Senior QB and Rutgers all-everything record-holder Ryan Hart was benched in favor of freshman Mike Teel. Teel played well enough to win, and he shows more raw talent than Hart, but it was still a STRANGE decision, unless Hart did some things we haven't heard about it. Rutgers could have beaten this Syracuse team with Mother Theresa at quarterback, so it sure looks strange from this angle. Syracuse may be the worst offensive football team in major college football and they had better find a quarterback before next year, or I could see this program dropping to IAA within 3-5 years. Syracuse fumbled 10 times, lost 5 of them and was 0-14 on 3rd down until they hit one in the 4th quarter.

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Rutgers Conference: Big East
Name Jersey# Height Weight Speed Position

John Glass 76 604.8 300 5.00 OG: A quietly solid day for John, Jr. He is not an expolsive lineman and may never be, but he does nothing to hurt his team either. Doesn't look like a starter to me at the next level, but I guy who can fill a roster spot for several years. NEUTRAL

Clark Harris 81 606.0 250 4.80 TE: I have never seen Clark drop balls like he did today. NEGATIVE

Brian Leonard 23 602.0 230 4.75 FB: May be one of the most versatile offensive players in the country. Where do YOU guys see him going if he did declare early (which he shouldn't.) He is deadly on screens, and runs with power ALL THE TIME. POSITIVE.

Tres Moses 8 509.8 191 4.50 WR: This was one of Tres's best games that I have seen. Teel was in because they wanted to go deep a little more and Tres caught a 42-yard bomb in the first half for a TD and showed his value as a punt returned also. I had him for 4 catches for 66 yards, but I may have missed one or two in the second half. Troy Brown II. SLIGHTLY POSITIVE

Ryan Neill 91 603.0 260 4.78 DE: Had a sack but was not a wildman this afternoon. NEUTRAL

Ryan Hart 0.0 N/A QB: DNP!!

College: Syracuse Conference: Big East
Name Jersey# Height Weight Speed Position

Damien Rhodes 1 600.8 204 4.54 HB: I have never seen a back fumble 4 times in a single game, but I saw it today. They finally benched him briefly in the 3rd quarter, but he came back...they don't have much else to go to. NEGATIVE

Anthony Smith 20 600.0 182 4.60 S: This guys is really starting to climb my personal charts. I have never seen him have a bad game, and he seems to just keep on fighting to the bitter end. Had two picks, but should have had four. I had him for a sack and the PDs also, and about 4 solos. The guy can play at the next level! POSITIVE

Kellen Pruitt 41 603.7 226 4.72 LB: He was a contributor, but will never light anything up, and will not make it in camp unless he goes through some major transformation between now and April. NEGATIVE

James Wyche 90 604.5 260 4.80 DE: I don't care what others have to say negative about this guy anymore. HE IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER....PERIOD! I haven't been scouting for 22 years for nothing. He had at least 9-10 tackles, a sack a TFL, and was doubled A LOT, and had at least 3 QBHs. His motor is just fine, thank you. POSITIVE

Ryan LaCasse 94 602.7 260 4.85 DE: Half a scak and 7 tackles. Not as explosive today, but kept banging heads all afternoon. This is the kind of guy you love having on your team. May ride the bench in the NFL, but he will FIND a way to MAKE IT.

Others:

Still like this #60 Ramelle (sp?) Meekins for Rutgers. I had him for a sack and a FR, a TFL and about 4 tackles.

Does anybody think senior TE #85 Joel Kowaleski of Syracuse has a shot--if he can get and stay healthy?

From what I've heard, the move was strictly because Coach Schiano feels that Hart has taken the team as far as it can get and thinks Mike Teel (a much bigger recruit - perhaps one of the biggest that RU has had in recent memory) needs the opportunity to carry the team even further. I have to admit, I too was surprised to see Hart benched, especially since he has played very well this season (and had even put himself in position to be a late draft pick). Teel will apparently get the call again next week against UConn (he hasn't lost a game he's started since his Pop Warner days).

The stat sheet showed Ryan Neill with 5 tackles (including 2 TFL and a sack) and a FF.

I've been saying, Wyche is going to move himself into the 1st Round. Everybody just watch.

And the 1AA comment, that was a bit of exgartion (spl?) im guessing. Our offense may be horrible, but we have a top 25 defense. Also, we have recuirted 2 3-star QB's this year who have given a solid verbal.

That is a HUGE relief to hear, Josh. Patterson has got to go...and the sooner the better.

http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.a...=1&pr_key=37718
My bad, we have recuirted one 3-star guy, Andrew Robinson. Pro-Style QB with a 4.67 forty.

Is he a pocket passer?...or at least a decent roll-out passer?

Anyone have thoughts about what the benching of Hart does to his pro prospects? He was having a very good season and showed much better command of the offense and more skill in reading defenses before he got benched. Has he shown enough this year to earn a late draft pick or PFA signing, or did this just kill his chances at the NFL?

I think it will have little-to-no effect. He is what he is. Teel is what he is. The good scouts know that.

I don't believe this is for the season. I just think Rutgers did a great job of scouting Syracuse and set-up a great gameplan and just flat-out knew they would win/dominate Syracuse. So, im guessing they were thinking this a great chance to took a step towards the future, but I doubt they will be making the full leap anytime this year. But, never know.

Teel has already been named the starter for RU in their next game against UConn.