.
LB Jim Hughes
1976: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Part of the perfect 1976 team, Hughes shined at linebacker with a team-high 113 tackles with two sacks, two fumble recoveries, five interceptions and a pick-six versus Lehigh. The defense led the nation in total defense (179.2), rushing defense (83.9) and scoring defense (7.4) that season.
PK Jeremy Ito
2004: First Team, Freshman (The Sporting News)
2006: Honorable Mention (SI.com)
Ito burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2004 by making four field goals in the season-opening 19-14 win over Michigan State. By the season’s end, the true freshman converted 15 field goals, including six from 40 or more yards. The Redlands, California, native shattered the school record for career made field goals (80), with 22 makes during the memorable 2006 season that saw the Scarlet Knights win 11 games and rank No. 12 nationally. Ito hit a long of 53 yards in the win at USF. “The Judge” is best known for the 28-yard game-winner versus No. 3 Louisville to set off “Pandemonium in Piscataway.”
DB Henry Jenkins
1976: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Part of the vaunted 1976 defense that led the nation in total defense (179.2), rushing defense (83.9) and scoring defense (7.4), Jenkins recorded six pass breakups, an interception and 19 tackles at cornerback. The Newark, New Jersey, native also made an impact as a punt returner for the 11-0 Scarlet Knights, averaging 15 yards per return, best in the nation. He added a receiving touchdown in showcasing his speed.
RB "JJ" Jennings
1973: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Jennings set the school record at the time with 1,353 rushing yards, 303 attempts and 21 touchdowns to lead the nation in scoring (11.6 points per game) in 1973. That included eight 100-yard outings with a high of 230 against Massachusetts. The Holyoke, Massachusetts, native also left with the Rutgers career records in yards (2,935), attempts (650) and rushing touchdowns (34). Jennings later played professionally with the Memphis Southmen and the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League.
OL Kaleb Johnson
2011: First Team, Freshman (Football Writers Association of America)
2011: Second Team, Freshman (Rivals.com)
2011: Third Team, Freshman (Phil Steele)
Johnson broke into the lineup in game three as a true freshman to start 11 consecutive games for the Scarlet Knights at right tackle in 2011. Rutgers capped the nine-win season with a victory over Iowa State in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. The Jacksonville, Florida, native ended his career with 50 straight starts on the offensive line and later played in the NFL.
FB Frank Kelley
1918: Third Team (Walter Camp)
Playing for coach George Foster Sanford, Kelley followed up a 10-touchdown season in 1917 with All-America accolades in 1918. The team won its first five games that year by a combined score of 178-3. Kelley later joined the Rutgers staff as an assistant coach.
TE Tyler Kroft
2013: Honorable Mention (SI.com)
A factor at tight end, Kroft had a team-leading 43 receptions for 573 yards during the Scarlet Knights’ only season in the American Athletic Conference in 2013. The Downingtown, Pennsylvania, native had a career-best 133 yards in the comeback win over Arkansas to earn John Mackey National Tight End of the Week honors. He later posted a high of eight catches at UCF and was selected in third round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
C Alex Kroll
1960: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
1961: First Team, Consensus (Associated Press, NEA, Sports Review)
Kroll took a rather circuitous path on his way to Rutgers football stardom. The 6-2, 228-pound center excelled for two seasons at Yale before serving two years in the Army. After forming a friendship with 1957 Scarlet co-captain Art Robinson at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Kroll transferred to Rutgers. The Leechburg, Pennsylvania, native immediately gained the notice of the Rutgers coaching staff with his physical prowess, an asset that was only overshadowed by his keen intellect. The captain of the undefeated 1961 team, Kroll's senior biography in the 1961 Rutgers football media guide included the following anecdote: "his performance and leadership in 1960 helped Rutgers to a season which surpassed even the most optimistic of the previews. He has size, speed, hustle, and an uncanny ability to call defenses best equipped to stop the enemy." It is no small coincidence that, in his two years "On the Banks," the Scarlet Knights amassed a 17-1 record. A consensus All-American in 1961, Kroll, who was also a top-notch linebacker, was regarded as the finest center in the nation. Kroll was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
P Adam Korsak
2021: Second Team (Associated Press, FWAA, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
2022: First Team (Sporting News)
Korsak helped the Scarlet Knights set the NCAA record for net punting (45.25) in 2021, punting 72 times with 38 downed inside the 20, 16 settling at the 10 or closer, eight at the five or closer and four times stopping a punt at the one-yard line with no touchbacks. Then in 2022, the Aussie won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter after leading a unit that held opponents to minus 11 return yards, best in the nation, with just one positive return against in 75 attempts. The three-time captain pinned a national-best 32 punts inside the 20 and set the NCAA all-time records for career punting attempts (349) and yardage (15,318).
OT Kevin Kurdyla
1980: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
A four-year mainstay on the offensive line, Kurdyla helped the Scarlet Knights to a 7-4 record in 1980. The left tackle from Newark, New Jersey, was a two-time winner of the Bender Trophy as the top lineman on the team. He later played for the New York Giants.
S Joe Lefeged
2007: Honorable Mention, Freshman (The Sporting News, Scout.com)
Lefeged totaled 38 tackles as a true freshman with 3.5 sacks and three pass breakups. The Germantown, Maryland, native earned Big East Defensive Player of the Week after posting six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in the win over Syracuse.
FB Brian Leonard
2003: First Team Freshman (College Football News)
2004: First Team (Pro Football Weekly)
2005: First Team (Pro Football Weekly)
2006: First Team (Pro Football Weekly, ESPN.com)
A standout on the field and in the classroom, Leonard earned All-America status all four years. The Gouverneur, New York, native led the team with 880 rushing yards, 53 receptions, 1,368 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns (nine rushing, five receiving) as a freshman. Then in 2004, he paced the Big East in all-purpose yards per game (125.0) and catches per game (6.1). The Scarlet Knights broke through to earn a bowl berth in 2005, as Leonard contributed 1,309 all-purpose yards with a high of 193 at Illinois. In addition to winning the Draddy Trophy, also known as the “Academic Heisman” in 2006, the team captain showed his tenacity as a blocker during the memorable 11-2 season that saw the Scarlet Knights win their first bowl championship in program history. Leonard played eight years in the NFL.
LB Steve Longa
2013: First Team, Freshman (Sporting News)
2013: Second Team, Freshman (Athlon Sports)
Longa made an immediate impact in his first season on the field. The middle linebacker led the team with 123 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. The 9.5 stops per game ranked fifth in the American Athletic Conference, as Rutgers finished fourth nationally in rushing defense (100.8). The Saddle Brook, New Jersey, native had eight games with double-figure tackles, highlighted by 14 in the triple-overtime win at SMU and 12 in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl versus Notre Dame. The linebacker went on to see action in the NFL after leaving RU in the top-10 in career tackles (342).
DT Dino Mangiero
1978: Third Team (Associated Press)
In helping Rutgers to a 9-3 season and appearance in the Garden State Bowl, Mangiero posted 98 tackles with nine sacks in 1978. The defensive lineman from Richmond, New York, added five passes batted down and three fumble recoveries. The Scarlet Knights ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense (11.9) and forced 40 turnovers. Mangiero later played for four NFL teams.
DB Devin McCourty
2009: Honorable Mention (Pro Football Weekly)
On the way to becoming a first-round pick and Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, McCourty posted 80 tackles, 10 pass breakups and an interception as a senior for the Scarlet Knights. The Nanuet, New York, native also excelled on special teams with three blocked kicks and a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown at Connecticut. The cornerback had a record-breaking night at the team banquet, winning Homer Hazel Award, defensive and special teams MVP, plus the Scholar-Athlete Award. McCourty capped his career with a win over UCF in the St. Petersburg Bowl, his fourth bowl championship.
QB Ed McMichael
1980: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
After engineering the upset win over Tennessee in 1979, McMichael continued the momentum in 1980. The quarterback went 146-for-229 for 1,761 yards, a single-season school record at the time, and 10 touchdowns to help the Scarlet Knights to seven wins, also taking No. 1 Alabama down to the wire. The team captain from Jersey City, New Jersey, later played for the New Jersey Generals in the USFL.
RB Kyle Monangai
2024: Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Also a First Team All-Big Ten honoree, Monangai posted six games with over 100 rushing yards in 11 outings on the way to 1,279 yards in 2024, second in the league and the most by a Rutgers player in a season since joining the Big Ten. The Roseland, New Jersey, native had a conference-high 256 carries during the regular season, which was 16 more than any other player despite missing a game. He recorded a touchdown in nine different games in posting 13 rushing and one receiving score to rank second in the league with 14 trips to the end zone. Adding 75 receiving yards, the running back also was second in the Big Ten with 123.1 all-purpose yards per game. For his career, Monangai finished second in the program record book with 3,221 rushing yards, third with 14 100-yard rushing games and seventh with 27 rushing touchdowns in 52 games played (35 starts). The team captain had zero fumbles (669 carries, 38 receptions) and owns two of the top six rushing seasons by yards in Rutgers history.
OT Bob "Nasty" Nash
1914: Second Team (Walter Camp)
A star tackle for Rutgers, Nash helped the team to a 5-3-1 record in 1914. He would go on to have a 10-year professional career and had the honor of being the first captain of the New York Giants in 1925.
DE Ryan Neill
2005: Honorable Mention (SI.com)
Neill capped his career on a high note with 71 tackles, including 21.5 for loss and 10 sacks. The Wayne Hills, New Jersey, native brought the quarterback down in 10 different games to help the Scarlet Knights to their first bowl game since 1978. The captain added three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery and won the Homer Hazel Trophy.
P Matt O'Connell
1988: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
O’Connell became the first Rutgers punter honored as an All-American after averaging 40.9 yards per attempt. That included six punts of at least 50 yards with a long of 56 versus Boston College and Pittsburgh. The Bethesda, Maryland, native pinned 17 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and helped the Scarlet Knights to victories over Michigan State and Penn State that season.
C Brian O'Hearn
1954: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
One of the top linemen in the East, O’Hearn moved to center as a senior in 1954 after playing guard the previous three years. A captain, the Maplewood, New Jersey, native also saw time at linebacker and won the Bender Trophy.
WR Tim Odell
1980: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Odell set a school record at the time with 49 catches, totaling 718 yards and four touchdowns. That included a high of 107 yards in the win at Virginia. The Summit, New Jersey, native also earned New Jersey Sports Writers Association's Amateur Athlete of the Year that season.
G John Owens
1983: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
A captain for the Scarlet Knights, Owens earned national honors his senior season at guard. The Delran, New Jersey, native was known for his consistency, strength and intelligence on the offensive line according to head coach Frank Burns.
DE Alfred Peterson
2001: Third Team, Freshman (The Sporting News)
Peterson made an immediate impact on head coach Greg Schiano’s first Rutgers team. The defensive end from Miami contributed 56 tackles with six for loss and three sacks. He posted a season-high 11 stops at Temple and had at least five tackles in six games.
OL Hollin Pierce
2024: Honorable Mention (Phil Steele)
Pierce started all 13 games at left tackle and finished his career making 50 consecutive starts on the offensive line. The Trenton, New Jersey, native helped the Scarlet Knights to 28.9 points per game in 2024, the best mark since 2008. That included 176.3 rushing yards per game in the regular season to place third in the Big Ten for the program's best placement since joining the league. The unit permitted two or less sacks in 9-of-13 games with none permitted five times. Pierce rated as the No. 7 tackle nationally by Pro Football Focus and was previously a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy as one of the top players who started as a walk-on.
QB Rich Policastro
1969: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
During the Centennial season, Policastro went 149-for-258 passing for 1,690 yards – setting a school record – and 14 touchdowns to help Rutgers to a 6-3 record. The Highland Park, New Jersey, native helped the team to a 29-0 win over Princeton in a nationally-televised game and set program standards at the time for completions (29, Lehigh) and touchdown passes (five, Colgate) in a game that season.
RB Bruce Presley
1992: Second Team, Freshman (Football News)
Presley ran for 817 yards on 148 carries (5.5 average) with seven touchdowns to set freshman rushing records for the Scarlet Knights. The Highland Park, New Jersey, native added 14 receptions for 263 yards and two scores, plus 452 kickoff return yards on 23 attempts. The 1,532 all-purpose yards ranked second in the conference on the way to also earning Big East Rookie of the Year. His best game of the season came at Cincinnati and included 144 rushing yards and an 84-yard receiving touchdown.
RB Ray Rice
2005: Third Team, Freshman (The Sporting News)
2006: Second Team (Associated Press, Walter Camp, The Sporting News, Rivals, SI.com)
2007: Second Team (Associated Press, Walter Camp, The Sporting News, SI.com, Rivals, Scout.com)
A native of New Rochelle, New York, Rice earned All-America status all three years for the Scarlet Knights. He completed his debut season as the fifth-leading true freshman runner in the nation with 1,120 yards, also the most in school history by a true freshman. In 2006, he carried the momentum into his sophomore season as the running back finished second in the country in rushing and was a finalist for the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's top player. Rice finished seventh in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in helping the Scarlet Knights to an 11-2 season. He rushed for 1,794 yards and ranked fifth nationally in scoring. Rice capped his career with a school-record 280 rushing yards in the International Bowl victory over Ball State. That completed a season running for 2,012 yards, a single-season school record that saw Rice become a finalist for the Doak Walker Award.
E Paul Robeson
1917: Second Team (Collier's Weekly, Frank Menke Syndicate)
1918: First Team (Walter Camp, Frank Menke Syndicate)
The greatest end to “ever trod the gridiron” according to Walter Camp, Robeson is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Rutgers’ defense produced six shutouts in nine games in 1917 led by Robeson, who also saw action on offense on the way to a 7-1-1 record. The team then went 5-2 in 1918. In addition to his accolades on the field, Robeson is also well known for his impact off the field as an actor, singer, lecturer and more. He is the only player in program history to earn NCAA consensus All-America honors in multiple seasons.
E Harry Rockafeller
1915
Rockafeller helped the 1915 team to a 7-1 record as a defensive end. He later served in World War I and became head coach of the program from 1927-30 and 1942-45. Rockafeller also served as athletic director at Rutgers.
WR Mohamed Sanu
2009: Honorable Mention, Freshman (CollegeFootballNews.com)
2011: Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
2011: Honorable Mention (SI.com)
A versatile contributor right away, Sanu became the first Scarlet Knight since 1993 to throw a touchdown, catch a touchdown pass and rush for a touchdown in the same season. His freshman season concluded with 51 receptions for 639 yards on the way to 1,063 all-purpose yards, including three 100-yard receiving games and a 100-yard rushing game in 2009. The South Brunswick, New Jersey, native ranked fourth nationally with a school and Big East-record 115 receptions in 2011. That included seven touchdowns with seven games with over 100 receiving yards and six contests with double-figure catches.
QB Tom Savage
2009: First Team, Freshman (Football Writers Association of America)
2009: Third Team, Freshman (Phil Steele)
2009: Honorable Mention, Freshman (CollegeFootballNews.com)
Savage played in 12 games with 11 starts as a rookie and threw for more yards (2,211) and touchdowns (14) than any true freshman quarterback in Big East history. The totals also ranked second nationally among all true freshman quarterbacks. The Springfield, Pennsylvania, native completed 149-of-285 passes, totaling a season-best 294 yards in the St. Petersburg Bowl victory over UCF.
E Bob Simms
1958: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
A force at end, Simms led Rutgers with 33 receptions for 468 and a school-record nine touchdowns in 1958. His 64 total points ranked ninth nationally, also earning All-East honors. The team finished 8-1 and No. 20 in the final Associated Press poll. Sims was drafted by the New York Giants.
FB Steve Simms
1960: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
1961: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Simms led the 1960 and 1961 teams in rushing, posting 613 and 614 yards in back-to-back years. Described as the East's best fullback in his senior year, his best asset was his power running ability. He paced the 1960 team in scoring with six touchdowns and posted the go-ahead score versus Columbia to preserve the undefeated season in 1961.
DB Ken Smith
1980: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Known as one of the best defensive backs in program history, Smith capped his career totaling 26 tackles as opponents stayed away from his side of the field. The Scarlet Knights went 32-13 with four winning seasons during his collegiate career. Smith signed with the Detroit Lions following his time “On the Banks.”
LB Ed Steward
1978: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Steward collected 222 tackles with 17 sacks during his time in Piscataway, with his 17 sacks tied for eighth in program history. His 10 sacks in 1978 earned him All-America laurels, All-East accolades and RU's David Bender Trophy, awarded to the team's best defensive player. Rutgers went 25-9 during his collegiate career, with Steward producing 15 tackles in the Scarlet Knights' first bowl game – the Garden State Bowl – against Arizona State in 1978. After his time "On the Banks," Steward was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 1981 before he began an illustrious military career. He served the United States for 21 years, fighting in both the Gulf and Iraq Wars. The Matawan, New Jersey, native was inducted in the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
LB Tyronne Stowe
1985: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
1986: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
The all-time tackles leader in program history (533), Stowe earned national recognition in each of his last two seasons with the Scarlet Knights. Also winning the Homer Hazel Award both years, he posted 157 tackles in 1985 and 150 the next year as a senior captain. The included a school-record 27 stops versus West Virginia in 1986. The linebacker went on to have a 10-year NFL career.
OFF Howard Talman
1913: Third Team (Walter Camp, G)
1914: Third Team (Walter Camp, HB)
1915: Second Team (Walter Camp, HB)
Talman captained the 1915 Rutgers squad and scored a single-game record of 48 points on six touchdowns and 12 extra points against RPI. That season, he scored 138 total points, at the time, a Scarlet Knights’ record. On various All-America teams, Talman was recognized as a guard in 1913, as a halfback in 1914, and as a fullback in 1915. The versatile athlete played professionally for the Detroit Heralds and the Massillon Tigers and was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame.
OT Steve Tardy
1988: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Quiet and unassuming, Tardy was a perfectionist both on the field and in the classroom. He was a 1988 AP Honorable Mention All-American and earned All-East honors from 1987-89. Tardy won the David Bender Trophy in 1987 and 1988 as the team's top offensive lineman, and in 1988 and 1989, he won the Upstream Award as the team's top student-athlete. A civil engineering major, his efforts were also recognized on the national level as he was a CoSIDA-GTE Second Team Academic All-American in 1989 and a 1989 National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete.
DT John Toohey
1914: First Team (New York Evening Mail)
Toohey was an All-American defensive tackle in 1914, a season which saw him serve as captain of the Rutgers team. Toohey played both offensive and defensive tackle and excelled on both sides of the line. He was selected to the Rutgers Athletic Hall of Fame and was also named to the Rutgers All-Time Football Team in the 1940s.
DT Nate Toran
1975: Third Team (Associated Press)
1976: First Team (Kodak)
1976: Second Team (Associated Press)
A captain for the undefeated 1976 Scarlet Knights, Toran holds the program record with 52 career sacks. The lineman posted 16 sacks in 1975 with 61 tackles, six forced fumbles, four fumbles recovered and three pass breakups. That also warranted the David Bender Trophy as the team's top lineman. The Scarlet Knights started 2-2 following a loss to Lehigh when Toran stated, "I don't want to lose anymore." Toran would never suffer another defeat at Rutgers, as the team reeled off seven-straight victories to cap a 9-2 campaign heading into 1976. That historic squad finished as one of three unbeaten, untied teams from across the country. Toran capped his collegiate career with 17 sacks and 79 tackles. In addition to that, he won the Homer Hazel Award as the team's most valuable player and the Paul Robeson Award as the senior whose performance, leadership and dedication on and off the field had the greatest impact on Rutgers football. The Rutgers Athletics Hall of Famer later played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
DE Kemoko Turay
2014: First Team, Freshman (Football Writers Association of America)
2014: Second Team, Freshman (Scout)
Turay was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten in a poll of the conference media in his redshirt freshman season. The defensive end emerged as a pass rushing specialist with a team-leading 7.5 sacks, ranking tied for seventh among Big Ten players and tied for third among freshmen nationally during the regular season. He started off the season with two sacks in the opening win at Washington State, including one on the final defensive stand late in the fourth quarter. Turay also established himself on special teams with three blocked kicks to tie the nation's lead, including one on a late field goal attempt by Michigan to prevent a potential go-ahead score in the Scarlet Knights’ first Big Ten win. He earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for the efforts. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts.
WR Mark Twitty
1976: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
Twitty was the leading receiver on the undefeated 1976 squad, posting 29 receptions for 514 yards with a high of 135 versus Massachusetts. He would leave as the program leader in career receiving yards (1,271).
DL Scott Vallone
2009: First Team, Freshman (Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele)
2009: Honorable Mention, Freshman (CollegeFootballNews.com)
Vallone played in all 13 games with 12 starts at defensive tackle as a freshman. The Central Islip, New York, native totaled 41 tackles with nine for loss and 1.5 sacks. That included a high of 11 tackles against West Virginia and a sack in the St. Petersburg Bowl, a win over UCF. Vallone left as the program’s all-time leader in games played (53).
RB Terrell Willis
1993: First Team, Freshman (Football News)
1993: Honorable Mention, Freshman (UPI)
1994: Honorable Mention (UPI)
Having left as the leading rusher in Rutgers football history, Willis boasted an explosive combination of blazing speed, uncanny moves and uncommon balance. The Orange, New Jersey, native rushed for 3,114 yards on 588 carries and 20 touchdowns. With a knack for eluding would-be tacklers with an array of swift spin moves, Willis burst onto the national scene with a brilliant redshirt freshman season in 1993, amassing 2,026 all-purpose yards, which not only shattered the NCAA freshman record previously held by Georgia's Herschel Walker, but was also second in the nation. That season, Willis was named Rookie of the Year by the Big East, Sports Illustrated, UPI, ECAC and Football News, scoring 13 rushing touchdowns. He was voted First Team All-Big East as a running back, Second Team All-Big East as a return specialist, being named ECAC Rookie of the Week six times. In 1994, Willis ran for 1,080 yards on 216 carries with five touchdowns and again earned First Team All-Big East honors. On Nov. 12, 1994 against Temple, Willis rushed for a then school-record 232 yards on 35 carries with two touchdowns.
WR Eric Young
1988: Honorable Mention (Associated Press)
A two-sport standout at Rutgers, Young capped his collegiate football career with a team-leading 1,032 all-purpose yards in 1988. That included 592 receiving yards, 344 kickoff return yards, 75 rushing yards and 21 punt return yards. The Scarlet Knights captured road victories over Michigan State and Penn State that season. Young graduated as the third-leading receiver in school history and fourth on the all-time all-purpose yardage list. He also excelled in baseball, playing 15 MLB seasons.
DB Harold Young
1984: Honorable Mention (The Sporting News)
Young impacted the Scarlet Knights on both defense and special teams as a senior in 1984. The defensive back totaled 65 tackles with a fumble recovery and interception, adding 361 kickoff return yards and 270 punt return yards. RU finished the season 7-3. Young was also voted Second Team All-East and signed with the Los Angeles Raiders.
