Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Spring Practice - Day 11
Apr 07 | Football
Special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Vince Okruch and select tight ends met with the media
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers football spring practice No. 11 inside the bubble on Saturday, April 7. The Scarlet Knights conclude spring drills on Saturday, April 14 with the annual Scarlet-White game, presented by PNC Bank.
TIGHT ENDS LEAD RETURNING RECEIVERS
Senior Jerome Washington and junior Nakia Griffin-Stewart lead all returning receivers in catches and yards. Washington posted a team-best 28 receptions and 282 receiving yards in 2017, while Griffin -Stewart had 11 catches. The pair each had a touchdown catch last season.
VOKOLEK POISED FOR INCREASED ROLE
Sophomore tight end Travis Vokolek has impressed in his first spring practice since playing last season as a true freshman. The Springfield, Mo. native appeared in seven games, making his collegiate debut on the road at Illinois. He later earned his first career start at Maryland, finishing the season with a 14-yard reception at Indiana.
"Travis Vokolek is a guy who has flashed quite a bit here during the spring," said head coach Chris Ash. "He has really good hands and is good in the pass game. He's learning how to block still, but he's a willing blocker and a tough kid. He just has to continue to get stronger and fill his body out. Two years ago, the kid was a high school DB. Now we have him trying to block defensive ends. "
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING...
Vince Okruch, tight ends coach
On Travis Vokolek's progression: "He's an excellent ball catcher. What he's improved on is his blocking. When he came to us, quite honestly, he hadn't been a tight end. So putting his hand in the ground and doing some things we ask the tight ends to do blocking wise had all been new to him."
"It's been a great situation. I'm not happy that Jerome is injured, but the fact that Jerome has been surgical has given the reps that Jerome would have gotten to Travis, which has allowed Travis to develop and progress at a rate that we're really pleased with."
On the fullback in McNulty's offense: "It's an NFL offense. Whether it's with two tight ends or a fullback, that second tight end? I don't know what you want to call him because he's in a multitude of places. I wouldn't call him a fullback, but he's a move guy. He can be a wing, he can be in the back, he can be at tight end. There's lots of places for him."
On if playing last year has helped Vokolek: "It did. Halfway through last season we ask him about taking off his redshirt, and I wish we would have gotten him more reps because he's a guy who learns better by doing. The more repetitions he gets, the better he performs."
Jerome Washington, senior tight end
On not being able to fully participate in the spring: "I definitely have to watch and learn because I'm not taking reps, so the only way you can really learn is by studying and watching film on your own and then paying attention when the calls are being made during practice."
On how he has taken more of a leadership role: "I've just been supporting them and hoping they play to the best of their abilities. That just makes everyone else play better. It's good to see them go out there and play hard."
On what he has seen from the rest of the group: "I just think everyone is working hard and trying to get better. As a whole, I think we're playing consistently and we know our assignments. We can just keep getting better from here."
On playing under a new offensive coordinator: "He definitely brought a different feel to it. We need to know a lot more information and process it quickly, so we definitely need to get our football IQ up. That's always important so you know what you need to do and know your assignments."
Nakia Griffin-Stewart, redshirt junior tight end
On how the tight ends look as a unit: "The spring has gone really well. We have a talented room from top to bottom with Jerome, Travis, Jalen, Tommy, Max Anthony and myself. I think we've had a really productive spring and we're showing the coaches that we're reliable. Coach Okruch has done a great job of getting us ready for the season."
On the addition of offensive coordinator John McNulty: "Coach McNulty has brought in a really good offense and is doing a great job as a coach. He's been around some of the best NFL players who have ever graced this earth, so anything he says and any coaching tip he gives me I'll take as a grain of gold and run with it. We're very excited to have him and to play under him."
On his leadership role with the team: "With having a smaller room and only six or seven of us, it's not really a disciplinary relationship I have, but more like a brotherhood. There isn't anyone in the room who has to be that vocal leader. We all feed off each other's competitive spirit and we all cheer each other on. I think everyone does what they're supposed to both on and off the field. We see people in the Hale watching film and doing what they're supposed to be doing."
The Scarlet Knights open the 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 at home against Texas State. For more information on the season, follow @RFootball on Twitter and Instagram, and for details on purchasing tickets, visit RutgersGameday.com.
Players Mentioned
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