The Rutgers Scarlet Knights ended their season with a 4-8 record. Although this was not a great season for the Scarlet Knights, there are still players deserving of a Top 5 Rutgers Players of the season spot. There will be players not mentioned in this list and it is important to note there is nothing wrong with those players, just other athletes deserved to make it more and there is always room for debate. Here are the top 5 Rutgers players of the 2022 season.
Top 5 Rutgers Players: Adam Korsak
Adam Korsak is heavily underappreciated simply because he is a punter. Korsak has helped this team win their four games, in addition to their defense. With a poor offense, Korsak was one of the most important players on the Scarlet Knights. Korsak is also among the top 5 Rutgers draft prospects for the upcoming NFL draft.
This season, Korsak punted 75 times averaging 44 yards per punt, according to ESPN. Korsak’s longest punt was for 77 yards and he only punted for two touchbacks this season. Of the 75 punts, 33 ended in the 20 which is first in college football. Punters are just as important as any other position in football, but Korsak was also a top 5 Rutgers player this season.
Top 5 Rutgers Players: Johnny Langan
The Scarlet Knights do not have the best offense by any means, but tight end Johnny Langan put his all into every game this season. The senior rushed, caught, and passed the ball throughout the year. The only downside to Langan this season was that he rarely scored touchdowns. He did put the team in a position to score more though.
This season, Langan had a total of 31 receptions for 296 yards and one receiving touchdown, according to ESPN. Langan averaged 9.5 yards per reception which is great for a team who had a weakness with their passing game. Langan also rushed the ball 31 times for 139 yards and one touchdown, which is unusual for a tight end. Finally, Langan attempted three passes this year and completed two of them for 139 yards and one touchdown. The tight end has demonstrated that he would do anything for the Scarlet Knights and under the assumption, it was his final year, he will be missed.
Top 5 Rutgers Players: Wesley Bailey
The sophomore defensive lineman had improved a lot this year. In the 2021 season, there was not much to discuss about Bailey, but this year he has made a name for himself. Bailey has pressured opposing quarterbacks to the point where their passes become inaccurate and they throw interceptions. While it may have not been predicted ahead of the season, Wesley Bailey is a top 5 Rutgers player for the 2022 season.
This year, Bailey has had a total of 28 combined tackles, 17 of which were solo, and 3.5 sacks, according to ESPN. Bailey also had two pass deflections and three fumble returns. With his 3.5 sacks, Bailey led the team with the most. Luckily for the Scarlet Knights, the player is only a sophomore and will hopefully only get better.
Top 5 Rutgers Players: Christian Izien
Defensive back Christian Izien is another top 5 Rutgers player of this season. The Scarlet Knights had a much better defense than their record shows, and Izien is a large reason for that.
This season, Izien has had a total of 83 combined tackles, 52 of which were solo, and 1.5 sacks, according to ESPN. Despite having no interceptions this season, or any turnovers, Izien had a total of five pass deflections. The defensive back is another senior and is projected to be a High Priority Free Agent following the NFL draft. Although it would have been great for Izien to force turnovers, he will be a player missed by the Scarlet Knights.
Top 5 Rutgers Players: Christian Braswell
Christian Braswell is another senior defensive back who has been a top 5 Rutgers player this season. Braswell is not one of the top Rutgers NFL draft prospects, but it will be something to keep an eye on following the 2023 NFL draft. This was Braswell’s first season with the Scarlett Knights after spending three years at Temple. It is safe to say Rutgers was happy to have him on the team this year.
This season Braswell has had a total of 35 tackles, 25 of which were solo, according to ESPN. Braswell also had a total of 9 pass deflections and three interceptions. One of those interceptions was a pick-six for the Scarlet Knights. With a weak offense, having a defender able to score was a great help to the team getting four wins this season.
Top 5 Rutgers Players: Honorable Mentions
Some players just missed my top 5 Rutgers players for the 2022 season and deserved a mention. In no particular order, these players include running back Kyle Monangai, linebacker Deion Jennings, and defensive back Avery Young.
Although not all of these players will return next season, for the ones that do, it will be exciting to see how they improve.
For More NFL and NCAA Football Content:
Check out my article on the Rutgers loss last weekend. Check out my most recent Underestimated NFL Player Spotlight here. And for some of my 49ers articles, here is one on the win on Sunday, and one on the comments made by former 49ers players.
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