The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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130 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE The only way to take down a forest of trees is one by one. Third-year head coach Greg Schiano and Rutgers have embraced their 'Keep Chopping' mantra while attempt- ing to complete what would be one of the most remarkable rebuilds in Big Ten history. The Scarlet Knights joined the league in 2014 and over their eight years have col- lected just 15 conference victories. If Schi- ano knows anything, though, it's Rutgers football. He's been the program's head coach for five of its 18 seasons with eight-plus wins and was in charge for seven of its 11 bowl games, having served an earlier stint as the Scarlet Knights' leader from 2001-11. Schiano went 3-6 in 2020, his first year back, before posting a 5-8 record in 2021, marking Rutgers' first five-win campaign since 2014. The Scarlet Knights earned a bowl berth as a replacement for Texas A&M, which had to withdraw due to COVID-19 concerns, and faced Wake Forest in the Ga- tor Bowl. Heading into 2022, Rutgers has a sense of belief, a manageable non-conference sched- ule, incoming transfers who should help, a third-year starting quarterback, a deep ar- senal of weapons and a defensive backfield chock full of experience. New defensive coordinator Joe Hara- symiak, who was hired from Minnesota, has a significant amount of talent to work with, not only in the secondary but on the front line. Junior defensive end Mohamed Toure led the team in sacks each of the last two sea- sons, including 4.5 in 2021, but suffered an injury in the spring. It'll sting if he's not healthy by the time fall rolls around, but there are other options at the point of attack. Senior defensive tackle Mayan Ahanotu (18 tackles, 2.5 for loss last year) is the lone returning starter in the front seven. He and senior Ifeanyi Maijeh (19 stops, 3 TFLs) should make a formidable duo in the middle. A pair of sophomore defensive ends in former Michigan signee Aaron Lewis and Kyonte Hamilton have emerged. They com- bined for 52 tackles, including 5 for loss, last year, with Lewis accounting for 2.5 sacks, 3 hurries and 1 forced fumble. Senior safety Christian Izien was a 2021 All-Big Ten honorable mention per the me- dia last season, and he's the big name on the back end, standing as the squad's leading returning tackler with 75 stops. He added 9 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups and 2 hur- ries. Sophomore cornerback Max Melton is set to take a step forward, after leading the Scarlet Knights with 3 interceptions and contributing 28 tackles, including 2 for loss. Senior quarterback Noah Vedral has opened 20 games with Rutgers, after trans- ferring in from Nebraska, but he's fighting to keep his job this offseason. The offense struggled last year, scoring just 19.7 points per game (120th in the country), and Vedral averaged only 6 yards per pass. Sophomore Gavin Wimsatt, an 18-year- old former four-star recruit per the On3 Con- sensus, and sophomore Evan Simon are both pushing Vedral. Rutgers' leading rusher, Isaih Pacheco, and top pass-catcher, Bo Melton, were each taken in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. However, Schiano hit the transfer portal to stock the skill positions. A trio of running backs will split time, led by sophomore Kyle Monangai (235 yards, 4 touchdowns in 2021). Classmate Al-Shadee Salaam (redshirted) and junior Aaron Young (205 yards, 5 scores) will battle for carries. Young missed the spring while recovering from an injury but is expected back this fall. Senior incoming transfers Taj Harris (Syracuse) and Sean Ryan (West Virginia) were big lands, and they add some flair to a wideout group that brings back its sec- ond- and third-leading receivers in seniors Shameen Jones and Aron Cruickshank. Har- ris recorded 2,028 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in the ACC, while Ryan tallied 1,044 yards and 4 scores with the Mountain- eers. Senior tight end and wildcat quarter- back Johnny Langan will also be featured, after he caught 18 passes for 177 yards last campaign. Notes Rutgers ranked 18th nationally in third-down defense in 2021, allowing opponents to convert only 33.9 percent of the time … The Scarlet Knights recorded just 7 interceptions, after notching 8 in 9 contests the prior year. ❑ Scarlet Knights Are Making Progress Under Greg Schiano 2022 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2021 Result Sept. 3 at Boston College — Sept. 10 WAGNER — Sept. 17 at Temple W, 61-14 Sept. 24 IOWA —— Oct. 1 at Ohio State L, 52-13 Oct. 7 NEBRASKA — Oct. 22 INDIANA W, 38-3 Oct. 29 at Minnesota — Nov. 5 MICHIGAN L, 20-13 Nov. 12 at Michigan State L, 31-13 Nov. 19 PENN STATE L, 28-0 Nov. 26 at Maryland L, 40-16 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Aron Cruickshank, Sr., WR He missed the final 6 contests of the year with a knee injury but still finished second on the team with 743 all- purpose yards … Was named second-team All-Big Ten as a punt returner by Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus. Defense: Christian Izien, Sr., S The 5-10, 200-pounder has totaled 219 career tackles, including 10.5 for loss, 4 interceptions and 15 pass breakups. GAME 9 • RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS • NOV. 5 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 7-1 First Meeting: Rutgers 26, U-M 24 (Oct. 4, 2014 at New Brunswick, N.J.) Last Meeting: U-M 20, Rutgers 13 (Sept. 25, 2021 at Ann Arbor, Mich.) Head Coach: Greg Schiano, 8-14 (3rd year) in second ten - ure at Rutgers, 76-81 overall (14th year, all at Rutgers) 2021 In Review: 5-8, 2-7 Big Ten (6th West) Final 2021 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 14 (6 offense, 5 defense, 3 spe- cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2021 (Gator Bowl vs. Wake Forest, L 38-10) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Noah Vedral (1,823 yards, 7 TDs) Rushing: Noah Vedral (297 yards 2 TDs) Receiving: Shameen Jones (334 yards, 0 TDs) Tackles: Christian Izien (75) Sacks: Mohamed Toure (4.5) Interceptions: Max Melton (3) Sophomore defensive end Aaron Lewis, a Wil- liamstown, N.J., native, signed with Michigan but transferred to Rutgers the summer before his freshman year. PHOTO COURTESY RUTGERS ATHLETICS