Heading into a third season of a rather dramatic rebuild, Rutgers football’s annual end to spring practice carries significance beyond just being a glorified exhibition. For head coach Greg Schiano, a young roster and some dramatic roster turnover over the last few months will play itself out in Friday’s “Spring Game.”
There is no denying that the roster inherited by Schiano was simply one that couldn’t compete at the Big Ten level. As such, Schiano has had to recruit heavily (a top 30 class in 2022) and utilize the transfer portal.
That, combined with some significant changes to the coaching staff has Rutgers football in a bit of a transition this offseason. Not a dramatic overhaul by any stretch, but there are still a lot of changes.
So the spring schedule has been a time of not just development but also building some continuity. Lots of new pieces are emerging for Rutgers, both in terms of the natural progression of roster development and player growth but also via the transfer portal.
Then there is the assimilation of several new assistant coaches into the group and Rutgers football has gone through a number of changes over the past four months.
What are the major themes for Rutgers football heading into Friday night’s spring game? Five major questions to keep an eye out for in the annual “Srping Game.”
Will the Week 1 starter step up on Friday night?
There is a quarterback competition for Rutgers football, and it will be intriguing to see how it plays out on Friday night at SHI Stadium. But make no mistakes about it, this competition can’t and won’t be won or lost this Friday.
Incumbent starter Noah Vedral has been steady since transferring from Nebraska two years ago. And while Vedral is a super senior and proven, his ceiling is certainly limited in terms of future growth.
Now, behind a better offensive line, Vedral should show better. And there is better talent at wide receiver this year, also a positive for showcasing Vedral’s skillset. More…