Senior Features: Cioffi, Denman, Matthews
Sep 20 | Football
Anthony Cioffi: A Nose for the Ball
By Bradly Derechailo
It was a play Rutgers football safety Anthony Cioffi believes kick-started his confidence as well as his collegiate career.
During his freshman season in 2013 against Louisville, the Scarlet Knights trailed the then-No. 8 Cardinals, 17-7, early in the fourth quarter. Signal caller Teddy Bridgewater, who is currently a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, had Louisville driving into RU territory and threatening to put the game out of reach.
As Bridgewater dropped back to pass, Cioffi saw an opportunity. The Springfield, New Jersey, native blitzed off the left edge and collided with Louisville's quarterback, forcing Bridgewater to fumble the ball that was recovered by Rutgers.
While the Cardinals hung on for the victory, the play proved to Cioffi, and the rest of the program, that he was capable of making big-time plays in big-time situations.
"That was something that really brought me out of my shell," said Cioffi of the play. "On that play, I was running through the plays in my head. I was shuffling between several assignments on the play, and then just decided to blitz off the edge and went with it. It was the right call and it worked."
Fast forward to 2016 and it's safe to say a lot has worked for Cioffi during his career in Piscataway. The senior has seven career interceptions, including one in the Scarlet Knights' season opener at Washington. Cioffi has also contributed 10 passes defended, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 36 career games heading into the home opener.
And while the forced turnover numbers stand out, it's the timing of them that has garnered Cioffi a reputation of being in the right place at the right time.
Last season, Cioffi registered a sack and interception during RU's come-from-behind victory at Indiana. Both plays helped Rutgers overcome a 25-point second-half deficit to secure the win.
As a sophomore in 2014, Cioffi recovered a fumbled punt against Washington State in Seattle, which helped set up the game-winning touchdown against the Cougars.
His nose for the ball has benefited RU throughout the years, as he has generated a turnover in three-straight season openers from 2014-16. Cioffi credits genetics for his on-field instincts.
"I think it stems from my uncle," said Cioffi, who's uncle, Joe Cioffi, played tight end at Monmouth from 1995-98. "He was very instinctive when it came to football and was aware of his surroundings."
His uncle Joe is not the only person who has helped Cioffi along the way. Cioffi credits his parents, Jerry and Josephine, for providing him with everything he needed to be successful on and off the field. And with his hometown of Springfield just a short trip away, his entire family is able to see him produce on the field at High Point Solutions Stadium.
"It's a blessing to have them so close," Cioffi said. "If I run out of meal swipes, I take a 25-minute drive down route 22 and have a home-cooked meal. It's awesome to have them at my games and to have them and my grandparents able to root me on at every home game."
Those home-cooked meals assisted Cioffi in making the transition from a cornerback as an underclassman to the safety one sees patrolling the field for the Scarlet Knights today. Cioffi has put on close to 30 pounds since he arrived at Rutgers as a true freshman in 2013, now playing at 6-0, 203 pounds.
"I've handled all of the changes pretty well," Cioffi said of switching positions. "I've kept calm and kept my head in the playbook. Whether at cornerback or safety, it doesn't change how you prepare. You have to go about it a certain way."
Cioffi, who is set to graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication next May, wants to continue making impact plays in front of his friends and family as he concludes his time with the program. His track record suggests there are more interceptions, sacks and forced turnovers to come this season.
"It was a great career and I can honestly say that it has been a blessing to play here and to study here at this well-known University," Cioffi said. "It went by way too fast. I wish I could do it all over again. It's all about growing, learning and developing yourself as a football player and student during your time with the program, and I felt like I've accomplished that."
J.J. Denman: Holding the Line
By Jimmy Gill
A Pennsylvania native, J.J. Denman played baseball, basketball, lacrosse and wrestled as a kid, but gravitated towards football at a young age and has kept up with it ever since. Now the starting right tackle for the Scarlet Knights, the 6-5, 315-pounder is in his final collegiate season looking to finish strong.
"Football is a big thing where I am from," Denman said. "Everyone looked forward to playing for the high school, everyone always went to the games. So probably going to the high school games when I was younger hooked me to the sport. When I finally had the chance to start playing, I jumped at the opportunity."
Denman attended Pennsbury High School and thrived on the offensive line to help the Falcons in addition to attract the eyes of college coaches. A four-star recruit, he was named to the USA Today All-America First Team and listed as the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect and the ninth-best player in the state by Scout and No. 4 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 18 offensive tackle nationally by ESPN.com. The lineman also earned invitations to play for Pennsylvania in the Big 33 game vs. Ohio and in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix. Pennsbury went 9-4 in Denman's senior year and advanced to the state playoffs, as he earned Pennsylvania Football News Class AAAA All-State First Team status.
The accolades came along with a litany of scholarship offers that included programs from many power conference schools. However, through the process Rutgers, the alma mater of his father, always seemed to rise to the top.
"My dad went here," Denman said. "I could tell you he was always happy when we came around. He never pushed me to go anywhere, or anything like that. But we were both on the same page, positive attitudes, it felt good being here."
Denman worked his way up the depth chart after playing in one game as a redshirt freshman in 2013 to become part of the right tackle rotation with Taj Alexander in 2014. Playing in eight games for a team that ended up winning a bowl game, he was a factor in establishing a physical presence in the Scarlet Knights' first season in the Big Ten.
"I like the way that a lot depends on the offensive line," he said. "If the offensive line is playing well, then chances are the offense is going to be playing well. It allows everything to come together when everyone plays their role. And also the five offensive linemen are the tightest group, that's another aspect of it."
With Alexander graduating, Denman quickly assumed the starting position in spring practice heading into the 2015 season. He earned the Mark Mills Second Effort Award, which was bestowed upon the most improved offensive player during spring practice. That led to Denman starting all 12 games last season, with Rutgers having four games with over 200 yards rushing.
With the transition to a spread offense this season, the offensive line has embraced the up-tempo nature of the system. A veteran, Denman adapted to the new operation and earned the starting spot at right tackle in the season opener at Washington.
"I still think the biggest thing is their mental approach," offensive line coach AJ Blazek said of the spread offense. "They've got to be in attack mode. There's not a `hey, I get 40 seconds off to regroup myself and go.' When we take the field it is attack, attack, attack and you're rolling. Whether you're a huddle team or not you're running the same plays on first down. You call it from the sideline, you get your time to line up. But then it is rolling out of the gate. And that's the fun part."
Denman looks to have fun in the system in his final go-around as a Scarlet Knight.
"Consistency is what it takes to succeed at this level," he said. "You have to want to get better, or else you won't. You've got to be tough, and I mean just steady improvement. You've always got to be getting better every day."
The criminal justice major has also enjoyed his time off the field and built friendships with teammates that will last in the years to come.
"I want to focus 100 percent on this season and worry about the future later," he said. "With that said, I've enjoyed my time at Rutgers, which has put me in a good position at whatever I end up doing down the line."
Vance Matthews: Moving Up the Ranks
By Jimmy Gill
From the southernmost town in New Jersey, Vance Matthews has risen up the depth chart at Rutgers with a selfless and team-first attitude throughout his five years with the Scarlet Knights. The wide receiver has cleared hurdles along the way from walk-on to scholarship to special teams contributor to a place on the two-deep. It has all been part of the journey.
"Being here I didn't want to be just another guy, another body," Matthews said. "The coaches told me that I could play here and at this level. I took that as a challenge and a door opening. So I just worked as hard as I could and see where I end up. Now I'm in the position I am now so I can't stop."
A multi-sport athlete growing up, Matthews played soccer, basketball and ran track, starting football in sixth grade. He actually decided to focus just on basketball as a sophomore at Lower Cay May Regional High School. That was a sport where the he averaged 15.5 points per game and earned all-conference honors, but missed football too much and decided to come back as a junior.
"I don't know if there was anything in particular that made me come back," he explained. "I think it was just doing something different, being active, my teammates, the locker room environment, all that. I just felt like something was missing that sophomore year. So I came back the next year."
The 2010 season did springboard Matthew's as a football player, as he caught 19 passes for 426 yards and eight touchdowns for the Caper Tigers. He followed that with seven touchdown grabs in as a senior to lead the Cape-Atlantic League.
"My junior year of high school we made it to our first playoff game in 10-15 years, somewhere around that time," Matthews said. "That was a fun team to be a part of because we had a really good season. It was a good year for my teammates and I so that was a good highlight. I'd say another highlight, personally, was when I got an interception and got flipped. Someone caught a picture of it too. I don't know who it was that flipped me but it was fun."
The story went along the lines of Matthew's father, who played college basketball at Monmouth before playing football at the semi-professional level.
"To be honest with you I wasn't thinking about football as a collegiate thing for me," Matthew said. "My family and I have always been basketball first. We're a big basketball family. We were focused on basketball and then I had a good season my junior year. My senior year came up and I had another good season. My coaches were like 'Hey maybe you could play at the next level.' So we put a highlight tape together. My assistant coach, who's actually a principal now, he had a lot of connections being a collegiate coach. He sent my tape out to all of his connections."
Former Rutgers offensive coordinator Dave Brock took notice and gave Matthews a shot as a walk-on, giving him an opportunity to play at the highest level of college football. There have been numerous walk-on success stories at Rutgers and Matthews put in the work and learned from the older players to earn a scholarship right before the 2015 season.
"When I came in as a walk-on the veterans took me in and showed me the ropes," Matthews said. "I had great guys like Tim Wright, Brandon Coleman and Quron Pratt. They all took us in when we came in as a freshmen class and showed us the ropes. No one looked at me as a walk-on so that made things easier. I just kept working and doing everything I could to help this team as much as I could. I wound up where I am now and I couldn't be more grateful of the people that have helped me on my journey."
Matthews made his debut on the field for the Scarlet Knights as a redshirt sophomore in 2014 mainly on special teams. That included running down as the flyer on the punt team to stop the returner or downing the ball deep in the opponent's territory.
"Special teams are a huge part of the game," Matthews said. "In high school you don't really grasp it. When you get to college special teams is a huge part of the game. It's just like offense and defense in the sense that it can change any games' momentum and the whole game itself. So for me to be out there and to be a big part of special teams, that's a big role to play."
And last season, Matthews found himself lined up on offense and logged three receptions for 20 yards in the win at Army, previously earning his first career catch in front of 109,879 fans at Michigan Stadium. Now the Scarlet Knights run the spread offense, an up-tempo system designed to move the ball around.
"The new offense is great," Matthews said. "You get to spread the ball around. Everybody gets some love. We're up tempo and we're fast and that's great for us. We get to spread our legs and run and do everything we like to do which is catch and run."
Matthews is listed on the two-deep and counted on to make plays on both offense and on special teams, all while displaying leadership that others have noticed.
"Vance is exactly what you want on your team as far as a character guy who's going to do things the right way," wide receivers coach Jafar Williams said. "He leads by example. He constantly gets called out for the things he does off the field and then also in the weight room and in the classroom. But on the field, he's a leader."
