PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's lacrosse will be well represented in this year's Premier Lacrosse League summer season. There are 11 former Scarlet Knights who appeared on initial rosters for this season in the PLL, a total that is third most nationally and second most among Big Ten Teams. The group of 11 all made their teams 25-man rosters for the opening weekend, with play in Albany Saturday and Sunday. 

Whipsnakes (3): Joe Nardella, Connor Kirst, Brennan Kamish

Nardella is set for his fourth season in the PLL with the Whipsnakes and has been playing pro lacrosse since 2015 as the longest tenured member in pro lacrosse of this group. He has won 59.8 percent of his faceoffs during his time in the league with 11 goals, 14 assists and 203 ground balls.  

Kirst is prepping for his second pro season after being selected in the First Round of the PLL Draft last season by the Whipsnakes. In his rookie season, he scored three goals in five games played. 

Kamish is looking to establish his place in the PLL after completing his senior season "On the Banks', as signed to the training camp roster by the Whipsnakes as an undrafted free agent. 

Redwoods (2): Jules Heningburg, Mitch Bartolo

Heningburg prepares for his third season in the PLL and second full season on the Redwoods. Last year,  he scored 18 goals and added five assists. He has 90 career points (58 goals and 32 assists) in 31 PLL games.  

Bartolo readies for a potential PLL debut following a season at RU where he helped the program to the Final Four. He was drafted by the team in the Fourth Round of the PLL Collegiate Draft. 

Cannons (2): Adam Charalambides, Colin Kirst

Charalambides was picked up by the Cannons last August as a free agent, and will be looking to make his PLL debut this season. He made his pro lacrosse debut during the indoor season with the Vancouver Warriors of the NLL. 

Kirst takes his talents to the pro level after a spectactular two year run as a two-time All-American at Rutgers. A third round draft pick of the Cannons, he will be looking to make his pro debut in the cage. 

Atlas (2): Michael Rexrode, Kyle Pless

Rexrode has developed into an elite cover defenseman at the professional level. Entering his fifth season of professional lacrosse across the MLL and PLL, he has caused 36 turnovers in 33 career pro games. 

Pless enters his second season with the Atlas after two seasons with the Denver Outlaws. The long-stick midfielder had five caused turnovers and eight ground balls in six games last season. He and Rexrode, former college teammates, have played together at the pro level since 2019. 

Waterdogs (2): Christian Mazzone, Christian Scarpello

Scarpello saw seven games of action in his debut season in the PLL as a short-stick defensive midfielder, posting nine ground balls.

Mazzone joined the Waterdogs late last year after starting the season with the Archers, and scored three goals and had two assists with six ground balls in four games of action last season. The midfielder has 12 goals and 15 ground balls in his two-year PLL career. 

Three of these alumns recently completed play in the indoor season with the NLL. Joe Nardella won 67.2% of faceoffs for the Albany Firewolves, Adam Charalambides had 14 goals and 33 assists for the Vancouver Warriors, and Connor Kirst collected 83 loose balls, nine points and won 104 faceoffs for the Georgia Swarm. 

Fans can follow the league on the ESPN family of networks this summer. The opening game on ESPN will feature Heningburg and Bartolo and the Redwoods against the Atlas with Rexrode and Pless at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 4.