Six Rutgers football freshmen to watch in 2023 and beyond
Greg Schiano often talks about Rutgers football being a developmental program.
The idea is to bring in young players who might not be ready to play right away, then develop their strength and conditioning and what they do on the football field.
Some Big Ten programs bring in ample players ready to play right away, but the Scarlet Knights, right now, are not one. It takes time for their players to grow and mature, and if that "pipeline" continues, there will be a group of developed players ready to step in as older players depart school or head to the NFL.
Still, Rutgers has added freshmen in recent seasons who have the ability to contribute right away, and that's true of several in its 2023 recruiting class.
As training camp begins on Thursday, here's a look at six freshmen to watch this season and beyond:
Ajani Sheppard, QB
Gavin Wimsatt is Rutgers’ QB1 and Evan Simon his backup, but as we’ve seen in the past, it’s not out of the question that the Scarlet Knights could need to go to their third quarterback if injuries occur. That would open up chances for Sheppard, a product of Iona Prep in New York. A dual-threat QB, Sheppard impressed Schiano in the spring with how quickly he was learning and improving.
Dylan Braithwaite, WR
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Braithwaite, who was the No. 7-ranked recruit in New York for the 2023 class per the 247Sports Composite, flashed his elite speed in the spring. He’s stepped into a wide receiver room that lost production from last season, but added transfers Jaquae Jackson and Naseim Brantley to along with returners Chris Long, Isaiah Washington, Christian Dremel and others. Still, there could be a chance for Braithwaite, who has a similar frame and skillset to Aron Cruickshank as a slot receiver, to see some time as a freshman.
Ian Strong, WR
The expectation was that the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Strong would start out as a defensive back, but he was moved to wide receiver in the spring. Strong, who 247Sports ranked as the top prospect in New York for the 2023 class, responded with an impressive showing. Strong is another freshman receiver who has a chance to carve out a role right away because of his elite size and athleticism.
Famah Toure, WR
Toure wasn’t an early enrollee, so he didn’t have the chance to make an impression in the spring. But Toure, the younger brother of current Rutgers linebacker Mohamed Toure, will get that chance in training camp. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Toure boasts ample potential with his size and a big catch radius. He’ll get a chance to compete for time as a true freshman.
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Ja’shon Benjamin, RB
A Pahokee, Florida native, Benjamin is part of a deep running back room, so whether he gets many chances right away remains to be seen. But Benjamin showed in the spring that he certainly has a chance to be a big part of the offense – whether that happens now or in the future. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Benjamin, who had 11 carries for 43 yards in the spring game, runs with elite toughness and physicality.
Bo Mascoe, CB
Mascoe, a product of Osceola High School in Florida, had a solid spring that was capped off by a good showing in the spring game – he finished with four tackles and one interception. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Mascoe, who has a similar frame as Robert Longerbeam, could become a contributor right away in the secondary if he continues to make a good impression in camp.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football: 6 freshmen to watch in 2023 and beyond
