Stories from all 15 days of 2016 Spring Camp

By Greg Johnson

Twitter: @gregp_j

gjohnson@trentonian.com

Below are my stories from all 15 days of Rutgers' spring camp under first-year head coach Chris Ash, listed reverse chronologically:

Day 15 — Scarlet-White Spring Game:

As spring camp ends, quarterback uncertainty still looms for Rutgers

Day 14 — Wide Receivers:

Rutgers wide receivers eager to fill Leonte Carroo’s shoes

Day 13 — Safeties:

Hamilton native Saquan Hampton ascends depth chart at Rutgers

Day 12 — Chris Ash Week 4 Updates:

Chris Ash says Rutgers' QB competition will stretch into training camp

Day 11 — Running backs:

Rutgers RB Robert Martin: 'The sky's the limit' with spread offense

Day 10 — Chris Ash Week 3 Updates:

After 10 spring practices, Chris Ash says Rutgers' QB battle is 'really back to even'

Day 9 — Cornerbacks:

Rutgers CBs learn new system, press coverage under youthful Aaron Henry

Day 8 — Tight ends:

Rutgers' tight ends prep for versatility in spread offense

Day 7 — Chris Ash Week 2 Updates:

Rutgers' Chris Ash on QB Chris Laviano: 'He's probably just a few steps ahead of the other guys'

Day 6 — Defensive line:

Stellar offseason continues for Rutgers DT Sebastian Joseph during spring ball

Day 5 — Offensive line:

Rutgers o-lineman Tariq Cole on new spread offense: 'It's a lot easier'

Day 4 — Chris Ash Week 1 Updates:

Rutgers Spring Practice 4: Chris Ash says D-line is 'probably right now the strength of our football team'

Day 3 — Linebackers:

Rutgers linebackers compete in spring for three open starting jobs

Day 2 — Quarterbacks:

With new-look offense, quarterback competition gets underway in Rutgers spring camp

Day 1 — Chris Ash Opening Remarks:

Rutgers commences 2016 spring practice under new head coach Chris Ash

2016 Spring Camp Practice 14: Senior WRs, assistant coach speak on eve of Scarlet-White game

By Greg Johnson

Twitter: @gregp_j

gjohnson@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Rutgers' 14 spring practices are in the books. All that remains in camp is the Scarlet-White spring game Saturday at 7 p.m. at High Point Solutions Stadium.

The media met with members of the wide receiver unit Friday at HPSS, where Rutgers conducted practice and a scripted walk-through for Saturday. Below is post-practice video with seniors Andre Patton and Vance Matthews as well as assistant Jafar Williams.

Wide receivers coach Jafar Williams:

Wide receiver Andre Patton:

Wide receiver Vance Matthews:

2016 Spring Camp Practice 7 Quick Observations: Hayden Rettig takes bulk of team reps during read-option drills

By Greg Johnson

Twitter: @gregp_j

gjohnson@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Officially two weeks into camp, Rutgers is now just a little more than two weeks out from the school's first Scarlet-White spring game in the Chris Ash Era.

Each Thursday, reporters are permitted to observe the first hour of practice. Here are some quick takes on what transpired during Rutgers' third open session:

                         (Greg Johnson / Trentonian Photo)

• Rutgers head wrestling coach Scott Goodale visited practice. He spoke to the team following Ash's opening remarks about 10 minutes in (photo above). More on his impact when Ash speaks with us shortly after noon in the Hale Center.

• Once again, at least a few dozen recruits from the 2017 and 2018 high school classes were in attendance. It's become a common theme under the Ash regime as the program looks to elevate its Garden State recruiting.

• During practice availability from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Rutgers ran through seven different periods of workouts. My eyes gravitated mostly toward the quarterbacks:

-- Three pairs of QBs played catch while stutter stepping in the pocket before releasing. The pairs were Chris Laviano/Troy Anthony, Jack Clements/Michael Dare, Gio Rescigno/Hayden Rettig.

-- Team drills ensued shortly after. The QBs tossed an array of endzone routes from shotgun to WRs/TEs at both ends of the Bubble. Laviano/Rettig took the first reps as a pair, each throwing to one receiver off to the left/right. Rescigno/Dare followed them. Janarion Grant continues to stand out as one of Rutgers' more sure-handed receivers who will likely be heavily featured in this offense as a senior. Andre Patton, Dontae Owens, Nick Arcidiacono, Charles Scarff, Rashad Blunt and John Tsimis were among other receivers seeing plenty of action.

-- The most intriguing portion of availability came at 10:22. Rutgers transitioned into read-option team drills with both offensive and defensive linemen. Clapping his hands from the gun Ohio State-style, Rettig received all of the quarterbacks reps (at least a dozen) before media left at 10:30. We'll have Ash's take on that soon. Josh Hicks, Robert Martin and Justin Goodwin all took reps at running back, though Hicks receiver the most. As far as Rettig goes, Laviano took the first-team reps during Rutgers' first scrimmage last Saturday, so until we hear Ash suggest any separation between the two, it's a rotation at QB. But as far as competition at that position goes, both appear to be ahead of Rescigno, whom offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer said had some mechanical issues to clean up on March 26.

2016 Spring Camp Practice 5: O-linemen adjust to speed, simplicity of spread offense

By Greg Johnson

Twitter: @gregp_j

gjohnson@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Rutgers conducted its fifth practice and first scrimmage of spring Saturday at the Bubble. Afterward, offensive line coach A.J. Blazek and prominent members of the unit caught up with the media.

Below is video of Blazek's session, as well as clips from The Trentonian's interviews with linemen Tariq Cole and Dorian Miller, which break down the program's shift from its traditional pro-style offense to a spread system this upcoming season.

Click here to read my full story on the role of Rutgers' linemen in the spread offense.

Offensive line coach A.J. Blazek:

Left tackle Tariq Cole:

  

Left guard Dorian Miller: