The 2023 Rutgers football team remains undefeated through week three of the season. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 35-16. This 2023 Rutgers Football team is officially 3-0 after a much-needed win this weekend. After winning three in a row, their opponents are about to get more difficult. Here is a look back at the win and which 2023 Rutgers football player stood out the most.
Solid Defense
It was tested a little more today, but the 2023 Rutgers football team has a strong defense. In their third consecutive game, the Scarlet Knights defense had at least one interception. It was just one, but it was by junior defensive back Flip Dixon. It came in the second quarter. Unfortunately, the Rutgers offense ended up punting the ball. In addition to the interception, defensive lineman Wesley Bailey recovered a fumble. Rutgers did capitalize on that fumble and score a touchdown.
The defense as a whole ended the game with four sacks, six tackles for loss, and two pass deflections, according to ESPN. One thing this team can work on moving forward is stopping the opposing team’s quarterback from running the ball for a positive gain. There were moments when the team was able to stop Virginia Tech’s quarterback, Kyron Jones, but this is still something to work on in order to prevent opponents from staying on the field.
Virginia Tech WR Stephen Gosnell (12) – Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media
Conservative Offense
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights controlled the game for the most part. The passing game did feel absent, though. Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt ended the game with seven completions out of 16 attempts for 46 yards, according to ESPN. Wimsatt did have a strong pass to senior wide receiver Christian Dremel for a touchdown as well. Wimsatt did very well with rushing the ball, too. He ended up with 87 yards and one big touchdown, which he ran for 34 yards to achieve.
Overall, the run game was solid, but with that, it did get too conservative. In the second half, the Scarlet Knights were trying to play the clock so much that Virginia Tech started creeping up on them. The Hokies scored 13 points in the second half, and it is a good thing the Scarlet Knights were able to get it together before the game ended up going the other way. According to ESPN, Rutgers rushed the ball for 256 yards and four touchdowns. Running the ball is the strength of this 2023 Rutgers football team, they just need to be careful with it, especially with how many hits Wimsatt is taking because of it.
Rutgers HC Greg Schiano and RB Kyle Monangai (23) – Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Photo
Kyle Monangai is a Stud
There was one player who put this team on his shoulders in the week three matchup against Virginia Tech. That player is Junior running back Kyle Monangai. He has been having a great season for this 2023 Rutgers football team, but he gave it his all this weekend. By the end of the game, Monangai had 16 carries for 143 yards and three touchdowns, according to ESPN. One of his touchdowns was from a 55-yard run, his longest rush for a touchdown in his career.
In those moments when it looked as though the Scarlet Knights were playing too conservatively, Monangai pushed them to the first down and more. He helped the offense on the field and had a great game. He will be a player to continue to watch for this 2023 Rutgers football team.
Rutgers QB Gavin Wimsatt (2) – Brent Skeen/USA TODAY Sports
2023 Rutgers Football Win: What’s Next
It will not be easy for the Scarlet Knights to move forward in the season. After three consecutive home games, Rutgers will head to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines. This is no easy task, even if this 2023 Rutgers football team is 3-0. The Rutgers defense will need to play how fans know they can, and the offense will need to get their momentum going early as they look to go 4-0. The game will be this Saturday, September 23rd at Noon Eastern.
