If you believe that home team advantage is a contributing factor to a game’s performance, then you may be envious of Rutgers right now. The Scarlet Knights are home for the third consecutive week, preparing to face the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Game Details
Date: September 16, 2023
Time: 3:30 PM
Location: SHI Stadium – Piscataway, NJ
TV/Streaming: Big Ten Network / FUBO / Fox Sports App
Rutgers is promoting this week’s game as a Scarlet Out. Fans are encouraged to show up on the banks in scarlet-colored attire. What’s the incentive? Well, fans are being promised treats throughout game day like celebrity guests, a pregame flyover by the New Jersey State Police, light shows, and more.
Can Rutgers’ Defense Hold Up Against Virginia Tech’s Offense?
Thus far, Rutgers’ defense has held strong performances. However, it’s still very early in the season and head coach Greg Schiano is not yet at the point where he can confidently say they can withstand their performance. Luckily for them, and not so much for Brent Pry and the Hokies, Virginia Tech’s offense will be missing some key players this Saturday.
Last week against Purdue, wide receiver Ali Jennings suffered a lower leg injury from a collision with a fellow teammate. To add salt to the wound that is losing Jennings, the Hokies have a few more key players who are questionable to play this weekend. The players in question on the offensive side are starting quarterback Grant Wells and wide receiver Jaylin Lane. If Lane sits this game out, the Hokies will be down their top two wide receivers.
While this worries Pry and the rest of the Hokie’s football team, it brings light to the Dark Side – the name Rutgers’ defense has given themselves. Rutgers’ defense has done a solid job in their first two games of containing their opponents. Defensive tackle Mayan Ahanotu spoke up in an interview this week about the Dark Side’s mindset going into this week’s game. “Something we talk about all the time is executing,” he said. “Knowing your job and chopping your job, and so we really embody that on our defensive side. We take that to heart. …It’s really just chopping your job and when that play comes to you being able to make it when it comes.”
Schiano’s mantra for the team is ‘CHOP’ and their tagline is appropriately ‘keep chopping’. ‘CHOP’ was born way back in 2006, during Schiano’s first reign at Rutgers. Since his return, it’s clear this message continues to make an impact on Rutgers’ current generation.
Aaron Young is Expected to Return
The Scarlet Knights were without a key member of their offensive team for the first two games of the season; running back Aaron Young. Young was reported to be at a near full recovery last week but did not participate in the game against Temple. His return this week would be a great advantage to Rutgers’ offense.
The chemistry between Gavin Wimsatt (quarterback) and Kyle Monangai (running back) has kept Rutgers strong in Young’s absence. Going into week three, Monangai has been the team’s strongest-performing running back this season. His rushing stats include 42 attempts, 214 yards, and two touchdowns.
No Word on Naseim Brantley’s Return
Prior to the game against Temple, commotion rose around one of Rutgers’ newest transfers, Naseim Brantley. The wide receiver has missed the first two games due to an undefined issue with the NCAA. No updates have been given on his situation this week so it is presumed we will not be seeing Brantley in the wide receiver line up this week.
With Rutgers’ offense and defense looking strong and the Hokie’s depth being at a disadvantage, things are looking good for the Scarlet Knights in week three.
Photo courtesy: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
