Five Scarlet Knights Selected to Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Aug 12 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football saw five claim a spot on the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl watch list released Thursday. Olakunle Fatukasi, Tyshon Fogg, Ifeanyi Maijeh, Bo Melton and Isaih Pacheco all represent the Scarlet Knights heading into the season.
The Reese's Senior Bowl is the nation's most prestigious college all-star game, as it annually serves as the first step of the NFL Draft process. It is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2022 in Mobile, Alabama. Fourteen Scarlet Knights have been selected in the past, including Kemoko Turay (2018), Leonte Carroo (2016), Khaseem Greene (2013), Steve Beauharnais (2013), Joe Lefeged (2011), Devin McCourty (2010), Clark Harris (2007), Brian Leonard (2007), L.J. Smith (2003), Mike McMahon (2001), Robert Barr (1996), Bruce Presley (1996), Steve Simms (1962) and Alex Kroll (1962).
OLAKUNLE FATUKASI
A member of the Bednarik Award, Butkus Award and Nagurski Trophy watch lists, Fatukasi averaged 11.2 tackles per game last season to lead the Big Ten and rank ninth nationally for the best average by a Scarlet Knight since 1999. Totaling 101 tackles overall, the linebacker had double-digit stops in six games with a high of 17 versus Michigan and Penn State. Eleven of the stops were in the backfield, tying for the most by an RU player in a Big Ten season. He was voted First Team All-Big Ten by the media.
TYSHON FOGG
Fogg, who has 38 games of collegiate experience, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten for the second-straight season in 2020. The linebacker totaled 70 tackles to increase his career total to 240, most on the active roster. The Maryland native posted 14 stops with two for a loss in the season-opening victory at Michigan State, adding 13 more tackles versus Illinois. Fogg produced a forced fumble at No. 3 Ohio State and broke up a pass versus Michigan.
IFEANYI MAIJEH
Maijeh enters his first season with the Scarlet Knights with 27 games of collegiate experience. The defensive lineman was named to the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists in 2020. Previously, the Far Rockaway, New York, native earned First Team All-American Athletic Conference in 2019 after totaling 52 tackles with 10 for loss, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
BO MELTON
Melton led RU last season with nine total touchdowns (six receiving, two rushing, one punt return), third-most in the Big Ten, on three multiple-score games. Recognized nationally as member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list in 2020 and 2021, he posted career highs with 47 receptions for 638 yards, highlighted by back-to-back 100-yard games versus Illinois (150) and Michigan (109). The Mays Landing, New Jersey, native rushed for two touchdowns in the win at Maryland, both giving RU the lead, and collected a career-high 170 all-purpose yards at No. 3 Ohio State. He led the Scarlet Knights with 942 all-purpose yards and 56 points scored on the season. In his career, Melton has played in all 45 games with 109 receptions, 1,393 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns.
ISAIH PACHECO
Pacheco ranked eighth in the Big Ten with 515 rushing yards on 116 carries, scoring three touchdowns on the ground in 2020. That included a season-high 133 yards versus Illinois, a pair of rushing scores in the win at Michigan State and tying the team lead with 20 rushing first downs picked up. In the passing game, the Vineland, New Jersey, native contributed 19 receptions for 130 yards after totaling a combined 15 catches the previous two seasons. Pacheco scored his first collegiate receiving touchdown in the victory at Maryland. He enters 2021 with 1,795 career rushing yards on 396 carries with 13 scores and six 100-yard rushing games.
Under the direction of head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers matched its program high with three Big Ten victories in 2020. The Scarlet Knights had 14 players recognized in the All-Big Ten voting, the most for the program since joining the league. In addition, RU posted a team-best 26.7 points per game in a Big Ten season, a gain of 13.4 points per game from the previous season for the fourth-best improvement nationally. The defense collected 19 takeaways and led the conference with 7.8 tackles-for-loss, while the kick return units were one of four nationally with at least three kick return touchdowns. Academically, Rutgers saw 46 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors, a program high.
Rutgers opens the season Sept. 2 versus Temple at SHI Stadium in a game presented by PNC. Click here for information on season tickets.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel and bookmark Rutgers.Football, the Scarlet Knights' dedicated recruiting site.
The Reese's Senior Bowl is the nation's most prestigious college all-star game, as it annually serves as the first step of the NFL Draft process. It is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2022 in Mobile, Alabama. Fourteen Scarlet Knights have been selected in the past, including Kemoko Turay (2018), Leonte Carroo (2016), Khaseem Greene (2013), Steve Beauharnais (2013), Joe Lefeged (2011), Devin McCourty (2010), Clark Harris (2007), Brian Leonard (2007), L.J. Smith (2003), Mike McMahon (2001), Robert Barr (1996), Bruce Presley (1996), Steve Simms (1962) and Alex Kroll (1962).
OLAKUNLE FATUKASI
A member of the Bednarik Award, Butkus Award and Nagurski Trophy watch lists, Fatukasi averaged 11.2 tackles per game last season to lead the Big Ten and rank ninth nationally for the best average by a Scarlet Knight since 1999. Totaling 101 tackles overall, the linebacker had double-digit stops in six games with a high of 17 versus Michigan and Penn State. Eleven of the stops were in the backfield, tying for the most by an RU player in a Big Ten season. He was voted First Team All-Big Ten by the media.
TYSHON FOGG
Fogg, who has 38 games of collegiate experience, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten for the second-straight season in 2020. The linebacker totaled 70 tackles to increase his career total to 240, most on the active roster. The Maryland native posted 14 stops with two for a loss in the season-opening victory at Michigan State, adding 13 more tackles versus Illinois. Fogg produced a forced fumble at No. 3 Ohio State and broke up a pass versus Michigan.
IFEANYI MAIJEH
Maijeh enters his first season with the Scarlet Knights with 27 games of collegiate experience. The defensive lineman was named to the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists in 2020. Previously, the Far Rockaway, New York, native earned First Team All-American Athletic Conference in 2019 after totaling 52 tackles with 10 for loss, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
BO MELTON
Melton led RU last season with nine total touchdowns (six receiving, two rushing, one punt return), third-most in the Big Ten, on three multiple-score games. Recognized nationally as member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list in 2020 and 2021, he posted career highs with 47 receptions for 638 yards, highlighted by back-to-back 100-yard games versus Illinois (150) and Michigan (109). The Mays Landing, New Jersey, native rushed for two touchdowns in the win at Maryland, both giving RU the lead, and collected a career-high 170 all-purpose yards at No. 3 Ohio State. He led the Scarlet Knights with 942 all-purpose yards and 56 points scored on the season. In his career, Melton has played in all 45 games with 109 receptions, 1,393 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns.
ISAIH PACHECO
Pacheco ranked eighth in the Big Ten with 515 rushing yards on 116 carries, scoring three touchdowns on the ground in 2020. That included a season-high 133 yards versus Illinois, a pair of rushing scores in the win at Michigan State and tying the team lead with 20 rushing first downs picked up. In the passing game, the Vineland, New Jersey, native contributed 19 receptions for 130 yards after totaling a combined 15 catches the previous two seasons. Pacheco scored his first collegiate receiving touchdown in the victory at Maryland. He enters 2021 with 1,795 career rushing yards on 396 carries with 13 scores and six 100-yard rushing games.
Under the direction of head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers matched its program high with three Big Ten victories in 2020. The Scarlet Knights had 14 players recognized in the All-Big Ten voting, the most for the program since joining the league. In addition, RU posted a team-best 26.7 points per game in a Big Ten season, a gain of 13.4 points per game from the previous season for the fourth-best improvement nationally. The defense collected 19 takeaways and led the conference with 7.8 tackles-for-loss, while the kick return units were one of four nationally with at least three kick return touchdowns. Academically, Rutgers saw 46 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors, a program high.
Rutgers opens the season Sept. 2 versus Temple at SHI Stadium in a game presented by PNC. Click here for information on season tickets.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel and bookmark Rutgers.Football, the Scarlet Knights' dedicated recruiting site.
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