Rutgers coach Chris Ash has taken steps to shore up a defense that ranked 116th nationally in points allowed (37.5) and 97th nationally in total defense (450.7 yards allowed-per-game) by becoming a bit more multiple and increasing the role of safeties coach Bill Busch (who was promoted to co-defensive coordinator) this offseason.
But Ash knows as well as anyone else that any strides his defense makes will be predicated on how much improvement the players on his two-deep show.
The fifth-year senior emerged as a starter last year, starting the final eight games at defensive end.