Rutgers football receives All-Big Ten honors, distinctions for 13 players
Select players on the Rutgers football team's defense, special teams and offense received All-Big Ten distinctions for their spectacular play in the 2023 season.
A total of 13 Scarlet Knights were honored by both conference head coaches and the media, while two Rutgers players received Second Team and Third Team honors, respectively.
Defense and Special Teams
Sophomore placekicker Jai Patel was given Third Team All-Big Ten honors for his impressive first year as the team's first-string kicker. Patel successfully booted in 14 of his 16 field goal attempts while going 29-for-30 on his PAT attempts. Patel also received an Honorable Mention from the coaches.
Junior defensive lineman Aaron Lewis received an Honorable Mention from the coaches and the media. Lewis ended the regular season seventh in total tackles with 48 and added on three sacks and five tackles for loss, finishing in the top three of both categories. Lewis led his team with eight quarterback hits.
Junior defensive back Max Melton received an Honorable Mention from the coaches and the media. He led the Knights with three interceptions while tacking on six pass breakups, which put him in a tie for second-most on the team.
Senior linebacker Mohamed Toure's impressive season earned him an Honorable Mention from the coaches and the media. Toure led his team with 7.5 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks, and he was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year award.
Senior defensive lineman Mayan Ahanotu, junior defensive back Flip Dixon, junior defensive back Robert Longerbeam and senior linebacker Deion Jennings all received an Honorable Mention from the media.
Ahanaotu won the team's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Dixon stands at the third spot with 70 total tackles, while Longerbeam recorded a team-leading 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Jennings led Rutgers' defense with 86 total tackles.
Offense
Junior running back Kyle Monangai was awarded Second Team All-Big Ten Honors by both the coaches and the media for his 1,000-yard season. Monangai was also the Big Ten's regular-season rushing yards leader.
Junior offensive lineman Hollin Pierce earned an Honorable Mention from both the coaches and the media for leading the offensive line in his 12 games started at left tackle. Junior offensive linemen Bryan Felter and Gus Zilinksas received Honorable Mentions from the media.
Senior tight end Johnny Langan received an Honorable Mention from the media for his leadership in his last season with the Knights. Langan brought in 14 receptions for 121 yards before suffering a season-ending injury against Penn State.
These players will look to help lead Rutgers to victory on and off the field when they face off against Miami in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on December 28.
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