Rutgers running back Jawan Jamison has been a workhorse in the Scarlet Knights' backfield, leading the Big East in yards per game (110.8) and attempts (158). The sophomore has carried the ball at least 25 times in each of the last four contests, and while his durability has never been questioned - the Scarlet Knights' Big East title hopes would take a huge hit if he missed time due to injury.
Enter Savon Huggins, who says he finally "100 percent" after missing two games with a leg injury and only getting seven carries in the win over Syracuse last week. Huggins made a point this week to explain how this recovery has been different from last season, when his performance was limited due to nagging injuries.
"This time around I'm stronger mentally. I'm in a different state of mind and I know it's part of the game," Huggins told the New Jersey Star-Ledger. "Injuries happen to everyone. You've just got to be able to overcome them and don't let them get you down and move forward.
"I feel like at this time last year if this had happened I might still be out. This year I was determined to miss as little time as possible and to do everything I needed to do to get back."
The Scarlet Knights would not be 6-0 without Jamison in the backfield. Sophomore quarterback Gary Nova has shown tremendous improvement from last season, and benefited from the physically imposing trio of Mark Harrison (6-3, 230 pounds), Tim Wright (6-4, 220 pounds), and Brandon Coleman (6-6, 220 pounds) at wide receiver. If Knights coach Kyle Flood had his way, there would be a more even split of snaps between Jamison and Huggins - allowing both players to stay fresh and giving the offense a productive ground attack late into the fourth quarter.
"I think Savon's role will grow every week as we get toward the end of the season," Flood said. "I think he's done a good job with what we've given him so far. We're very pleased.
"There's no doubt in our mind when he's in the game he can make plays for us."
Rutgers' defense has already proven itself more than worthy of Big East accolades, leading the conference and ranking third nationally in scoring defense (11.5 yards per game) behind Alabama and Notre Dame.
Not bad company, huh?
Khaseem Greene has been giving All-American caliber play at linebacker, and anchors a unit that can suffocate opponents. What Flood needs from the offense is the ability to move the chains and protect a lead in the fourth quarter. Getting Huggins and Jamison rolling offensively will take pressure off Nova and allow the Scarlet Knights to dictate the pace of the game.
Rutgers came one game away from earning a share of the program's first Big East title, stumbling in the season finale against Connecticut. You can be that finishing strong is of the utmost importance in Piscataway this fall.
A win Saturday at Temple would give the Scarlet Knights a 4-0 start in league play with three Big East games left. Getting Huggins back is a big step to reloading for that tough finale - Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Louisville in 12 days - that will likely determine the Big East champion.
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