The Rutgers Scarlet Knights‘ are returning one of their best offensive weapons for the 2024 season in running back Kyle Monangai.
One Last Run❤️ pic.twitter.com/4iw8ud5Wtl
— Kyle Monangai (@kylemonangai) December 11, 2023
Monangai’s 2024 season will be his fifth, and he is one of many Scarlet Knights returning to Greg Schiano’s squad next season. On offense, linemen Hollin Pierce and Bryan Felter are returning as well as wide receiver Christian Dremel, who played with Monangai in high school at Don Bosco Prep. Joining him in his return will be defensive linemen Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey as well as linebackers Tyreem Powell and Mohamed Toure.
Monangai played a crucial part in the rebuild of a Rutgers program that has not seen a winning season since 2014. He will have a chance to help the Rutgers break that streak when they play the Miami Hurricanes in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ Running Back Kyle Monangai Led the Big Ten in Rushing
Monangai is one of two running backs in the Big Ten to finish with over 1,000 yards rushing on the season. The other is Michigan Wolverines’ star running back Blake Corum, who finished with 1,028 yards to Monangai’s 1,099. Monangai’s conference-leading numbers along with 5.1 yards per carry and seven touchdowns were good enough to earn him Second Team All-Big Ten honors.
Before Monangai, only seven running backs in Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ history have reached over 1,000 yards in one season. The former Don Bosco Prep standout left the century mark in the rearview mirror six times this season. His marquee performance came against the Temple Owls, where he ran for 165 yards on 28 carries.
Monangai was a three-star recruit coming out of high school, and flew under the radar of many big name schools. In an article from Chris Iseman of NorthJersey.com, teammate Christian Dremel details the way in which he knew how Manangai was going to turn out.
“Literally if you put film on from when he was in eighth grade,” Dremel said, “it probably looks pretty similar to how he runs the ball now.”
“For me it’s just been great to be able to contribute to all the success we’re having,” Monangai said. “It’s a team sport, obviously it’s an all-around effort, all the guys on the offense. For me I’m just excited I’m able to be a big part of it. But like I said, it’s a team sport so it’s all of us doing our job well.”
Greg Schiano and Rutgers Scarlet Knights Looking for Best Year Since Joining the Big Ten
Since their first year in the Big Ten in 2014, Rutgers has only managed to have one winning season. The Scarlet Knights’ first year in the conference saw them go 8-5 with a victory in the Quick Lane Bowl with Kyle Flood as their head coach. Although it was against lesser competition in the Big East, Schiano produced an 8-5 record or better five times in his original stint with the Scarlet Knights.
With several players coming back and a team that is trending upwards for the first time in a decade, Schiano and company are looking for some of the best years the program has seen since their inaugural year in the conference.
Rutgers will have to take on a current playoff contender in the Washington Huskies in their first conference game next year. Outside of the Huskies, the most dangerous teams the Scarlet Knights will have to face are USC, UCLA and Wisconsin, all of which went 7-5 this year. Other than that, Rutgers will have to take on low-level non-conference opponents as well conference opponents they outperformed in the 2023 season.
Monangai realizes that he has a chance to help Rutgers get back to a spot that they haven’t been in for a decade.
Get More College Football Content
For more news and trends in the college football world, click here or follow me on Twitter @KusleikaAndrew.
Our Partners
Mayfield Sports Marketing
Call Mayfield Sports Marketing at 262-366-8188 to schedule Green Bay Packers players or alumni for your corporate appearance or product promotion. Our booking agents will work on your behalf to get you the best price for your desired sports speaker. Mayfield Sports Marketing has earned a reputation of being the one to call for booking top athletes to speak at events and trade shows. To learn more about Packers players or alumni appearance costs and booking fees, please call us today. www.MayfieldSports.com.