Rutgers Football Fires Co-Defensive Coordinators, Defensive Line Coach

Key Highlights

• Together, I am confident they will lead our defense to new heights.
• We are thrilled to welcome them both back to New Jersey. Things did not go according to expectations for the Scarlet Knights’ defense, with Rutgers falling to 115th in scoring defense, allowing 31.83 points per game.
• In total defense, the Knights ranked 126th nationally, allowing a whopping 432.8 yards per game, with Oregon producing a mind-blowing 750 yards of offense against Rutgers. Against the run, the Scarlet Knights were particularly bad, ranking 129th in the country by allowing an FBS-worst 6.79 yards per carry and sixth-worst 209.9 rushing yards per game.
• In conference play, Rutgers allowed 7.9 yards per play, which was the highest rate since 2000 and presumably one of the worst rates in Big Ten history. Although the defense seemed to show some improvement in wins over Purdue and Maryland, and even in a loss to Ohio State, the Scarlet Knights gave up over 500 yards to Penn State, including 300 rushing yards.
• Rutgers allowed a 53-yard pass play for a touchdown and several 50-plus yard runs to both Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton in a heartbreaking 40-36 loss to end the season. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSmith was in his third stint at Rutgers, having served as the special teams coordinator from 2009-2011, coaching various defensive position groups, before moving to defensive coordinator in 2012.