RUTGERS (2-4, 1-2) vs. PURDUE (3-3, 1-2)
October 21, 2017 • Noon ET • Big Ten Network
High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Coming off a road Big Ten win over Illinois, Rutgers football starts the second half of its schedule by returning to High Point Solutions Stadium to host Purdue Saturday at noon ET. It will be the first meeting between the Scarlet Knights and Boilermakers on the gridiron.
 
The game will broadcast live on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen and Lisa Byington providing commentary. Chris Carlin, Ray Lucas, Eric LeGrand and Anthony Fucilli will have the radio call on the Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM, Sirius 113, XM 196).
 
RU will celebrate its annual Homecoming weekend, a tradition that dates back to 1933. The Scarlet Knights are 53-30 in the game. In addition, Rutgers Athletics will honor its eight-member 2017 Hall of Fame class at halftime. The group includes former quarterback Ray Lucas (1992-95), who finished his collegiate career ranked fourth all-time in touchdowns (43), fifth in completions (514) and sixth in passing yards (5,896). He is the only player in program history to throw more than 40 touchdown passes and rush for 15 scores. It will also be Band Day, Teacher Appreciation Day and Outstanding Student Day.
 

SCOUTING RUTGERS
Rutgers went on the road last weekend and earned its first Big Ten win of the season, 35-24, over Illinois. The visitors never trailed in the contest, led by as many 18 points and scored in each quarter.
 
The game was decided in the trenches, as the Scarlet Knights out-rushed the Fighting Illini, 274-86. The 274 yards (5.8 per carry) were the most by RU in a Big Ten game and most against any opponent since totaling 312 in its 2015 Homecoming triumph over Kansas. Fifth-year senior Gus Edwards led the way with 91 yards and two touchdowns, with freshman Raheem Blackshear following with 87 yards with an average of 14.5 per carry. Overall, four different running backs combined for five rushing touchdowns, the most for Rutgers against an FBS opponent since having five versus Navy in 2003.
 
Defensively, sophomore Jawuan Harris transitioned to safety for his first collegiate action on defense and totaled a game-high 11 tackles to go with an interception and a forced fumble. Sophomore K.J. Gray also snagged an interception and classmate Dacoven Bailey recovered a fumbled punt to garner three total turnovers.
 
Junior Giovanni Rescigno made his first start of the season at quarterback, and sixth of his career, last week and threw for 89 yards to accompany 41 rushing yards. Fifth-year senior Kyle Bolin (711 passing yards in 2017) and freshman Johnathan Lewis (73 rushing yards in 2017) also took snaps in the win.
 
Edwards had 137 all-purpose yards to lead all players in the contest at Illinois, bringing his season mark to 462. He owns 393 rushing yards and four touchdowns this year, while senior Robert Martin has 244 yards on the ground. Blackshear recorded a 41-yard carry last week, the longest by a Scarlet Knight in 2017.
 
Fifth-year senior Janarion Grant returned to the lineup and led the team with 49 receiving yards. Junior Jerome Washington has a team-high 16 receptions, the same number of catches recorded by RU tight ends all of 2016.
 
Junior Trevor Morris is the team leader in tackles with 45 at the midway point, averaging 7.5 per game to tie for 10^th in the Big Ten. The defense has held opponents to 29-of-91 (32 percent) on third downs to rank 27th in the nation. In addition, the unit has seven interceptions, tied for third-most in the conference, after having eight in 12 games last season.
 
On special teams, fifth-year senior Ryan Anderson has taken over the Big Ten lead with 44.5 yards per punt. He has 14 attempts of at least 50 yards and four reaching 60 or more yards. Fifth-year senior Andrew Harte has made four of his last five field goals and converted all 18 extra points. Freshman Justin Davidovicz, who has 12 touchbacks, leads the kickoff unit that is ranked 28^th in the country with 17.88 yards allowed per return.
 
SCOUTING PURDUE
The Boilermakers suffered a 17-9 road loss against No. 7 Wisconsin last week in a game that came down to the wire. Previously, Purdue earned a 31-17 victory over Minnesota, and also owns wins over Ohio and Missouri. Elijah Sindelar (63-119, six touchdowns) and David Blough (62-90, seven touchdowns) have each started three games at quarterback, as the offense is averaging 371.3 yards of total offense per outing. The defense ranks first in the Big Ten and second nationally with nine fumbles recovered this year.
 
Jeff Brohm took over the helm of the program over the offseason after spending three seasons as the head coach at Western Kentucky.
 
THE SERIES
Rutgers and Purdue will line up for the first time, as the Boilermakers will become the 12^th different Big Ten opponent for the Scarlet Knights since joining the conference for the 2014 season. RU has yet to face Northwestern.
 
Rutgers is not scheduled to make its first trip to Purdue until 2020.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers will start a stretch of five consecutive games against the Big Ten East with a trip to Michigan on Oct. 28. The game will start at noon ET on Big Ten Network.
 
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