2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

American college football season December 2014 January 2026 football 2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Rutgers Scarlet Knights logo.svg 125 Big Ten Conference East Division Big Ten 4–8 1–7 Kyle Flood 4th first 2 games Norries Wilson next 3 games Kyle Flood remainder of season Ben McDaniels 1st Pro-style Joe Rossi 2nd 4–3 High Point Solutions Stadium The 2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It is the Scarlet Knights' second season as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and second as a member of the East Division. The team was led by Kyle Flood, in his fourth year as head coach, and played its home games at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The season began with controversies over an investigation into violations of NCAA regulations and school policy concerning coach Flood's improper contacting of a professor concerning a student's academic status; and the arrests and dismissal of several football players on violent felony charges connected to an April 2015 home invasion robbery in New Brunswick. Coach Flood was suspended for three games after the investigation found improper contact was made. Before the season Controversies and legal issues The 2015 football season began with the shadow of several incidents of alleged misconduct and criminal charges.Dana O'Neil, "Arrests at Rutgers just the latest in a long list of problems for Scarlet Knights", ESPN, September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. On May 24, 2015, redshirt freshman defensive back Darian Dailey was arrested in Florida on felony robbery charges.Tyler Conway, College Football: "Darian Dailey Arrested for Armed Robbery Latest Details Surrounding Rutgers DB. Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Staff Report, "2 Arrested in University Parkway robbery" https://web.archive.org/web/20150929191740/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20150524/BREAKING/150529841 September 29, 2015 , Sarasota Herald-Tribune, May 24, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. In late August 2015, head coach Kyle Flood suspended five players from the first half of the season opener for violating team policies on breaking curfews. These players were Ruhann Peele (cornerback), Leonte Carroo (receiver), Tim Gleeson (punter), Chris Laviano (quarterback) and Kevin Marquez (linebacker).Tim Casey, "Rutgers Kicks 5 Players Off Team, Then Wins Its Opener", The New York Times, September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Dan Duggan, "Rutgers quarterback Chris Laviano, receiver Leonte Carroo suspended for first half of season opener", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), August 25, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Dan Duggan, "Suspended Rutgers receiver Leonte Carroo can't wait for 3rd quarter of opener", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Josh Newman, "Rettig to start Rutgers opener; Carroo, Laviano suspended for first half", The Asbury Park Press, August 25, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. There were doubts that Flood would be coaching the season opener and some speculation amongst news media and fans about the possibility of Flood's firing or resignation.Stephen Edleson, "Rutgers' Kyle Flood should not be coaching", USA Today, September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Associated Press, "Rutgers' Kyle Flood will coach opener despite ongoing academic probe", The New York Daily News, September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Tara Sullivan, "Sullivan: Rutgers Coach Kyle Flood on the hot seat, but problems run much deeper", Bergen Record (northjersey.com), September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Doug Gottlieb Will Kyle Flood Be Fired?", CBS Sports. Retrieved September 11, 2015. Around this time, many fans had called for the return of Flood's predecessor, Greg Schiano as head coach.Brian Lewis, "Kyle Flood under fire after 5 arrest rock Rutgers program", The New York Post, September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers coach Kyle Flood: I will be coaching the game Saturday", New Jersey Advance Media, September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. According to The Asbury Park Press, students remarked that the recent controversies tarnish the university's reputation.Chris Rotolo, "Rutgers students react to football players' arrests", The Asbury Park Press, September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. On September 3, 2015, ten suspects, including six players, were arrested and charged with felony assault, armed robbery, criminal restraint, conspiracy, riot, and weapons possession charges stemming from an April 26, 2015 incident in New Brunswick, New Jersey characterized as a home invasion robbery.Keith Sargeant, "5 Rutgers football players arrested in connection with home invasions and assaults", NJ Advance Media (nj.com), September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. One victim, identified only as a 19-year-old male Rutgers student was reported to have had his jaw broken in the assault."Rutgers dismisses FB Lloyd Terry; is sixth player arrested in week", Sports Illustrated, September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. Five players—Ruhann Peele (cornerback), Nadir Barnwell (cornerback), Razohnn Gross (fullback), Delon Stephenson (free safety), and Andre Boggs (cornerback)—were dismissed from the team moments before the season-opening football game against the Norfolk State Spartans. Former player Tejay Johnson (free safety and wide receiver), was also arrested on September 3.Dan Duggan, "Arrested ex-Rutgers player Tejay Johnson has bright future, lawyer says", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. A sixth player, Lloyd Terry (fullback) was arrested a few days later.Anthony G. Attrino, "Another Rutgers football player arrested in home invasion robbery", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. Several of the players arrested in this incident had previous arrests in 2013 and 2014 for other criminal charges. One of the suspects, Barnwell, was the center of an ongoing investigation into head coach Kyle Flood for possible violations of school policy and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations prohibiting the athletic coaching staff from contacting faculty regarding the academic eligibility status of a player. According to New Jersey Advance Media, publisher of the Star-Ledger and other statewide newspapers, Flood defied academic support staff by contacting one of Barnwell's professors and that sources stated that Flood attempted to "circumvent the process and trying to get the kid eligible".Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers coach Kyle Flood defied academic support staff when he contacted professor, sources say", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. Flood suspended wide receiver Leonte Carroo indefinitely after his arrest on September 13, 2015. Carroo was arrested by the Rutgers University Police Department and charged with simple assault stemming from a domestic violence incident that occurred on campus shortly after the end of the game against Washington State. Carroo was the seventh Rutgers player arrested in ten days.Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers' Leonte Carroo charged with simple assault in domestic violence incident", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.Ryan Dunleavy, "Rutgers Leonte Carooo suspended indefinitely", Asbury Park Press, September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.Adam Rittenberg, "Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo indefinitely suspended for incident following game", ESPN, September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015. Star-Ledger and New Jersey Advance Media sports columnist Steve Politi described Carroo as "another casualty of the season from hell" and called the incident further proof that Flood had lost control of the team. Politi mused, "you wonder how soon before his head coach joins him on the list"—implying that Flood's tenure as coach should be ending with his termination.Steve Politi, "Leonte Carroo suspension is the latest sign Kyle Flood has lost control at Rutgers", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015. The 15-member Rutgers Board of Governors, one of the school's two governing bodies, and university president Robert Barchi met on September 11 in a closed-door emergency session to discuss ongoing "athletic matters" and the potential for litigation in the wake of these controversies and arrests.Adam Clark, "Rutgers board meets behind closed doors as Flood probe continues", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Keith Sargeant, "How did Rutgers Coach Kyle Flood get into this mess exactly 1 year after signing extension?", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.Ryan Dunleavy, "Kyle Flood unaware of discussion to be had at Rutgers BOG meeting", The Asbury Park Press, September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015. On September 16, 2015, after the conclusion of a university-led investigation into his conduct determined he improperly contacted a professor to get Barnwell's grade changed, Flood was suspended for three games and fined $50,000 by Rutgers president Robert Barchi. Flood would be suspended during and miss an away game against Penn State (September 19, 2015), and home games against Kansas (September 26) and Michigan State (October 10).Dan Bieler, "Rutgers football coach Kyle Flood suspended, fined for interventions with academic staff", The Washington Post, September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.Saed Hindash, "Rutgers football coach Kyle Flood suspended three games", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015. Associate head coach Norries Wilson would fill-in as head coach for those three games during Flood's suspension. After Flood's reinstatement, questions continued to circulate about possible drug problems within the program in the wake of former Scarlet Knights' fullback Lloyd Terry telling police that "he failed multiple drug tests while on the football team".Steve Politi, Kyle Flood's suspension is over but major questions loom at Rutgers", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015. Keith Sergeant, "Rutgers coach Kyle Flood: 'I take the issue of drugs very seriously'", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), October 12, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015. Flood, along with athletic director Julie Herman, was fired at the end of the season. Coaching staff Coaching changes 2014 offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen relinquished his position as offensive coordinator due to age and stayed on as a special assistant to the head coach.Ryan Dunleavy, "Ralph Friedgen stays with Rutgers football as special advisor", myCentralJersey.com (Gannett), February 10, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015. Ben McDaniels, 2014 wide receiver coach and brother of former Denver Broncos head coach and current New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, was promoted to offensive coordinator. 2014 graduate assistant and former Rutgers defensive lineman Charlie Noonan was hired as defensive line coach at Holy Cross.Dan Duggan, "Rutgers graduate assistant Charlie Noonan named Holy Cross' defensive line coach", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), February 04, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015. Graduate assistant Sam Williams' two years of graduate assistant-ship expired and was hired by Penn State working with special teams and recruiting quality control.Dan Duggan, "Rutgers graduate assistant Sam Williams lands job on Penn State staff", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), March 9, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015. 2014 Graduate assistant and former Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel was hired by his alma mater Don Bosco Preparatory High School as offensive coordinatorPatrick Lanni, "Ex-Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel returns to Don Bosco Prep as offensive coordinator", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), May 26, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers' Kyle Flood on Mike Teel's move back to Don Bosco Prep: 'It's a positive for us as a program'", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), May 29, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015. 2014 undergraduate student assistant Sean Barowski stayed on as a graduate assistant upon graduating.Tom Luicci, "New Football Calling For Three Seniors: Student Coaches to Be Honored Saturday", Scarletknights.com (Rutgers Athletics), November 13, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2015. 2015 staff Name Position Seasons atRutgers Alma mater Kyle Flood Head coach 10 Iona College (1992) Norries Wilson Running backs/associate head coach/interim head coach 4 Minnesota (1989) Ben McDaniels Offensive coordinator 1 (first as OC) Kent State (2003) Joe Rossi Defensive coordinator 4 Allegheny College (2000) Phil Galiano Special teams/tight ends 10 Shippensburg University (1999) Mitch Browning Offensive line 1 Capital University (1979) Anthony Campanile Wide receivers 4 Rutgers (2004) Jim Panagos Defensive line 4 Maryland (1992) Bob Fraser Linebackers 5 Allegheny College Darrell Wilson Defensive backs 4 Connecticut (1981) Jeremy Cole Strength and conditioning/assistant AD 9 University of Findlay (2005) Rocco Dimeco Offensive assistant 1 Norwich University Scott Vallone Defensive assistant 0 Rutgers (2012) Sean Barowski Graduate assistant 0 Rutgers (2015) Ralph Friedgen Special assistant to the head coach 1 Maryland Schedule Rutgers announced their 2015 football schedule on June 3, 2013. The 2015 schedule consist of 7 home, and 5 away games in the regular season. The Scarlet Knights hosted Big Ten foes Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Nebraska and traveled to Indiana, Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin.Rutgers Athletics. "Rutgers' 2015 Big Ten Schedule Announced" (press release) June 3, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2015. The Scarlet Knights hosted three of their four non conference games against Kansas, Norfolk State and Washington State. Rutgers matched up against Army on November 21 at Michie Stadium at West Point. 2015 AP Poll released prior to game Eastern September 5 12:00 pm w y Norfolk State High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ ESPNews 63–13 47,453 September 12 3:30 pm l y Washington State High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ ESPNU 34–37 46,536 September 19 8:00 pm l y Penn State Beaver Stadium University Park, PA BTN 3–28 103,323 September 26 12:00 pm w y y Kansas High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ BTN 27–14 46,136 October 10 8:00 pm l Michigan State 4 High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ BTN 24–31 50,373 October 17 3:30 pm w y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN BTN 55–52 40,567 October 24 8:00 pm l Ohio State 1 High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ ABC 7–49 53,111 October 31 12:00 pm l y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI BTN 10–48 74,575 November 7 3:30 pm l y Michigan 16 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI BTN 16–49 108,879 November 14 3:30 pm l Nebraska High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ BTN 14–31 45,606 November 21 12:00 pm w y y Army Michie Stadium West Point, NY CBSSN 31–21 30,113 November 28 12:00 pm l Maryland High Point Solutions Stadium Piscataway, NJ BTN 41–46 44,846 Schedule source:FB Schedules (USA Today College Sports partner), 2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Schedule, Retrieved September 29, 2015. Game summaries Norfolk State 2015 Norfolk State Spartans football team Spartans 7 6 0 0 Scarlet Knights 7 14 28 14 On September 5, 2015, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights met the Norfolk State Spartans, a Football Championship Subdivision team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, for the fourth game in their series. Rutgers had won the previous three games against Norfolk State in which the Scarlet Knights outscored the Spartans 128–0.Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers Week 1 Opponent: Norfolk State at a glance", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), August 29, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015. Washington State 2015 Washington State Cougars football team Cougars 7 6 7 17 Scarlet Knights 0 6 6 22 After last season's 41–38 victory against Washington State (Pac-12 Conference) on August 28, 2014, this was the second meeting between the Scarlet Knights and the Cougars. Rutgers lost after a penalty-prone fourth quarter (ending with a spike on 4th down), 34–37. At Penn State 2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football team Scarlet Knights 0 0 0 3 Nittany Lions 0 21 0 7 In the first game of head coach Kyle Flood's three-game suspension, associate head coach Norries Wilson filled in as head coach for the Rutgers and Penn State conference opener. Rutgers' only score was posted with 10:35 remaining in the fourth quarter by kicker Kyle Federico who made 34 yard field goal. Kansas 2015 Kansas Jayhawks football team Jayhawks 0 7 7 0 Scarlet Knights 7 13 7 0 This was the first meeting between the Kansas Jayhawks (Big-12 Conference) and the Scarlet Knights. In 2012, Rutgers and Kansas announced two home-and-home series games this season and the 2018 season.Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers vs. Kansas | Greetings from the Press Box: Where are the head coaches everyone expected?", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015. No. 4 Michigan State 2015 Michigan State Spartans football team No. 4 Spartans 7 3 14 7 Scarlet Knights 0 14 7 3 Rutgers hosted the undefeated Michigan State Spartans for their sixth meeting. With Michigan State ranked number 4 in national polls, it was the first time in 6 seasons that Rutgers met a team ranked the top 25 (beating No 23-ranked USF 31–0 on November 12, 2009) and 8 seasons since they upset a No. 2-ranked South Florida in 2007.Dan Duggan, "10 stats to know for the Rutgers-Michigan State game", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015. This was the last game that interim head coach Norries Wilson coached during head coach Kyle Flood's three-game suspension.Dan Duggan, "Norries Wilson earned Rutgers players' respect for handling 'tough situation' as interim coach", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015. At Indiana 2015 Indiana Hoosiers football team Scarlet Knights 7 20 6 22 Hoosiers 10 14 28 0 Despite a 52–27 Indiana lead in the third quarter, the Scarlet Knights erased the 25-point deficit by converting three fourth-quarter turnovers into touchdowns and took the lead in the game's final seconds with a 26-yard field goal from Kyle Federico. Leonte Carroo caught seven passes, for 157 yards and three touchdowns before leaving in the second half with an injured right leg. No. 1 Ohio State 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes football team No. 1 Buckeyes 7 14 21 7 Scarlet Knights 0 0 0 7 At Wisconsin 2015 Wisconsin Badgers football team Scarlet Knights 3 0 7 0 Badgers 10 17 14 7 At No. 17 Michigan 2015 Michigan Wolverines football team Scarlet Knights 3 13 0 0 No. 17 Wolverines 14 21 11 3 Nebraska 2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team Cornhuskers 14 7 7 3 Scarlet Knights 0 7 7 0 At Army 2015 Army Black Knights football team Scarlet Knights 14 10 7 0 Black Knights 0 14 7 0 Maryland 2015 Maryland Terrapins football team Terrapins 0 13 14 19 Scarlet Knights 7 24 7 3 Roster 2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights y 1 Janarion Grant WR JR y 3 Jawuan Harris WR FR 4 Leonte Carroo WR SR y 5 Chris Laviano QB SO y 6 Desmond Peoples RB JR y 7 Robert Martin RB SO 8 Josh Hicks RB SO 11 Hayden Rettig QB JR y 13 Carlton Agudosi WR JR y y 15 Jack Clements QB FR 16 Christopher Parker WR FR 17 Giovanni Rescigno QB FR y 18 Michael Dare QB FR 19 Troy Anthony QB JR 21 Charles Snorweah RB FR 30 Conor Dowd FB FR 32 Justin Goodwin RB JR 33 Greg Jones RB JR y 34 Paul James RB SR y 37 Max Anthony FB FR 39 Sandy Anya WR SO y 42 Nick Arcidiacono TE JR 43 George Behr TE FR y 44 Sam Bergen FB SR y 44 Joseph Gause WR FR 45 Jeffrey Farina RB FR 45 Shaquan Oliver FB FR 46 Charles Scarff TE SO 48 Anthony Folkerts TE FR 55 Ryan Brodie OL JR y 57 Bryan Stonkus OL SR y 60 Dorian Miller OL SO y 64 Skiy Pyrame OL FR 65 Tariq Cole OL FR y 66 Jacquis Webb OL FR y 69 Derrick Nelson OL JR y 70 Chris Muller OL JR y 71 Marcus Applefield OL FR y 72 Manny Taylor OL FR 73 Jonah Jackson OL FR 74 Keith Lumpkin OL SR y 75 Zach Venesky OL FR 77 J. J. Denman OL JR y 78 Jack Shutack OL FR 79 Zack Heeman OL FR y 80 Alex Schoen WR SO y 81 Matt Flanagan TE SO y y Matt Flanagan (American football) 82 Ntwademela Perry WR FR y 83 Rashad Blunt WR FR 84 John Tsimis WR JR 85 Justice Stewart WR FR 86 Nakia Griffin-Stewart TE FR y 87 Vance Matthews WR JR y 88 Andre Patton WR JR 89 Dontae Owens WR FR 2 Kiy Hester DB FR y 3 Steve Longa LB JR y y 5 Ronnie James DB FR 9 Saquan Hampton DB FR y y 10 Blessuan Austin DB FR y 11 Isaiah Wharton DB FR y 14 Kaiwan Lewis LB SR 15 Trevor Morris LB FR 20 Devan Carter LB SO y 22 Quanzell Lambert DL JR y 25 Jarius Adams DB FR 26 Deonte Roberts LB FR 28 Najee Clayton LB FR 29 Davon Jacobs DB JR y 30 Andre Hunt LB SO y 31 Anthony Cioffi DB JR y 34 Talib Abdur-Ra'oof LB FR y 35 Eric Margolis LB FR y 36 T. J. Taylor LB SO y 37 Zane Campbell DB JR 38 Myles Nash DL SO y 40 Brian Chase DB FR 40 Kevin Marquez LB JR y 41 Brian Verbitski DB JR y 43 D'Won Walker DB FR 47 Isaiah Johnson LB JR 49 Brandon Russell LB FR y 50 Quentin Gause LB SR y 51 Sebastian Joseph-Day DL SO y y 53 Julian Pinnix-Odrick DL JR y 54 Kamaal Seymour DL FR 55 Austin Rosa LB FR 58 Kemoko Turay DE SO y y 59 Darnell Davis DL SO y 67 Kenneth Roman DL FR 90 Ron'Dell Carter DL FR y 91 Darius Hamilton DL SR y 92 Eric Wiafe DL FR y 93 Djwany Mera DL SR y 95 Jon Bateky DL FR 96 Willington Previlon DL FR 98 Jimmy Hogan DL FR y 99 Kevin Wilkins DL FR y 1 Kyle Federico PK SR 68 Alex Hutchings LS FR 85 Alan Lucy LS SO 94 Michael Cintron PK P FR y 94 Chris Gough PK SR y 96 Aidan Murray P JR y 96 Joey Roth P SR y 98 David Bonagura PK P SO y 99 Tim Gleeson P SR http://www.scarletknights.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/2015-roster.html November 23, 2016 Kyle Flood Norries Wilson (running backs / associate head coach / interim head coach) Ben McDaniels (offensive coordinator) Joe Rossi (defensive coordinator) Phil Galiano (special teams coordinator / tight ends) Mitch Browning (offensive line) Anthony Campanile (wide receivers) Jim Panagos (defensive line) Bob Fraser (linebackers) Darrell Wilson (defensive backs) Jerry Cole (strength & conditioning / assistant AD) Rocco Dimeco (offensive assistant) Scott Vallone (defensive assistant) Sean Barowski (graduate assistant) Ralph Friedgen (special assistant to the head coach) Kenny Parker (head football strength and conditioning) Sean Barowski (defensive assistant) Collin Bauer (defensive assistant) David Galante (offensive assistant) Mark Rosenbaum (offensive assistant) References Rutgers Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football seasons Rutgers Scarlet Knights football