Rutgers Football 2022 Preview: Running Backs

With the regular season set to kick-off in just under a month, it is time to start getting ready for Rutgers football. The Scarlet Knight will be looking to improve over their 2021 campaign, where they finished with a 5-8 record. Despite having just five wins, the Scarlet Knights still made a bowl game. The team replaced Texas A&M who could not participate due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Head coach Greg Schiano is driving his squad to earn a postseason birth outright this year.

Rutgers is still trying to find it’s footing in the Big Ten. They have one winning season since joining the conference, back in their inaugural Big Ten season back in 2014. One place they are looking for a new starter is one of the most important ones for Schiano’s offense – the running backs.

Let’s break down how the Scarlet Knights backfield will look going into the 2022 season.

Running Backs coach Andrew Aurich will have his work cut out for him as the teams enters 2022. He has to replace the starter for the majority of the last three seasons in Isiah Pacheco. Pacheco’s success at Rutgers led to him joining the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL. Pacheco seems poised to see some field time in the NFL and when he does, he will be the second back that Aurich has coached at Rutgers to get reps at the next-level. That is promising for his prowess when it comes to finding a balance in the current crop of backs.

Kyle Monangai and Aaron Young are returning and have the tall task of replacing the hole in production left by Pacheco’s exodus to the NFL. Both men should see a fair share of the carries this season as both runners had opportunities for experience last year as the change of pace backs for Pacheco and scoring nine touchdowns between them.

Monangai scored four touchdowns and rushed for 235 yards on 62 carries in 2021. The Roseland, New Jersey native has proven to be an effective downhill runner. Monangai runs between the tackles often and creates lanes where there does not…