Mike McMahon, QB, Sr.
McMahon, who will start for the fourth straight season, is back from shoulder surgery that short-circuited him after four games in 1999.
L.J. Smith, TE, Jr.
Smith may be Rutgers' best athlete since Marco Battaglia, but he'll also have to help a shaky line block.
Walter King, WR, Sr.
King returned from 1998 back surgery to catch 29 passes for 453 yards last season.
Key defensive players
Garrett Shea, CB, Jr.
The coach's son, Shea was a top prospect from northern California, but missed last season because of a shoulder and neck injury.
Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Paul Robeson, E, 1915-18
"Wish I had seen him play. Reading about him probably doesn't do him justice."
Brightest Moment: If you don't count Rutgers' win over Princeton in college football's first game (1869), Scarlet Knights fans must ashamedly point to a 1979 win over Tennessee, when the Vols were ranked No. 17.
Lowest Moment: Deciding on the lowest moment for the Rutgers program is like deciding on Dennis Miller's most obscure reference. How about if we just point out that Temple beat the Knights 56-28 last season and leave bad enough alone.
Wes Robertson, LB, Sr.
Often injured, the talented Robertson must stay healthy and stabilize a questionable linebacking corps.
Key newcomer
Torrance Heggie, DE, Jr.
Heggie, a standout at Ventura (Calif.) Community College, could help provide a rush.
Throwback player
Tom Petko. Petko is a nose tackle and a heavyweight for the Scarlet Knights' wrestling team.
21st century player
L.J. Smith. Athletically gifted, Smith turned a sure interception into a catch last season by jumping up, reaching over a Pitt defender, catching the ball -- without touching the D-back -- and landing inbounds.
Fast fact
Rutgers had eight key players shelved before last season's midway point.
Outlook
A healthy -- and perhaps record-breaking -- season from McMahon may be the only hope Shea has of keeping his job. Tailback Jacki Crooks, last season's lone bright spot, is gone. The offensive line returns but one starter. The defense, which finished 105th nationally, returns but three starters. Shea is trying a switch to a 3-4 defense, but it may be way too little way too late for the coach.
Mike McMahon, QB, Sr.
McMahon, who will start for the fourth straight season, is back from shoulder surgery that short-circuited him after four games in 1999.
L.J. Smith, TE, Jr.
Smith may be Rutgers' best athlete since Marco Battaglia, but he'll also have to help a shaky line block.
Walter King, WR, Sr.
King returned from 1998 back surgery to catch 29 passes for 453 yards last season.
Key defensive players
Garrett Shea, CB, Jr.
The coach's son, Shea was a top prospect from northern California, but missed last season because of a shoulder and neck injury.
Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Paul Robeson, E, 1915-18
"Wish I had seen him play. Reading about him probably doesn't do him justice."
Brightest Moment: If you don't count Rutgers' win over Princeton in college football's first game (1869), Scarlet Knights fans must ashamedly point to a 1979 win over Tennessee, when the Vols were ranked No. 17.
Lowest Moment: Deciding on the lowest moment for the Rutgers program is like deciding on Dennis Miller's most obscure reference. How about if we just point out that Temple beat the Knights 56-28 last season and leave bad enough alone.
Wes Robertson, LB, Sr.
Often injured, the talented Robertson must stay healthy and stabilize a questionable linebacking corps.
Key newcomer
Torrance Heggie, DE, Jr.
Heggie, a standout at Ventura (Calif.) Community College, could help provide a rush.
Throwback player
Tom Petko. Petko is a nose tackle and a heavyweight for the Scarlet Knights' wrestling team.
21st century player
L.J. Smith. Athletically gifted, Smith turned a sure interception into a catch last season by jumping up, reaching over a Pitt defender, catching the ball -- without touching the D-back -- and landing inbounds.
Fast fact
Rutgers had eight key players shelved before last season's midway point.
Outlook
A healthy -- and perhaps record-breaking -- season from McMahon may be the only hope Shea has of keeping his job. Tailback Jacki Crooks, last season's lone bright spot, is gone. The offensive line returns but one starter. The defense, which finished 105th nationally, returns but three starters. Shea is trying a switch to a 3-4 defense, but it may be way too little way too late for the coach.
Mike McMahon, QB, Sr.
McMahon, who will start for the fourth straight season, is back from shoulder surgery that short-circuited him after four games in 1999.
L.J. Smith, TE, Jr.
Smith may be Rutgers' best athlete since Marco Battaglia, but he'll also have to help a shaky line block.
Walter King, WR, Sr.
King returned from 1998 back surgery to catch 29 passes for 453 yards last season.
Key defensive players
Garrett Shea, CB, Jr.
The coach's son, Shea was a top prospect from northern California, but missed last season because of a shoulder and neck injury.
Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Paul Robeson, E, 1915-18
"Wish I had seen him play. Reading about him probably doesn't do him justice."
Brightest Moment: If you don't count Rutgers' win over Princeton in college football's first game (1869), Scarlet Knights fans must ashamedly point to a 1979 win over Tennessee, when the Vols were ranked No. 17.
Lowest Moment: Deciding on the lowest moment for the Rutgers program is like deciding on Dennis Miller's most obscure reference. How about if we just point out that Temple beat the Knights 56-28 last season and leave bad enough alone.
Wes Robertson, LB, Sr.
Often injured, the talented Robertson must stay healthy and stabilize a questionable linebacking corps.
Key newcomer
Torrance Heggie, DE, Jr.
Heggie, a standout at Ventura (Calif.) Community College, could help provide a rush.
Throwback player
Tom Petko. Petko is a nose tackle and a heavyweight for the Scarlet Knights' wrestling team.
21st century player
L.J. Smith. Athletically gifted, Smith turned a sure interception into a catch last season by jumping up, reaching over a Pitt defender, catching the ball -- without touching the D-back -- and landing inbounds.
Fast fact
Rutgers had eight key players shelved before last season's midway point.
Outlook
A healthy -- and perhaps record-breaking -- season from McMahon may be the only hope Shea has of keeping his job. Tailback Jacki Crooks, last season's lone bright spot, is gone. The offensive line returns but one starter. The defense, which finished 105th nationally, returns but three starters. Shea is trying a switch to a 3-4 defense, but it may be way too little way too late for the coach.
Mike McMahon, QB, Sr.
McMahon, who will start for the fourth straight season, is back from shoulder surgery that short-circuited him after four games in 1999.
L.J. Smith, TE, Jr.
Smith may be Rutgers' best athlete since Marco Battaglia, but he'll also have to help a shaky line block.
Walter King, WR, Sr.
King returned from 1998 back surgery to catch 29 passes for 453 yards last season.
Key defensive players
Garrett Shea, CB, Jr.
The coach's son, Shea was a top prospect from northern California, but missed last season because of a shoulder and neck injury.
Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Paul Robeson, E, 1915-18
"Wish I had seen him play. Reading about him probably doesn't do him justice."
Brightest Moment: If you don't count Rutgers' win over Princeton in college football's first game (1869), Scarlet Knights fans must ashamedly point to a 1979 win over Tennessee, when the Vols were ranked No. 17.
Lowest Moment: Deciding on the lowest moment for the Rutgers program is like deciding on Dennis Miller's most obscure reference. How about if we just point out that Temple beat the Knights 56-28 last season and leave bad enough alone.
Wes Robertson, LB, Sr.
Often injured, the talented Robertson must stay healthy and stabilize a questionable linebacking corps.
Key newcomer
Torrance Heggie, DE, Jr.
Heggie, a standout at Ventura (Calif.) Community College, could help provide a rush.
Throwback player
Tom Petko. Petko is a nose tackle and a heavyweight for the Scarlet Knights' wrestling team.
21st century player
L.J. Smith. Athletically gifted, Smith turned a sure interception into a catch last season by jumping up, reaching over a Pitt defender, catching the ball -- without touching the D-back -- and landing inbounds.
Fast fact
Rutgers had eight key players shelved before last season's midway point.
Outlook
A healthy -- and perhaps record-breaking -- season from McMahon may be the only hope Shea has of keeping his job. Tailback Jacki Crooks, last season's lone bright spot, is gone. The offensive line returns but one starter. The defense, which finished 105th nationally, returns but three starters. Shea is trying a switch to a 3-4 defense, but it may be way too little way too late for the coach.
Mike McMahon, QB, Sr.
McMahon, who will start for the fourth straight season, is back from shoulder surgery that short-circuited him after four games in 1999.
L.J. Smith, TE, Jr.
Smith may be Rutgers' best athlete since Marco Battaglia, but he'll also have to help a shaky line block.
Walter King, WR, Sr.
King returned from 1998 back surgery to catch 29 passes for 453 yards last season.
Key defensive players
Garrett Shea, CB, Jr.
The coach's son, Shea was a top prospect from northern California, but missed last season because of a shoulder and neck injury.
Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Paul Robeson, E, 1915-18
"Wish I had seen him play. Reading about him probably doesn't do him justice."
Brightest Moment: If you don't count Rutgers' win over Princeton in college football's first game (1869), Scarlet Knights fans must ashamedly point to a 1979 win over Tennessee, when the Vols were ranked No. 17.
Lowest Moment: Deciding on the lowest moment for the Rutgers program is like deciding on Dennis Miller's most obscure reference. How about if we just point out that Temple beat the Knights 56-28 last season and leave bad enough alone.
Wes Robertson, LB, Sr.
Often injured, the talented Robertson must stay healthy and stabilize a questionable linebacking corps.
Key newcomer
Torrance Heggie, DE, Jr.
Heggie, a standout at Ventura (Calif.) Community College, could help provide a rush.
Throwback player
Tom Petko. Petko is a nose tackle and a heavyweight for the Scarlet Knights' wrestling team.
21st century player
L.J. Smith. Athletically gifted, Smith turned a sure interception into a catch last season by jumping up, reaching over a Pitt defender, catching the ball -- without touching the D-back -- and landing inbounds.
Fast fact
Rutgers had eight key players shelved before last season's midway point.
Outlook
A healthy -- and perhaps record-breaking -- season from McMahon may be the only hope Shea has of keeping his job. Tailback Jacki Crooks, last season's lone bright spot, is gone. The offensive line returns but one starter. The defense, which finished 105th nationally, returns but three starters. Shea is trying a switch to a 3-4 defense, but it may be way too little way too late for the coach.
