Cruickshank Named Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year

Photo by: Mike Lawrence

Cruickshank Named Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year

Dec 17 | Football

Korsak earns All-Big Ten recognition for third-straight season

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football wide receiver Aron Cruickshank was voted the Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten (return specialist) in both the media and coaches' ballot. Cruickshank becomes the second Scarlet Knight to earn a major Big Ten postseason award and to be a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection, joining 2017 Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year Ryan Anderson. Cruickshank is the fourth RU player to garner First Team All-Big Ten status overall.

Punter Adam Korsak earned Second Team All-Big Ten in the media poll and Third Team by the coaches. This marks the third-straight year the Aussie has picked up recognition from both electors, gaining Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and Third Team by the media in 2019, and honorable mention from both in 2018. Korsak becomes the first Scarlet Knight to collect All-Big Ten recognition in three different years and first Rutgers punter to so regardless of conference.

Long snapper Billy Taylor is Rutgers' Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner. The award is given for distinguished sportsmanship, ethical behavior, academic standing and good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

The Scarlet Knights end with 14 players recognized in the All-Big Ten voting, the most for the program since joining the league. The previous high was eight total honorees in 2017. That includes four on the top-three teams in 2020 after totaling six combined the previous six years in the Big Ten and two over the last four seasons.

Rutgers Football Big Ten Honors
Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year: WR Aron Cruickshank
First Team (Coaches): WR Aron Cruickshank
First Team (Media): WR Aron Cruickshank, LB Olakunle Fatukasi
Second Team (Coaches): LB Olakunle Fatukasi
Second Team (Media): P Adam Korsak
Third Team (Coaches): DB Tre Avery, P Adam Korsak
Third Team (Media): DB Tre Avery
Honorable Mention (Coaches): DL Michael Dwumfour, DB Christian Izien, WR Bo Melton, OL Reggie Sutton, DL Julius Turner, DL Mike Tverdov, DB Brendon White
Honorable Mention (Media): DL Michael Dwumfour, DB Christian Izien, LB Tyshon Fogg, WR Bo Melton, OL Raiqwon O'Neal, DL Julius Turner, DL Mike Tverdov, DB Avery Young
Sportsmanship Award: LS Billy Taylor

ARON CRUICKSHANK
Cruickshank ranks first in the Big Ten and sixth nationally with 573 combined kick return yards, and is averaging 23.9 yards per kickoff return on 24 attempts. The includes a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Purdue that sparked a 17-0 scoring run to overcome a 10-point deficit and pull ahead for a road victory. It was the fifth 100-yarder in Rutgers history and first kickoff return touchdown of any length since 2016. For Cruickshank, it was his third career kickoff return touchdown, as he earned Second Team All-Big Ten from the coaches and media in 2019. Overall, Cruickshank leads the Scarlet Knights with 832 all-purpose yards (573 kickoff return, 233 receiving, 26 rushing) in 2020. He hauled in his first collegiate receiving touchdown on a fourth down to help tie the game with 27 second remaining and force overtime versus Michigan.

ADAM KORSAK
In his third season as the starting punter, Korsak has helped Rutgers to a net punt of 42.14 yards, second-best in the Big Ten, which would set the program record for the third-straight season. The mark ranks 11^th nationally. Korsak is averaging 42.9 yards per punt overall on 43 attempts with no touchbacks, owning seven of at least 50 yards with a long of 66 versus Illinois. That includes 21 fair catches and 17 pinned inside the 20. In his career, Korsak only has five touchbacks in 197 attempts (2.5 percent).

BILLY TAYLOR
Taylor took over the starting long snapper position in his first game as a true freshman in 2017 to start a streak of 44 consecutive games in the role. That includes being part of the operation that ran onto the field with time ticking down to convert a game-tying field goal, and later the game-winner in overtime, most recently at Maryland. Taylor also handles the snaps for the punting unit, which ranks second in the Big Ten with a net punt of 42.14 yards. He was named to the Patrick Mannelly Award (top FBS senior long snapper) preseason watch list in August, as well as being First Team Preseason All-Big Ten by Phil Steele. The New Jersey native was a semifinalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. A finance major with a concentration in business analytics, holding a 3.8 GPA, and worked internships with TD Bank and Mass Mutual/RU Financial. Taylor is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.

Rutgers is set for its ninth Big Ten game in nine weeks Friday against Nebraska. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

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