Ranking in the top-25 nationally in total defense (21st, 324.8) and passing defense (22nd, 190.4), the Scarlet Knights have shown improvement throughout the year. The unit has allowed 71.7 less yards of total offense per game compared to 2021, 44.5 less passing yards and 27.1 less rushing yards. The includes holding six opponents to four or less third-down conversions.
“Joe has done an excellent job,” head coach Greg Schiano said. “He’s a really fine communicator and connector with the players.”
Rutgers opened the season securing three takeaways with four sacks at Boston College, adding two interceptions against Wagner, a go-ahead pick-six at Temple, interception at Ohio State, two interceptions versus Nebraska and another pick-six to seal the win over Indiana.
The defense has had eight players make multiple starts after entering the season with four or less career starts previously (DL Wesley Bailey, DL Kyonte Hamilton, DB Desmond Igbinosun, LB Deion Jennings, DL Aaron Lewis, DB Robert Longerbeam, DB Shaquan Loyal, LB Tyreem Powell). Jennings leads the Scarlet Knights with 79 tackles to rank eighth in the Big Ten, while Bailey (3.5 sacks), Lewis and Powell all have at least six tackles-for-loss.
In addition, DB Max Melton has defended nine passes, DB Christian Izien has 70 tackles with five for loss and DB Avery Young owns 64 stops with four pass breakups. DB Christian Braswell is tied for sixth in the Big Ten with three interceptions.
“Coach Harasymiak just wants us to go out there and play physical, play violent and communicate to each other,” Powell said.
“I think it’s the relationships he builds with each and every one of his players,” DL Mayan Ahanotu said. “He develops a clear-cut culture for our defense that we can go out and execute as hard as we can.”
A native of Waldwick, New Jersey, Harasymiak was hired by Schiano on Jan. 7, 2022. He spent the last two seasons as co-defensive coordinator at Minnesota and was previously head coach at Maine.
Harasymiak is among the 51 nominees from across the country out of approximately 1,500 assistant coaches at the FBS level. The Broyles Award has been bestowed since 1996.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball)…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Rutgers University Athletics…