Postgame Notes: Football vs. Washington

Sep 02 | Football

No. 8 WASHINGTON (1-0) 30, RUTGERS (0-1) 14
HIGH POINT SOLUTIONS STADIUM • PISCATAWAY, N.J.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 • ATTENDANCE: 46,093

PARTICIPATION

First career start (6): DL Jon Bateky, C Jonah Jackson, DL Elorm Lumor, WR Bo Melton, TE Myles Nash, TE Jerome Washington
Transfers to make first Rutgers start (3): QB Kyle Bolin, RB Gus Edwards, TE Jerome Washington
Collegiate debut (16): FB Max Anthony, RB Raheem Blackshear, PK Justin Davidovicz, LB Brendan DeVera, LB Olakunle Fatukasi, WR Hunter Hayek, WR Mohamed Jabbie, OL Nick Krimin, DL Elorm Lumor, WR Bo Melton, LB CJ Onyechi, DL Willington Previlon, LS Bill Taylor, WR Prince Taylor, DL Julius Turner, WR Everett Wormley
Transfers to make Rutgers debut (6): P Ryan Anderson, QB Kyle Bolin, RB Gus Edwards, PK Andre Harte, WR Damon Mitchell, TE Jerome Washington
True freshmen to play (9): RB Raheem Blackshear, PK Justin Davidovicz, LB Brendan DeVera, LB Olakunle Fatukasi, WR Hunter Hayek, WR Bo Melton, LB CJ Onyechi, LS Bill Taylor, WR Everett Wormley

TEAM NOTES

Rutgers opened the season on a Friday for the fifth time in program history and the first time since 1977. It was also the first non-Saturday home game since Nov. 29, 2012 versus Louisville.
Rutgers opened a season against a top-10 opponent for the first time since traveling to No. 3 Florida to begin the 1985 campaign. The Scarlet Knights have hosted 11 top-10 opponents on campus, with five of those being since the start of the 2015 season.
Rutgers played nine true freshmen in the season opener for the first time since 10 saw action in the first game of the 2007 season.
The 22 newcomers (collegiate debuts plus transfers) in action were the most for Rutgers in the last 16 seasons.
Rutgers held Washington under 100 rushing yards for the second-straight meeting (84 in 2017, 91 in 2016).

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

WR Dacoven Bailey
- Recorded first career touchdown in the fourth quarter.
QB Kyle Bolin
- Made his first start for Rutgers and seventh in his career.
- Tossed his first touchdown for Rutgers on the team's opening drive, his 14^th career scoring throw.
DL Darnell Davis
- Forced a fumble on a sack in the first half for his third career sack and third career forced fumble.
RB Gus Edwards
- Led the team with 79 rushing yards in his first game for Rutgers.
WR Janarion Grant
- Hauled in his second career receiving touchdown and first since 2015 against Maryland.
- Been part of 15 touchdowns in his career (five on kickoff, three rushing, three on punts, two passing and two receiving).
WR Bo Melton
- Became the sixth true freshman to start the season opener on offense or defense since 2002, joining CB Blessuan Austin (2015), WR Mohamed Sanu (2009), S Courtney Greene (2005), RB Ray Rice (2005) and RB Markis Facyson (2002).
WR Damon Mitchell
- Led the team with 46 receiving yards in his first game for Rutgers. He previously had 84 career receiving yards at Arkansas.
DL Kemoko Turay
- Registered a career-high five tackles. Previously had four in 2014 games against Indiana and Michigan State.
TE Jerome Washington
- Led the team with six receptions in his first game for Rutgers.
- It was the most catches by an RU tight end since Tyler Kroft notched eight at Maryland in 2014.