PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Five from Rutgers football were named to the Phil Steele All-Big Ten teams released this week. RB Kyle Monangai earned second-team honors, while DB Max Melton, LB Mohamed Toure, DB Flip Dixon and PK Jai Patel all merited a spot on the fourth team.

Rutgers takes on Miami in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 28. Kickoff on ESPN is set for 2:15 p.m. Tickets are available at Bowl Central.


KYLE MONANGAI
Monangai, who has started all 12 games, ranks first in the Big Ten with 1,099 rushing yards, 115 more than any other player in the league following the regular season and ninth-most in a season in the school record book. The Roseland, New Jersey, native had six games with at least 100 yards, five games with at least 20 carries and seven touchdowns in the regular season. That included a high of 165 yards versus Temple and 159 versus No. 1 Ohio State, the second-most ever for a Scarlet Knight against a ranked opponent. Monangai also led the Big Ten with 217 carries.


MAX MELTON
Melton recorded a team-leading three interceptions in 2023 with 32 tackles, four tackles-for-loss and six pass breakups in 12 starts at cornerback. He also forced and recovered a fumble on the same play in the red zone at Wisconsin. The Mays Landing, New Jersey, native recently accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl.


MOHAMED TOURE
Toure returned to the field after missing last season to play all 12 games and is second on the defense with 85 tackles, including a team-high 7.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. He posted a career-high 11 stops versus Maryland and had an interception against Ohio State. The linebacker from Pleasantville, New Jersey, was recently named a semifinalist for the Comeback Player of the Year Award.


FLIP DIXON
In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, Dixon has started all 12 games with 70 tackles to rank third on the team. The safety hauled in an interception against Virginia Tech, forced a fumble versus Maryland and totaled five pass breakups so far.


JAI PATEL
Patel has made each of his last 10 field goal attempts and is 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) overall, on track for the most accurate season in the school record books. That includes four games with multiples makes and twice going 3-for-3. He hit from a season-long 51 yards versus Temple on the way to earning Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.

Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.