Photo by: Rich Graessle
Spring Practice - Day 6: Cornerbacks
Mar 26 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers football returned to the practice field following the week off campus for spring break. The team's sixth spring practice was held inside HighPoint.com Stadium, the site of the annual Scarlet-White game, presented by PNC Bank on Saturday, April 13 at 3:30 p.m.
NEW CORNERBACKS COACH
The Rutgers coaching staff has a new addition on the defensive side of the ball with former All-Big Ten selection Jay Valai joining as the cornerbacks coach. He spent four seasons as a defensive back at Wisconsin, earning back-to-back Second Team All-Big Ten awards, four bowl game appearances, the 2010 Big Ten Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl that same season.
Valai, who played for head coach Chris Ash in 2010, spent the 2018 season as a defensive quality control and assistant defensive backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also served as defensive quality control coach at Georgia in 2016 and 2017.
STEPPING INTO LEADERSHIP ROLE
Senior Damon Hayes enters his final seasons 'On the Banks' as the elder statesman in the cornerbacks group. Last season, Hayes made a shift to strong safety after playing his first two seasons at cornerback where he returns for his senior year. A 2017 All-Big Ten honorable mention, he totaled 63 tackles with seven pass breakups, including two interceptions.
TOP RETURNER AT CORNERBACK
Sophomore Avery Young returns as a starter at corner after playing in 12 games in his true freshman season in 2018. An injury to senior Blessuan Austin in the season opener led to Young starting in the final 11 games of the season. He led the secondary with 66 tackles with 35 against the run.
REPLACING A VETERAN IRONMAN
The cornerbacks room will be without a four-year starter with the departure of senior Isaiah Wharton. He was the recipient of the Paul Robeson Award for performance, leadership and dedication to the program as well as the team's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Wharton became the first Scarlet Knight in 10 seasons to start all career games as he appeared in 48 contests. He totaled 205 career tackles, four interceptions and 36 pass breakups.
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 CORNERBACKS COACH
The Rutgers coaching staff has a new addition on the defensive side of the ball with former All-Big Ten selection Jay Valai joining as the cornerbacks coach. He spent four seasons as a defensive back at Wisconsin, earning back-to-back Second Team All-Big Ten awards, four bowl game appearances, the 2010 Big Ten Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl that same season.
Valai, who played for head coach Chris Ash in 2010, spent the 2018 season as a defensive quality control and assistant defensive backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also served as defensive quality control coach at Georgia in 2016 and 2017.
STEPPING INTO LEADERSHIP ROLE
Senior Damon Hayes enters his final seasons 'On the Banks' as the elder statesman in the cornerbacks group. Last season, Hayes made a shift to strong safety after playing his first two seasons at cornerback where he returns for his senior year. A 2017 All-Big Ten honorable mention, he totaled 63 tackles with seven pass breakups, including two interceptions.
TOP RETURNER AT CORNERBACK
Sophomore Avery Young returns as a starter at corner after playing in 12 games in his true freshman season in 2018. An injury to senior Blessuan Austin in the season opener led to Young starting in the final 11 games of the season. He led the secondary with 66 tackles with 35 against the run.
REPLACING A VETERAN IRONMAN
The cornerbacks room will be without a four-year starter with the departure of senior Isaiah Wharton. He was the recipient of the Paul Robeson Award for performance, leadership and dedication to the program as well as the team's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Wharton became the first Scarlet Knight in 10 seasons to start all career games as he appeared in 48 contests. He totaled 205 career tackles, four interceptions and 36 pass breakups.
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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/ FootballRutgers Football Spring Special 2026
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