For the first time since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, there will be a quarterback competition featuring two experienced players with plenty of Power Five starting experience.
The offseason addition of Eysan Karaikmanis, who started every regular season game for Minnesota last year, certainly changed the look and feel of Rutgers' quarterback room. With incumbent starter Gavin Wimsatt returning from a year in which Rutgers won a bowl game, there is a level of depth and competition in the program that hasn't existed in a long time.
Of the four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, Wimsatt and Ajani Shepard spent last season at Rutgers with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocka.
“For both of them, this is their second year in the system, so studying themselves throughout the offseason gives them a deeper understanding,” head coach Greg Schiano told reporters Saturday. You can look forward to it,” he said.
“But yeah, there's some healthy competition going on indoors. I think there's more depth, so I'll just let it play.”
Rutgers has had inconsistent play at quarterback for most of the past decade, and the hope is that Karaikmanis or Wimsatt will step up and effectively manage the offense this offseason.
Shepard is a promising prospect, as is three-star QB AJ Soulace, who arrived on campus in January, but the QB competition will likely favor the most experienced player.
Wimsatt and Karaikmanis both have a lot of experience starting in the Big Ten, which is perhaps what is needed on this veteran roster.
“Well, I'm not too surprised because I've seen Ethan do well in Big Ten games. I think he's doing well, but I'm not surprised,” Schiano said.
“I had only seen (him) play in high school, and yes, I was pleasantly surprised by him. I mean, AJ is a really good young quarterback candidate. I'm very excited for him. So, like I said, I'm encouraged. Starting with Gavin and going all the way through Ajani who was here. It's a good room. Coach Ciarrokka. I think they had good chemistry. They do a really good job of blending them. And yes, there's competition. But you always see them helping each other out. I mean, that's what they do. It's about family.”
