For the second straight season, Rutgers has lost its best player on one side of the ball to a season-ending injury in September. Just like when receiver Janarion Grant went down in 2016, cornerback Blessuan Austin is finished.
Where Austin’s injury really hurts Rutgers is when an offense goes to three or four wide receivers. With Damon Hayes moving into a starting role, Rutgers turns to either walk-on Zane Campbell, true freshman Edwin Lopez and seldom-used junior college transfer Kobe Marfo as the No. 3 cornerback.
Especially quarterback Johnathan Lewis and wide receivers Bo Melton and Everett Wormley.