Rutgers football tracker: Transfer portal, Schiano contract, Pinstripe Bowl news

The weeks leading up to the Pinstripe Bowl have been hectic for Rutgers football.

The Scarlet Knights will face Miami at Yankee Stadium Dec. 28 and players during the lead up have announced decisions about their futures − whether that's remaining with the team if they have eligibility remaining, pursuing the NFL, or heading toward the transfer portal.

And Rutgers could add some portal additions, as well.

All of that comes with the early signing period beginning Dec. 20, when the Scarlet Knights will officially sign their 2024 class.

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Follow along here for all the offseason news, updates and analysis about Rutgers.

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Dec. 17: Safety Flip Dixon returning in 2024

Yet another defensive starter is returning to Rutgers next season.

Safety Flip Dixon announced that he's returning in 2024, the latest impact player to give it one more season in a Scarlet Knights uniform.

Dixon became an integral piece of the defense after transferring from Minnesota, racking up 70 tackles (third on the team) with five pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Dec. 17: Running back Aaron Young enters transfer portal

Rutgers running back Aaron Young has entered his name into the transfer portal, according to Rivals.

Young this season had 16 carries for 94 yards and one touchdown.

The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Young has battled injuries the last couple years. He got hurt in the Gator Bowl back in 2021, and that limited him to just four games last season.

In five seasons with Rutgers, Young played in 47 games. He had 586 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. A versatile running back, Young also caught 54 passes for 340 yards and four TDs.

Dec. 14: Schiano contract extended

Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the Scarlet Knights through 2030.

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Dec. 11: Running back Kyle Monangai to return to Rutgers football for 2024 season

The Big Ten's leading rusher is returning to the Scarlet Knights for one more season.

Kyle Monangai, who leads the conference with 1,099 rushing yards, will come back in 2024 for his final year of eligibility.

"I love my teammates and believe we are just scratching the surface of what we can accomplish," Monangai wrote in a message posted on social media.

The Don Bosco product this season became Rutgers' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2012, using his tough, physical, downhill running style to wear down defense and pick up chunks of yardage.

Monangai, who has seven touchdowns this season, is averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

It's been a stellar season for the 5-foot-9, 210-pound Monangai, who said after the season he'd sit down with Greg Schiano and his family to decide on his future, whether that meant pursuing the NFL now or coming back to the Scarlet Knights.

Now he's decided and Rutgers is getting a major piece of its offense back.

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Dec. 10: LB Mohamed Toure announces return for Rutgers as Scarlet Knights get another major contributor back

Rutgers can run it back in '24.

Mohamed Toure, who had 85 tackles (7½ for loss) with 3½ sacks announced that he's returning for another season with the Scarlet Knights.

With that, Rutgers is getting one of its biggest defensive contributors back, joining linebacker Tyreem Powell and defensive ends Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey.

Toure this season came back from a torn ACL and had a stellar season.

Dec. 6: DE Wesley Bailey returning for senior season

Another impact defensive player is coming back to Rutgers for another season.

Defensive end Wesley Bailey announced he's coming back in 2024, joining defensive end Aaron Lewis and linebacker Tyreem Powell as three major contributors the Scarlet Knights will have returning.

In three seasons with Rutgers, Bailey has 60 tackles (13 for loss) with 7½ sacks.

Dec. 4: CB Max Melton to declare for NFL Draft

Max Melton has made up his mind.

He's headed to the NFL.

The Rutgers cornerback announced his decision on social media, saying "it's time for me to begin a new chapter."

"Rutgers nation, the entire Melton family is forever grateful for the unconditional love and support you have shown us," Melton wrote in his message. "Through thick and thin, you've always had our backs."

Melton finishes his time at Rutgers having played 43 games with a total of 114 tackles (nine for loss) with eight interceptions, four of which came this season.

Melton said in the spring that he wanted to come back for another season because he felt like he had unfinished business with Rutgers.

Now his time in a Scarlet Knights uniform has come to an end as he will forego his final year of eligibility.

Dec. 4: OL Mike Ciaffoni to enter transfer portal

Rutgers offensive lineman Mike Ciaffoni is transferring from Rutgers, according to On3.

Ciaffoni played in 11 games this season and played in all 12 games last season at right guard.

He previously spent one season at Colorado State and Boston College.

Dec. 4: Aaron Lewis to return to Rutgers football for final year of eligiblity

Another key piece of Rutgers' defense is coming back for one more season.

Defensive end Aaron Lewis told ESPN that he plays to return year for his final season of eligibility, giving the Scarlet Knights one of the biggest defensive weapons for 2024.

Lewis this season has 48 tackles (five for loss) with three sacks.

More: Why Aaron Lewis wanted to return to Rutgers for one more season and delay NFL future

Dec. 2: Offensive lineman Hollin Pierce announces return for another season

One day after Rutgers' linebacker corps got some good news with Tyreem Powell's announcement that he'll be back for another season, the offensive line enjoyed similar news.

Hollin Pierce, who started all 12 games this season at left tackle, announced that he will return for his senior season, his final season of eligibility.

The 6-foot-8, 345-pound Pierce has NFL potential, but that potential will wait for another year.

Dec. 1: Linebacker Tyreem Powell announces he's returning for another season

Linebacker Tyreem Powell announced on social media that he's returning to the Scarlet Knights for his final season of eligibility.

Powell had the option of leaving for the NFL, but the Vineland native has decided to postpone thar option.

Powell was having a stellar season before missing the final four games of the regular season with an injury. He had 53 tackles (two for loss) with two sacks in eight games.

The fact that Powell is returning is huge for the defense.

Nov. 30: Rashad Rochelle to transfer from Rutgers

After two years with the Scarlet Knights, wide receiver Rashad Rochelle has announced that he plans to enter the transfer portal.

Rashad spent most of this season as a returner.

As a true freshman last season, Rochelle rushed for 109 yards on 27 carries with one touchdown. He spent time at running back after injuries thinned depth at the position.

Nov. 29: Rutgers offers Ivy League transfers Jalen Travis, Tyler Neville

The Scarlet Knights have extended offers out to Princeton OL transfer Jalen Travis and Harvard TE transfer Tyler Neville.

The 6-foot-4, 248-pound Neville has also received offers from Houston, TCU, South Carolina, Boston College and Virginia, among others.

A three-year starter with the Crimson, Neville caught 62 passes for 698 yards and eight touchdowns.

The 6-foot-9, 315-pound has received recent offers from South Carolina, Houston, Duke, Kansas and Iowa State.

Nov. 29: Quarterback Evan Simon announces intent to transfer from Rutgers football

Evan Simon's time with Rutgers football has come to end.

Simon announced that he intends to transfer from the Scarlet Knights with two years of eligibility remaining.

The Pennsylvania native was the backup to Gavin Wimsatt this season, but only saw time against Wisconsin (he was 2-of-3 passing for 30 yards with one touchdown).

Coach Greg Schiano named Wimsatt the starting quarterback ahead of training camp.

Simon played in nine games and started two during the 2022 season, going 79-of-137 for a team-leading 777 passing yards.

Simon's departure means Rutgers currently has two scholarship QBs on the roster with Wimsatt and true freshman Ajani Sheppard. The Scarlet Knights will add another when incoming freshman AJ Surace signs in December.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football tracker: Transfer portal, recruiting news, bowl game updates