2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Rutgers_athletics_logo.png 125 Big East Conference Big East Conference (1979–2013) Big East 12 12 11–2 5–2 Greg Schiano 6th Craig Ver Steeg 4th John McNulty 1st Pro-style 4–3 Rutgers Stadium Texas Bowl champion Texas Bowl W 37–10 vs. Kansas State The 2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team was an American football team that represented Rutgers University as a member of the Big East Conference during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their sixth season under head coach Greg Schiano, the Scarlet Knights compiled an 11–2 record (5–2 in conference games), tied for second place in the Big East, and outscored opponents by a total of 387 to 186. The Scarlet Knights won their first nine games, including shutouts over Illinois (33–0) and Navy (34–0) and a 28–25 win over No. 3 Louisville, highlighted by Jeremy Ito's last-minute field goal. They concluded the season with a victory over Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, the first bowl victory in program history. Rutgers was ranked No. 12 in the final Associated Press and Coaches polls. The Scarlet Knights gained an average of 180.2 rushing yards and 164.9 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 101.0 rushing yards and 151.2 passing yards per game. The team's outstanding individual achievements included: Sophomore running back Ray Rice set a new Rutgers rushing record, tallying 1,794 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 335 carries. Rice won Big East Player of the Year honors. He also finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting and was a finalist for the Maxwell Award. Rice was also named the most valuable player in the Texas Bowl, rushing for 170 yards and a touchdown in 24 carries."Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Kansas State Wildcats - Recap - December 28, 2006". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 25, 2010. Senior fullback Brian Leonard tallied 423 rushing yards and 294 receiving yards and won the Draddy Trophy, sometimes known as the "Academic Heisman". Sophomore quarterback Mike Teel completed 164 of 296 passes (55.4%) for 2,135 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Tight end Clark Harris led the team with 493 receiving yards on 34 receptons. Brian Leonard led the team with 38 receptions.2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football February 19, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/rutgers/2006.html Senior defensive tackle and captain Ramel Meekins was twice selected as the national defensive player of the week. Linebacker Devraun Thompson led the team with 83 total tackles (45 solo, 38 assists). Defensive back Courtney Green led the team with 51 solo tackles. Placekicker Jeremy Ito converted 22 of 29 field goal attempts and 41 of 42 extra-point kicks. The team played its home games at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Schedule 2006 AP Eastern September 2 3:30 pm w y y North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC ABC 21–16 50,000 Knights leave Heels feeling blue The News and Observer Robbi Pickeral September 3, 2006 1CC, 5CC https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-knights-leave-heel/166222050/ Newspapers.com September 9 12:00 pm w y Illinois Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ ESPN2 33–0 41,036 Convincing Win: Special teams, defense key as Rutgers rolls Home News Tribune Keith Sargeant September 10, 2006 C13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-convinc/166222499/ Newspapers.com September 16 3:30 pm w y y Ohio Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ MSG 24–7 41,102 Grinding It Out: Rice, defense, special teams help Scarlet Knights overcome Ohio Home News Tribune Keith Sargeant September 17, 2006 C11, C12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-grindin/166226810/ Newspapers.com September 23 2:00 pm w y 23 Howard Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ MSG 56–7 35,558 Off To A 4-0 Start: Scarlet Knights dominate Howard Home News Tribune Mark Spivey September 24, 2006 C1, C3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-off-to/166226995/ Newspapers.com September 29 Friday 8:00 pm w y 23 South Florida Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL ESPN2 22–20 32,493 October 14 1:30 pm w y y 24 Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD CSTV 34–0 36,918 Halfway to Perfect: Defense shuts down Navy, Teel tosses 3 TDs as Rutgers runs record 6-0 Home News Tribune Keith Sargeant October 15, 2006 I-1, I-4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-halfway/166222989/ Newspapers.com October 21 5:45 pm w y 19 Pittsburgh Heinz Field Pittsburgh, PA ESPN2 20–10 49,620 October 29 Sunday 8:00 pm w 16 Connecticut Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ ESPN 24–13 43,620 Still Perfect: Defense steps up as Knights struggle to get past stubborn UConn Home News Tribune Keith Sargeant October 30, 2006 C1, C8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-still-p/166226509/ Newspapers.com November 9 Thursday 7:45 pm w 15 Louisville 3 Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ ESPN 28–25 44,111 Night of Knights: Ito's Field Goal Caps Rutgers' Stunning Win Over Louisville Home News Tribune Keith Sargeant November 10, 2006 H1, H2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-night-o/166223347/ Newspapers.com November 18 7:45 pm l y 7 Cincinnati Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH ESPN2 11–30 27,804 November 25 12:00 pm w 15 Syracuse Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ ESPNU 38–7 43,791 BCS a Win Away: Leonard, Rice carry Rutgers within victory of Big East title Home News Tribune Keith Sargeant November 26, 2006 I-1, I-2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-bcs-a-w/166226301/ Newspapers.com December 2 7:45 pm l y 13 West Virginia 15 Milan Puskar Stadium Morgantown, WV ESPN 39–41 3OT 60,299 December 28 Thursday 8:00 pm w y y 16 Kansas State Reliant Stadium Houston, TX Texas Bowl NFL Network 37–10 52,210 Yee-Haw Knights! Rutgers defeats Kansas State for first-ever bowl victory Home News Tribune Keith Sargeant December 29, 2006 C1, C2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-yee-haw/166223626/ Newspapers.com Rankings 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings 15 4 7 NR RV NR RV NR RV NR RV 23 23 23 24 23 24 24 24 24 19 19 19 16 16 16 15 14 15 15 14 12 15 14 13 13 7 8 7 6 15 16 15 14 13 13 13 13 16 17 16 16 12 12 Roster 30em William Beckford, defensive end, No. 35, 6'1", 230 pounds, senior Kenny Britt, wide receiver, No. 88, 6'4", 205 pounds, freshman Tim Brown, wide receiver Dennis Campbell, wide receiver Jack Corcoran, running back, No. 19, 6'1", 230 pounds, freshman Eric Foster, No. 56, defensive tackle, 6'2", 260 pounds, junior Willie Foster, wide receiver, No. 84, 5'10", 175 pounds, senior Ron Girault, defensive back Courtney Greene, defensive back, No. 36, 6'1", 205 pounds, sophomore Clark Harris, tight end, No. 81, 6'6", 260 pounds, senior Jeremy Ito, placekicker, No. 1, 5'11", 185 pounds, junior Brian Leonard, fullback, No. 28, 6'2", 235 pounds, senior Jabu Lovelace, quarterback, No. 15, 6'2", 200 pounds, freshman Devin McCourty, defensive back, No. 21, 5'11", 180 pounds, freshman Jason McCourty, defensive back, No. 25, 5'11", 180 pounds, sophomore Ramel Meekins, defensive tackle, No. 60, 6'0", 275 pounds, senior Brandon Renkart, linebacker, No. 47, 6'3", 235 pounds, junior Ray Rice, running back, No. 27, 5'9", 195 pounds, sophomore Mike Teel, quarterback, No. 14, 6'4", 220 pounds, sophomore Devraun Thompson, linebacker, No. 55, 5'11", 220 pounds, senior James Townsend, wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, wide receiver, No. 7, 6'2", 175 pounds, sophomore Jamaal Westerman, defensive end, No. 90, 6'3", 252 pounds, sophomore Kordell Young, running back, No. 8, 5'9", 190 pounds freshman The Scarlet Knights Home News Tribune December 28, 2006 G5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-rutgers/166225959/ Newspapers.com References Rutgers Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football seasons Category:Texas Bowl champion seasons Rutgers Scarlet Knights football