— Sam Hellman
On the second-to-last day of training camp for the Rutgers football team, the Scarlet Knights got some fortuitous news in that true freshman receiver J.T. Tartacoff’s injury was not serious. In the wake of multiple wide receiver injuries, however, coach Greg Schiano made a position change that started to make the standings at both positions clearer.
Clearing up at running back
Junior Mason Robinson moved back to wide receiver at the start of today’s two-a-day and it appears that is where he will stay for the long haul. Robinson, initially a running back, flipped back-and-forth between the two since his freshman year and worked as a wide receiver today.
“We moved Mason back out to wideout and he did a nice job from what I can see,” Schiano said. “I didn’t get to watch the morning tape. I have to watch them both tonight. In person, he looked pretty good.”
There is always a chance that Robinson could move back to running back once wide receivers heal up, but Schiano said it would be challenging for him based on protection schemes and game plan specific preparation.
With Robinson out of the tailback mix and Kordell Young strictly a third down running back, that leaves junior Joe Martinek, sophomore De’Antwan Williams and a trio of true freshman vying for playing time.
Martinek is the first team guy at this point, but freshman Jordan Thomas received an increase in workload after his impressive second scrimmage.
Freshman Casey Turner is still limited in practice with a midsection injury and Jawan Jamison, who came late in the first place, missed the last few days because of academics.
“Jawan is healthy,” Schiano said. “The last couple of days, there was a holdup on his clearinghouse stuff. There’s that timeframe where you run out of days, but it got cleared up today so he’s good to go.”
Schiano also further entrenched Young as the third down back when he said “With his knee, he’s going to be a third down back. That’s what he’s going to be. If we do more than that he won’t make it. He’s going to strictly do that.”
Most receivers could be back by Norfolk State
On the wide receiver end, there is a chance that almost every injured wideout could be back by the opener with the exception of sophomore Tim Wright, who is out for the year after knee surgery.
Freshman J.T. Tartacoff, who left yesterday’s practice on a truck, could be back in as early as a week, Schiano said.
“I don’t know exactly how long [he’ll be out],” Schiano said. “Maybe a week or so. I think we’re going to get him back in a week or two. It’s not going to be a long term thing. The positive is a lot of those guys will be back at some point. The negative is just not right now.”
Sophomore Mark Harrison, suffering from a head injury after the second scrimmage, is still up in the air.
“With a head it’s hard,” Schiano said. “There’s nothing to look at. It’s all how he feels.”
Redshirt freshman Quron Pratt (shoulder) could be ready to go by the opener, but he wouldn’t be able to practice in contact drills beforehand, making Florida International a more likely spot for his return.
“With the timeframe that we were told, he should be [ready],” Schiano said. “He can’t hit that week leading up to the game so it all depends on how he heels. He can do certain things. He just can’t risk falling on it or hitting it.”
In the meantime, sophomore Keith Stroud, redshirt freshman Aaron Hayward and true freshman Jeremy Deering are reaping the benefits with an increased first team workload.
“It think Stroud’s coming along,” Schiano said. “I think Hayward is doing better. He just needs more opportunities. If he keeps getting better, he’ll get more opportunities.”
This and that
The Scarlet Knights are completely squared away with the academic clearinghouse with the exception of walk-on Joe Falato, who has yet to make it to training camp … Schiano has not yet made a decision on what quarterback Chas Dodd’s role in the offense will be this year … Schiano doesn’t think quarterback Steve Shimko is very close to returning from a shoulder injury. If his shoulder does not show progress, he may need surgery, Schiano said.
