JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Rutgers will play the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest without its best offensive playmakers.
Wide receiver Bo Melton, running back Isaih Pacheco and linebacker Tyshon Fogg and Olakunle Fatukasi are among the star Rutgers players who won’t play.
Melton last month accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl, which will be played Feb. 5 in Mobile, Ala. The senior wideout, who ranks sixth in Rutgers history with 164 receptions and 10th with 2,011 receiving yards, led the team this season in every major receiving statistical category (55 receptions, 618 yards, 3 touchdowns).
Isaiah Washington, a third-year sophomore from Jacksonville, is expected to start opposite senior Shameen Jones while third-year sophomore Josh Youngblood, a Tampa, Fla., native, will likely see his significant action this season.
Pacheco’s loss will be equally impactful to an offense that struggled late in the season. The senior, who is playing in two collegiate all-star games (Hula Bowl and East-West Shine Bowl) in early 2022, led the Scarlet Knights with 647 rushing yards and five touchdowns this season.
His top backup, Kyle Monangai, is not available due to injury. Monangai rushed for 235 yards and four touchdowns this season. Aaron Young, who rushed for 172 yards and four touchdowns on 49 carries, is expected to start while Jamier Wright-Collins, Parker Day and Nyjon Freeman are expected to serve as the backups.
Rutgers’ linebacker corps will be without at least its two best tacklers in Fogg and Fatukasi. Drew Singleton and Tyreem Powell will start for the Gator Bowl, which kicks off at 11 a.m. Eastern.
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Keith Sargeant may be reached at [email protected].
