PISCATAWAY, N.J. – After having the opportunity to showcase his potential in a few games last year, redshirt freshman defensive back Christian Izien is ready to light up the field this season.
 
Appearing in four games during the 2018 season allowed Izien to get his feet wet in the college game.
 
"It gave me an idea of just how fast the game actually is," he said. "Practice is not as fast as the game really is, so going against other guys and not knowing how they play really gave me a good look at this year coming up, how fast everything is, how physical the game actually is."
 
The Brooklyn native says Rutgers is his dream school.
 
New York and New Jersey being so close together and even sharing several sports teams, Izien says he is essentially representing his home state playing for New Jersey. Coming to Piscataway on his visits and seeing everyone, including friends, on the field in Rutgers uniforms just felt right.
 
The idea of his family being able to see him play every week and having the option to go home and be comfortable made Rutgers an easy choice for Izien.
 
Now, to be competing for a starting role at safety this season is a blessing, Izien said. But he knows it was not simply good fortune that got him to this point. The time and preparation he put in should not be discounted. He worked hard for this.
 
"I'm in a great battle with Malik Dixon, another tremendous athlete like myself. I just love the way we compete every day. I love the way he gets me better and I get him better."
 
His focus this off season was on becoming more of a complete defensive back, he said. In high school at Erasmus Hall, Izien played offense before transitioning to defensive back in his senior year.
 
Getting the movements down has been key for Izien. Working on direction, eye focus, and activating that muscle memory were his keys in preparing for camp. Now, he feels able to lead the defense and "do (his) job the right way."
 
But Izien's growth since last season is not limited to the field. In meetings and team workouts, he feels more engaged. No longer a rookie, he has more responsibility in the group knowing that somebody is looking up to him now.
 
Departed veterans like now-New Orleans Saints safety Saquan Hampton, and Kiy Hester, as well as senior cornerback Damon Hayes showed Izien the ropes and "put (him) in the right spot to be successful."
 
Now, it's his turn. "Somebody's behind me now that's looking at me to see what I'm doing. So I'm making sure I'm always on point, doing my job."