Spring Practice - Day 5: Offensive Line
Mar 14 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers football held its fifth practice of the spring on Thursday, March 14 inside the Indoor Practice Bubble. RU will host its annual Scarlet-White game, presented by PNC Bank, on Saturday, April 13 at 3:30 p.m. at HighPoint.com stadium.
NEW FACE ON THE SIDELINE
New offensive line coach Pete Rossomando met with the media on Thursday after practice. Rossomando arrived "On the Banks" after spending five seasons as head coach at Central Connecticut State. In his final season leading the Blue Devils, Rossomando guided the squad to a 6-4 record and 4-2 mark in conference action. Eleven players were named All-Northeast Conference, including five picked for the first team and six second-team selections.
In 2017, Rossomando led the Blue Devils to their first NCAA FCS Playoffs appearance after winning the Northeast Conference title with a perfect 6-0 record. The campaign included an eight-game win streak, a program record for a single season. For his efforts, Rossomando was named the league's Coach of the Year and he was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year.
Prior to his arrival in New Britain, Rossomando spent five seasons as the head coach at the University of New Haven. During that time, he led the Chargers to a 42-13 record, two NCAA Playoff appearances and coached numerous all-conference and All-America student-athletes. Rossomando was named head coach of the Chargers in December of 2007 after New Haven reinstated its Division II football program after a five-year hiatus. He rebuilt the Chargers into one of the best Division II programs in the country. In his final three seasons, 2011-13, the Chargers posted an overall record of 29-6 and a 20-2 mark in Northeast-10 action, including two consecutive 8-0 regular seasons in league play (2011, 2012). New Haven was ranked as high as No. 3 in the 2012 Division II national polls.
STARTING EXPERIENCE ALONG THE OFFENSIVE LINE
Redshirt senior Kamaal Seymour and redshirt junior Michael Maietti started all 12 games for Rutgers last season at right tackle and center, respectively. Four other Scarlet Knights – redshirt senior Zach Venesky, redshirt juniors Nick Krimin and Mike Lonsdorf, and junior Samuel Vretman – also return with starting experience. Redshirt freshman Reggie Sutton, who played in the last four games of 2018 – started at tight end against Penn State.
COOPER JOINS THE FOLD
Offensive lineman Omari Cooper – a junior-college transfer from San Diego Mess Community College – enrolled in January classes and has two years of eligibility remaining for the Scarlet Knights can compete immediately. Cooper was a 2018 Southern California Football Association First Team All-Conference selection.
The Scarlet Knights open the 2019 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30 for the 150th Anniversary of College Football against UMass. For more information on the season, follow @RFootball on Twitter and Instagram, and for details on purchasing tickets, visit RutgersGameday.com.
NEW FACE ON THE SIDELINE
New offensive line coach Pete Rossomando met with the media on Thursday after practice. Rossomando arrived "On the Banks" after spending five seasons as head coach at Central Connecticut State. In his final season leading the Blue Devils, Rossomando guided the squad to a 6-4 record and 4-2 mark in conference action. Eleven players were named All-Northeast Conference, including five picked for the first team and six second-team selections.
In 2017, Rossomando led the Blue Devils to their first NCAA FCS Playoffs appearance after winning the Northeast Conference title with a perfect 6-0 record. The campaign included an eight-game win streak, a program record for a single season. For his efforts, Rossomando was named the league's Coach of the Year and he was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year.
Prior to his arrival in New Britain, Rossomando spent five seasons as the head coach at the University of New Haven. During that time, he led the Chargers to a 42-13 record, two NCAA Playoff appearances and coached numerous all-conference and All-America student-athletes. Rossomando was named head coach of the Chargers in December of 2007 after New Haven reinstated its Division II football program after a five-year hiatus. He rebuilt the Chargers into one of the best Division II programs in the country. In his final three seasons, 2011-13, the Chargers posted an overall record of 29-6 and a 20-2 mark in Northeast-10 action, including two consecutive 8-0 regular seasons in league play (2011, 2012). New Haven was ranked as high as No. 3 in the 2012 Division II national polls.
STARTING EXPERIENCE ALONG THE OFFENSIVE LINE
Redshirt senior Kamaal Seymour and redshirt junior Michael Maietti started all 12 games for Rutgers last season at right tackle and center, respectively. Four other Scarlet Knights – redshirt senior Zach Venesky, redshirt juniors Nick Krimin and Mike Lonsdorf, and junior Samuel Vretman – also return with starting experience. Redshirt freshman Reggie Sutton, who played in the last four games of 2018 – started at tight end against Penn State.
COOPER JOINS THE FOLD
Offensive lineman Omari Cooper – a junior-college transfer from San Diego Mess Community College – enrolled in January classes and has two years of eligibility remaining for the Scarlet Knights can compete immediately. Cooper was a 2018 Southern California Football Association First Team All-Conference selection.
The Scarlet Knights open the 2019 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30 for the 150th Anniversary of College Football against UMass. 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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