Several Rutgers football players will have a new environment this 2024 season, whether it's on the football field or not.
Most notable are the names of four people who have retired from football. Flynn Appleby, a solid punter for Rutgers who averaged about 40 yards per punt last season, will not be returning to the team. Additionally, offensive linemen Jacob Allen, Joe DeCroce, and Jake Eldridge all retired from football for medical reasons.
The group's biggest loss is Applebee's. With his departure, Rutgers will lose a quality punter. Rutgers currently has only one punter, Michael Hartshorne, who did not play in the game last year. Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano is currently trying to track down the new punter, including searching for Appleby in his native Australia.
The biggest loss for the O-Line group was potential and good long snapper play. Jake Eldridge was the only player in this group to appear in a game, taking extended snaps in nine games last season without any noticeable damage. Allen and DeCroce, both sophomores, did not appear on the field last season but were highly valued. Knee injuries got in the way of what was supposed to be a very solid career for both.
Other notable changes to the Knights' roster are Vilay Nakun Jr. and Jesse Offley, who are both moving from wide receiver to defensive back. Nakun did not play in a game as a freshman, and Ofrie had two receptions last season. Both need to be quality depth players for the defense.
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