2021 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

The 2021 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights played their home games at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey, and competed as members of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by 13th-year head coach Greg Schiano, in the second season of his second stint with Rutgers.

2021 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
Gator Bowl, L 10–38 vs. Wake Forest
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	East Division
Record	5–8 (2–7 Big Ten)
Head coach	Greg Schiano (13th season)
Offensive coordinator	Sean Gleeson (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Robb Smith (3rd season)
Home stadium	SHI Stadium

2021 Big Ten Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 3 Michigan xy$^		8	–	1					12	–	2
No. 6 Ohio State x		8	–	1					11	–	2
No. 9 Michigan State		7	–	2					11	–	2
Penn State		4	–	5					7	–	6
Maryland		3	–	6					7	–	6
Rutgers		2	–	7					5	–	8
Indiana		0	–	9					2	–	10
West Division
No. 23 Iowa xy		7	–	2					10	–	4
Minnesota		6	–	3					9	–	4
Wisconsin		6	–	3					9	–	4
Purdue		6	–	3					9	–	4
Illinois		4	–	5					5	–	7
Nebraska		1	–	8					3	–	9
Northwestern		1	–	8					3	–	9
Championship: Michigan 42, Iowa 3
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

While the team finished their season with a 5–7 record, they were invited to play Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl after Texas A&M withdrew.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	12:00 p.m.	Temple*	SHI Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	W 61–14	52,519
September 11	2:00 p.m.	at Syracuse*	Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY	ACCN	W 17–7	31,941
September 18	3:30 p.m.	No. 6 (FCS) Delaware*	SHI Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	W 45–13	40,129
September 25	3:30 p.m.	at No. 19 Michigan	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	ABC	L 13–20	106,943
October 2	3:30 p.m.	No. 11 Ohio State	SHI Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	L 13–52	51,006
October 9	12:00 p.m.	No. 11 Michigan State	SHI Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	L 13–31	41,117
October 16	12:00 p.m.	at Northwestern	Ryan Field Evanston, IL	BTN	L 7–21	30,218
October 30	12:00 p.m.	at Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	W 20–14	36,942
November 6	3:30 p.m.	No. 21 Wisconsin	SHI Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	L 3–52	40,280
November 13	12:00 p.m.	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	BTN	W 38–3	40,171
November 20	12:00 p.m.	at Penn State	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	BTN	L 0–28	106,038
November 27	12:00 p.m.	Maryland	SHI Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	L 16–40	42,729
December 31	11:00 a.m.	vs. No. 17 Wake Forest*	TIAA Bank Field Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl)	ESPN	L 10–38	28,508
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Roster and Coaches

2021 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 0 Noah Vedral  Sr RB 1 Isiah Pacheco Sr WR 2 Aron Cruickshank Sr QB 3 Gavin Wimsatt Fr RB 4 Aaron Young Jr WR 6 Christian Dremel  So WR 7 Shameen Jones  Sr RB 8 Jamier Wright-Collins  Fr WR 9 Monterio Hunt Sr TE 10 Matt Alaimo  Jr WR 11 Shawn Munnerlyn Fr TE 13 Jovani Haskins  Sr WR 14 Isaiah Washington So QB 15 Cole Snyder So WR 17 Jameer Campbell Sr WR 18 Bo Melton Sr QB 19 Austin Albericci  Jr QB 21 Johnny Langan  Jr WR 22 Max Patterson Fr RB 23 Kyle Monangai Fr RB 27 Piotr Partyla Fr WR 28 Nasir Montgomery Fr WR 32 John Guaimano  So RB 33 Parker Day  Sr RB 40 Joseph Hayford Sr TE 45 Brandon Myers  Jr TE 48 Thomas Morgan Jr OL 50 C. J. Hanson  So OL 51 Troy Rainey Fr OL 53 Tunde Fatukasi Fr OL 54 Cedrice Paillant Jr OL 55 Kamar Missouri Fr OL 56 Tyler Needham Fr OL 58 David Nwaogwugwu Jr OL 65 Bryan Felter Fr OL 66 Nick Krimin  Sr OL 69 Brendan Bordner  Sr OL 70 Reggie Sutton  Jr OL 71 Raiqwon O'Neal  Jr OL 72 Hollin Pierce Fr OL 74 Isaiah Wright Fr OL 75 Beau Lanzidelle Fr OL 76 Matt Rosso  Jr OL 77 Sam Vretman Sr OL 79 Jason LaVigna So WR 80 Frederik Krebs Fr WR 82 Brayden Fox Fr WR 83 Joshua Youngblood So WR 84 Ahmirr Robinson Fr WR 85 Jeesie Parson III Fr TE 86 Cooper Heisey  So TE 87 Tahjay Moore Fr TE 88 Carnell Davis Fr TE 89 Victor Konopka Fr DL 96 Keshon Griffin Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 0 Christian Izien  Jr DB 2 Avery Young So LB 3 Olakunle Fatukasi Sr DB 4 Naijee Jones  Sr DB 5 Keesawn Abraham  Jr LB 6 Rashawn Battle  Sr DB 7 Robert Longerbeam  Fr LB 8 Tyshon Fogg Sr LB 9 Tyreek Maddox-Williams  Sr LB 10 Zukudo Igwenagu  So LB 11 Drew Singleton  Sr LB 12 Khayri Banton Fr DB 12 Peyton Powell So DL 14 Jordan Thompson Fr DB 15 Alijah Clark Fr DB 16 Max Melton Fr LB 17 Deion Jennings  Jr DB 18 Keenan Reid Sr DB 19 Calebe Silva  Sr DB 20 Elijuwan Mack Fr DB 21 Tre Avery  Sr DB 22 Tyreem Powell Fr DL 23 Wesley Bailey Fr DB 24 Patrice Rene  Sr DB 25 Shaquan Loyal Fr DL 26 C. J. Onyechi  Sr LB 28 Aslan Pugh  Sr DB 29 Lawrence Stevens  Sr LB 30 Chris Conti  So DL 33 Andrew Vince Fr LB 35 Jonathan Pimentel  Jr DB 36 Darius Gooden So DB 37 Joe Lusardi Fr DB 39 Amir Byrd  So DB 42 David Tarallo Fr DB 43 Dami Awoyinfa Fr DL 44 Brian Ugwu  So DL 45 Jamree Kromah  Jr LB 46 Matt Gibney  So DL 50 Julius Turner  Sr DL 57 Stanley Dennis II Fr LB 58 Mohamed Toure  So DL 59 Drew Bethke  So DL 69 Caleb Patterson Fr DL 71 Aaron Lewis Fr DL 80 Shawn Collins Fr DL 88 Ifeanyi Maijeh  Sr DL 90 René Konga So DL 91 Tijaun Mason  Sr DL 92 Mayan Ahanotu  Jr DL 93 Ireland Brown So DL 94 Kevin Schaeffer Fr DL 95 Henry Hughes Jr. Fr DL 97 Mike Tverdov  Sr DL 98 Robin Jutwreten  Jr DL 99 Ryan Keeler Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 1 Valentino Ambrosio Jr P 16 Zach Feagles Sr LS 46 Brendan Shank  Jr LS 47 Billy Taylor Sr LS 49 Zack Taylor Fr P 94 Adam Korsak  Sr K 96 Guy Fava  So	Head coach Greg Schiano Coordinators/assistant coaches Augie Hoffmann (running backs) Sean Gleeson (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks) Jim Panagos (defensive line) Robb Smith (defensive coordinator) Andrew Aurich (offensive line) Tiquan Underwood (wide receivers) Bob Fraser (linebackers) Nunzio Campanile (tight ends) Adam Scheier (special teams coordinator) Fran Brown (Secondary) Jamaal Westerman (defensive graduate assistant) Charlie Noonan (defensive assistant) Damaso Munoz (defensive assistant) John Perry (offensive analyst) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: November 2, 2020

Rankings

Further information: 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	—	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	—	RV	RV	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
CFP	Not released									—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released