Rutgers was 4-4 with four games left in the season and with major injuries hurting the roster, that didn’t stop the Scarlets Knights from clinching bowl eligibility through adversity.
Tackling adversity en route to a bowl
Stringing together an impressive 3-1 run to become 7-5, Rutgers beat Maryland, Minnesota and Michigan State as well as only losing by a touchdown to No. 20 Illinois. Star running back Kyle Monangai, cornerback Eric Rogers, defensive end Aaron Lewis and safety Desmond Igbinosun were just some of the prominent names who missed time with injuries this season.
“We are really proud of our team. We fought through some real adversity this season, injuries, to a level that I haven’t really seen very much in my 37 years of doing this, but a team that kind of reinvented itself mid-season,” Schiano said at a team arrival press conference on Monday. “After having a lot of guys go down with injury, some young guys stepped up.
“We kind of did some things to change the way we present, and the guys did a heck of a job, 3-1 at the end of the season in the last four games and allowed us to put ourselves in this position to be out here this week to play a very, very good Kansas State team.”
Having aspirations to be drafted into the NFL, Monangai has opted not to play in the Rate Bowl but will be with the team for Thursday’s clash, according to Dan Morrison of On3. The 22-year-old senior stacked up 1,279 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns from 256 carries…