Maryland enters a pivotal game in the 2024 season this upcoming weekend when they host Rutgers for a 6 PM kickoff in a game that could determine bowl eligibility for both teams. Rutgers enters Saturday at 5-4 overall with the Terps eyeing a pair of upcoming home games as a chance to secure the needed six wins, and they’ll do so as slight favorites inside SECU Stadium. But how do the Terps stack up? We take a look at five names to know from Rutgers football:
RB Kyle Monangai: this one is the one to watch this week after the star running back was ruled out for Saturday’s win vs. Minnesota. The junior has been battling through injuries over the last month and left during the second half of the USC game as he works to get back to full strength. Monangai has been the stabilizing force for the Scarlet Knights this season, accounting for over 28% of their total yards of offense while one of two backs in the Big Ten to average 100+ yards on the ground per game (116.4). If Monangai can’t go, the Scarlet Knights will turn to true freshman Antwan Raymond for his second career start as he’s rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns on 65 carries.
QB Athan Kaliakmanis: the Minnesota transfer was named the starter and team captain during spring ball and the offense has been under his control since. Kaliakmanis is coming off an emotional win at home over his former team, throwing for 240 yards and three touchdowns to one interception on 17-of-33 passing. He’s had his moments in 2024, including a career-high 27 completions and 300-yard performance at USC to become the first Rutgers QB to eclipse 300 passing yards since 2022. Still, Kaliakmanis enters Saturday with the second-lowest completion percentage (53.8%) among any Big Ten quarterback.
WR Dymere Miller: the senior wideout and Monmouth transfer leads the team in receptions (42), receiving yards (538) and touchdowns (3) as he’s become the clear threat in the Scarlet Knights’ passing attack. Miller posted 131 yards on 11 catches in the road loss vs. USC, his lone 100-yard receiving game of the season, to become the first Rutgers player to record double-digit catches in a game since Mohamed Sanu did so in 2011. Miller followed it up with his first multi-touchdown game of the season with a pair of touchdowns and 58 yards on five catches vs. Minnesota, continuing his streak of at least two catches in each game this season.
LB Dariel Djabome: the Canadian linebacker has stepped up for a unit that is without star LB Mohamed Toure, leading the defense in total tackles (82) and solo (38) and is one of two players with five TFLs in 2024. A big part of that came against Minnesota after finishing with a season-high 11 solo tackles and three tackle for loss, while registering his first sack of the season. He led the team in tackles vs. Washington (12) and Howard (14), making his first college start against the Bison, while he was one of two players to record a fumble recovery in the win vs. Virginia Tech.
LB Tyreem Powell: the man who came up with the game-changing play on Saturday, Powell’s fourth-quarter tackle that forced a fumble inside the Gopher ten-yard line proved to be the difference after the turnover set the Rutgers’ offense up with the game-sealing touchdown. It wasn’t the first time Powell’s imprint has been felt on defense after finishing tied with a team-high six tackles vs. UCLA, while adding another six tackles vs. UCLA. Powell, who was voted team captain, is a Comeback Player of the Year candidate after suffering a season-ending injury in 2023 that held him out for the first two games of 2024. He sits fifth on the team in total tackles (34) and fourth in sacks (3).
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