PISCATAWAY – Before Collin Ferrell met Rutgers coach Greg Schiano and defensive coordinator Joe Harasimiak, before he knew the Scarlet Knights were hiring a defensive line coach, he talked about the players he currently coaches. I already understood that very well.
About a year ago, when he was Kent State's defensive line coach, Ferrell studied a defense similar to the one the Golden Flashes were employing.
Rutgers was among them.
What Ferrell saw on tape impressed him.
“We were researching different things,” Ferrell said. “In fact, I reached out last year and asked questions about why they would do this, why they would do that, and then you just watch the kids jump out of the tape. At that point, what will happen in the future? I don't know. You're just pulling out plays to show the current players.”
This background knowledge means Ferrell, who was hired in January to replace Marquise Watson, will have to replace two starters as Watson has moved to an off-field role, but will need to bring back solid talent and depth. He helped jump into a new role leading the Scarlet Knights' D-line, a unit that has helped him jump into a new role leading the Scarlet Knights' D-line, a unit that could be poised to be a force again in 2024.
However, there is still room for improvement in the pass rush. Rutgers had 21 sacks last season, second-to-last in the Big Ten.
“We need to improve on what we did last year,” Schiano said. “We didn't play to our full potential last year. We weren't up to it. We need to be a better pass rusher with three and four-man rushes. We don't have to be blitzing all the time. ” creates pressure. ”
Rutgers football returns talent on defensive line including Aaron Lewis, Wesley Bailey
Defensive ends Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey will headline the group, but Rutgers also returns defensive tackles Kyontae Hamilton, Rene Konga and Zaire Ungoy. The Scarlet Knights also have Florida transfer Malcolm Ray as a candidate to fill one of Intelligent's starting spots as Rutgers looks to replace Mayan Ahanotu and Isaiah Ayton.
“We have talent, we have some depth, and we need to coach them thoroughly,” Schiano said. “The players have to work hard, so we'll have a chance to play with a lot of players and be able to rotate and play in waves as we like.”
Ferrell is a Hamilton native who worked at Hun School and Steinert High School earlier in his coaching career, and the opportunity to coach all these players was appealing.
“I saw A Lu, I saw Kyontae, I saw Renee, I saw Wes,” said Ferrell, who coaches the line with defensive ends coach Julian Campeni, who also took over in January. . “Again, when you talk about future decisions, it gives you an opportunity to coach these guys. I think the coach was talking about reps the other day. They've been playing a lot of Big Ten snaps.”
Rutgers football experience pays off for DT Kyontae Hamilton
Hamilton, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 295 pounds, is one of those players who has steadily improved. Entering his fourth year, Hamilton plays both defensive end and defensive tackle and started five of 13 games last season.
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Hamilton finished 2023 with 28 tackles and one sack.
After three full seasons, and another offseason focused solely on football after choosing not to wrestle at Rutgers, Hamilton is in a good position for next season.
“I think it's definitely getting better,” Hamilton said. “I think I can definitely be more explosive this year.'' I know the game a lot better, and with the experience I have, I can definitely get better.”
Rutgers has talent and depth at the position, and Ferrell especially enjoys the opportunity to coach this unit close to home.
“It was amazing,” Hamilton said. “It's exciting to be back home. It's a chance to come back here and coach someone like Coach Schiano and a coach in the Big Ten. It's a chance to come back home and do that. It's 40 minutes away from where I went to high school. It's the distance.'' My parents live 40 minutes away from school. My aunt who lives in New Brunswick is currently living with me. It was amazing. ”
