PHOENIX – Rutgers soccer coach Greg Schiano has had loads of time to review up on Kansas State.
It’s been practically a month for the reason that Scarlet Knights’ blowout victory over Michigan State within the regular-season finale, and practically two weeks since Schiano’s crew realized it could be taking part in the Wildcats within the Charge Bowl on Thursday at Chase Area.
“They’re a very good crew,” Schiano mentioned. “A number of the video games that they misplaced simply might have or ought to have been wins. So once you take a look at them, that is fairly a formidable opponent.”
That makes Kansas State the newest such opponent that Rutgers has confronted in an arduous season.
This can be a large alternative for the Scarlet Knights to shut out the season on a excessive be aware as they make their second-straight postseason look, however beating a Kansas State crew that boasts ample velocity on each side of the ball received’t be simple.
The Wildcats had the third-best speeding offense within the Huge 12 (204.5 yards per sport) and greatest speeding protection (114.9 yards allowed per sport). They’re additionally giving up simply 21.9 factors per sport, which ranks fifth of their convention.
If Rutgers can handle to get the victory, it’ll attain the eight-win mark for the primary time since 2014.
“In some ways, it is like trying within the mirror somewhat bit,” Schiano mentioned. “They play arduous. I prefer to assume our children play arduous.”
Watch Rutgers vs Kansas State on Fubo (free trial)
Rutgers soccer vs Kansas State
Date: Dec. 26
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Wes Durham might be on play-by-play alongside analyst Tom Luginbill with Dana Boyle reporting from the sidelines.
Streaming: Fubo (free trial), ESPN app
Radio: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM, FOX Sports activities New Jersey (93.5 FM/1450 AM, SiriusXM 372, SXM app, Audacy app, Scarlet Knights app).
Chris Carlin might be on play-by-play alongside analyst Julian Pinnix-Odrick with Anthony Fucilli reporting from the sidelines.
Collection historical past: Rutgers and Kansas State have performed simply as soon as earlier than, and that assembly additionally got here in a bowl sport – the Texas Bowl in 2006, which the Scarlet Knights received 37-10 to shut out an 11-2 marketing campaign.
Three Kansas State gamers to observe vs Rutgers
Avery Johnson, quarterback
The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Johnson is a real dual-threat signal-caller. This season he’s 202-of-342 passing for two,517 yards with 22 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He’s additionally rushed for 548 yards on 102 carries (5.4 yards per try) with six scores.
Johnson’s velocity is one thing Rutgers’ protection goes to want to comprise.
Schiano likened Johnson to former West Virginia quarterback Pat White.
“Pat White was the quickest man on the sphere,” Schiano mentioned.
Dylan Edwards, operating again
As if Johnson’s velocity received’t be sufficient for Rutgers to deal with, Edwards brings much more of it. The 5-foot-9, 167-pound operating again this season has rushed for 350 yards on 56 carries (6.3 yards per try) with three touchdowns. Edwards spent the 2023 season at Colorado earlier than transferring to Kansas State.
Austin Romaine, linebacker
The second-year linebacker is among the higher defensive gamers within the Huge 12. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound Romaine has 89 tackles (6.5 for loss) with two sacks and three pressure fumbles.
MORE Seven younger Rutgers soccer gamers who may gain advantage most from taking part in within the Charge Bowl
Three Rutgers gamers to observe vs Kansas State
Ian Sturdy, vast receiver
Actually, this may very well be any of Rutgers’ vast receivers, together with main receiver Dymere Miller, who mentioned he does plan to play within the sport. Whereas Kansas State stops the run nicely, its protection hasn’t been as efficient towards the cross, permitting 223.7 passing yards per sport, which ranks tenth within the Huge 12. That might supply Rutgers some alternatives to attach on large performs via the air.
Dariel Djabome, linebacker
Djabome goes to want be a powerful anchor in the course of Rutgers’ protection, particularly if Tyreem Powell chooses to not play. Stopping the run and making performs in area goes to be vital towards Kansas State’s offense. Djabome this season has 102 tackles (seven for loss) with three sacks. He’s the primary Rutgers participant to have at the least 100 tackles in a season since Olakunle Fatukasi in 2020.
Athan Kaliakmanis, quarterback
Kaliakmanis steadily improved over the course of the season – and never surprisingly, so did Rutgers’ offense. Kaliakmanis this season is 199-of-363 passing for two,459 yards with 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. A few of his greatest performances got here within the Scarlet Knights’ resurgence within the last third of the season. He’ll attempt to cap issues off with one other large displaying towards Kansas State.
Three questions dealing with Rutgers soccer vs Kansas State
1. Will anyone choose out of the sport?
This can be a query dealing with all bowl groups and Rutgers isn’t any totally different. The Scarlet Knights have quite a few gamers who will pursue the NFL after this season, a gaggle that features operating again Kyle Monangai, linebacker Tyreem Powell, left deal with Hollin Pierce and cornerback Robert Longerbeam, amongst others. There’s an opportunity some might select to sit down the sport out to keep away from harm. Proper now it’s unclear if any will take that choice.
2. How will the protection look following Joe Harasymiak’s departure?
Harasymiak left his position as Rutgers’ defensive coordinator to turn out to be the top coach on the College of Massachusetts, which meant quite a lot of work for the remainder of the Scarlet Knights’ defensive employees because it absorbed the loss and his duties main the unit, which performed at a excessive stage late within the season after underperforming early on. Schiano hasn’t mentioned who might be calling the defensive performs – he did it himself within the Gator Bowl in 2021 after DC Robb Smith left this system – and mentioned your complete employees has taken on the duties main the protection.
3. Can Rutgers do one thing it hasn’t finished in 15 years?
If the Scarlet Knights beat Kansas State, they’ll have received bowl video games in consecutive seasons for the primary time since they received 4 in a row from 2006-09 (Rutgers beat Miami within the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium final 12 months).
Rutgers vs Kansas State Charge Bowl prediction
Kansas State is a very good crew, stable on each side of the ball, particularly on offense with a dynamic quarterback like Avery Johnson. However Greg Schiano’s bowl sport success – he’s 6-2 as head coach – isn’t any coincidence. Schiano realized the way to prep his crew for the postseason after his years working as an assistant coach for Joe Paterno at Penn State early in his profession and he’s saved these strategies in place. The Scarlet Knights might be well-prepared for this sport. If their protection can comprise the Wildcats’ velocity – not a simple activity, their offense ought to be capable of hit on sufficient performs late within the sport to shut out an in depth victory. Prediction: Rutgers 27, Kansas State 24
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This text initially appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers soccer vs Kansas State preview, prediction for Charge Bowl
