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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Throughout college football, it’s become common for NFL-bound players to opt out of playing in bowl games, choosing to avoid injury risk that could damage their draft stock and potentially cost them financially in the long run.
Rutgers is experiencing that for Thursday’s Rate Bowl against Kansas State with Greg Schiano confirming Tuesday that star running back Kyle Monangai will not play, a decision he understands. At this point anyway, there’s not much else Monangai, coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, has left to show.
But make no mistake – bowl games can be critical for NFL hopefuls.
The Scarlet Knights have a group of them, including linebacker Tyreem Powell, defensive linemen Aaron Lewis and Kyonte Hamilton, cornerback Eric Rogers and left tackle Hollin Pierce, among others.
As of Tuesday, Monangai is the only known Rutgers player to sit out.
Sep 21, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano celebrates after a play during the second quarter of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Those who do play will get a final chance to get some game film that could impress NFL scouts, general managers and talent evaluators.
For a player like Powell, who missed some of last season with a broken wrist, then missed time this season recovering from a torn Achilles, that’s a big opportunity.
As a former assistant coach with the Chicago Bears and later a head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Schiano knows how valuable bowl games can be when it comes to scouting.
“As coach, when you’re an assistant coach in the league, your season’s over whenever that is,” Schiano said Tuesday during the Rate Bowl Media Day. “You get a week off, you come into the office, there’s a piece of…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rate-bowl-offering-big-opportunity-183804103.html
Author : App.com | Asbury Park Press
Publish date : 2024-12-24 18:38:00
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