PISCATAWAY, N.J. – RB Kyle Monangai earned First Team All-Big Ten recognition in both the coaches and media voting to highlight 12 from Rutgers football honored in the postseason listings released Tuesday. OL Hollin Pierce garnered second-team standing on both lists, while LB Dariel Djabome was selected to the third team by the media. Nine Scarlet Knights merited spots as honorable mention.

In addition, OL Reggie Sutton was selected as the team's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner. The honor is given to an individual who has distinguished themselves through sportsmanship, ethical behavior, is in good academic standing and demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

Rutgers Football All-Big Ten Honors
First Team (Coaches): RB Kyle Monangai
First Team (Media): RB Kyle Monangai
Second Team (Coaches): OL Hollin Pierce
Second Team (Media): OL Hollin Pierce
Third Team (Media): LB Dariel Djabome
Honorable Mention (Coaches): OL Kwabena Asamoah, LB Dariel Djabome, DL Kyonte Hamilton, DB Robert Longerbeam, LS Austin Riggs, WR Ian Strong
Honorable Mention (Media): OL Kwabena Asamoah, DL Kyonte Hamilton, DL Aaron Lewis, DB Robert Longerbeam, DB Shaquan Loyal, LB Tyreem Powell, LS Austin Riggs, OL Gus Zilinskas
Sportsmanship Award: OL Reggie Sutton


RB KYLE MONANGAI
After picking up second-team honors last year, Monangai becomes the first Scarlet Knight to earn first team on offense in both the coaches and media votes in the Big Ten era. Leonte Carroo picked up first team according to the media in 2014 as a wide receiver, honorable mention by the coaches. Monangai is the first RU running back on the top line in all-conference voting since Paul James in 2013, also joining Ray Rice (2006-07), Brian Leonard (2004) and Terrell Willis (1993-95) as first-team selections at the position.

Monangai posted six games with over 100 rushing yards in 11 outings on the way to 1,279 yards in 2024, second in the league and the most by a Rutgers player in a season since joining the Big Ten. The Roseland, New Jersey, native had a conference-high 256 carries, which was 16 more than any other player despite missing a game. He recorded a touchdown in nine different games in posting 13 rushing and one receiving score to rank second in the league with 14 trips to the end zone. Adding 75 receiving yards, the running back is also second in the Big Ten with 123.1 all-purpose yards per game.

For his career, Monangai is second in the program record book with 3,221 rushing yards, third with 14 100-yard rushing games and seventh with 27 rushing touchdowns in 52 games played (35 starts). The team captain has zero fumbles (669 carries, 38 receptions) and owns two of the top six rushing seasons by yards in Rutgers history.


OL HOLLIN PIERCE
Pierce claims the distinction as the first RU offensive lineman to earn a spot on one of the three All-Big Ten teams. He started all 12 games at left tackle this season, has played in each of the last 50 games since 2021 and made 49 consecutive starts. The Trenton, New Jersey, native helped the Scarlet Knights to the third-best rushing attack (176.3 yards per game) in the Big Ten, on track for its best placement since joining the league, while the offense permitted two or less sacks in 9-of-12 games with none permitted five times. Pierce is rated as the No. 7 tackle nationally by Pro Football Focus and was previously a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy as one of the top players who started as a walk-on. He collected honorable mention (coaches and media) in the All-Big Ten voting last year.


LB DARIEL DJABOME
In his first season as a starter, Djabome is fifth in the Big Ten with 8.5 tackles per game. He has totaled 102 stops overall, the first Scarlet Knight to reach triple figures since Olakunle Fatukasi in 2020. Djabome paced Rutgers in tackles in 7-of-12 games and has five outings with 10 or more. That includes a high of 14 stops in the wins over Howard and Minnesota. The Longueuil, Québec, Canada, native also owns a team-high seven tackles-for-loss so far, posting sacks versus Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan State. He added forced fumbles versus Virginia Tech and Wisconsin. Djabome joins Fatukasi (2020-21) and Steve Longa (2015) as RU linebackers to earn a spot on one of the top three All-Big Ten teams.


OL KWABENA ASAMOAH
Asamoah has started all 12 games this season at right guard for the Scarlet Knights. The Pickerington, Ohio, native has been part of an offensive line that has paved the way for the third-best rushing attack (176.3 yards per game) in the Big Ten, on track for RU's best placement since joining the league. The unit has permitted two or less sacks in 9-of-12 games with none permitted five times. Asamoah is rated as the No. 10 offensive guard in the Big Ten by Pro Football Focus, coming off an offseason where he earned the Mark Mills Second Effort Award as the most improved offensive player during spring practice. This marks his first All-Big Ten recognition.


DL KYONTE HAMILTON
A versatile player, Hamilton has started all 12 games with eight starts on the interior and four on the edge of the defensive line. The District Heights, Maryland, native has totaled 32 tackles with 4.5 for loss and sacks against Nebraska, UCLA (1.5) and Minnesota. A sack versus the Bruins resulted in a fumble he recovered himself. In addition, Hamilton had a career-high eight tackles in the win over Washington and batted down passes thrown by USC and Maryland. He has played in 50 consecutive games for the Scarlet Knights. This marks his first All-Big Ten recognition.


DB ROBERT LONGERBEAM
Longerbeam leads the Big Ten with 11 pass breakups, adding an interception late in the game to seal the win at Virginia Tech. The Alexandria, Virginia, native is tied for second among active FBS players with 41 career passes defended (37 breakups, four interceptions) in 52 games, deflecting eight over the last five contests, including three in the victory over Minnesota. He also owns 38 tackles on the season with a high of eight opposing Virginia Tech and Maryland. Longerbeam is a team captain and collects honorable mention for the second straight year.


LS AUSTIN RIGGS
Riggs handled all long snaps for field goals and punts throughout all 12 games. The unit connected on 13 field goals, including each of the last 11 attempts. That included a 4-for-4 showing in snowy conditions in the recent win at Michigan State. The Scarlet Knights downed 15 punts inside the 20 with a clean operation in 46 attempts. Riggs is from Eagle, Idaho, and this marks the first season of long snapper recognition in the Big Ten.


WR IAN STRONG
Strong has hauled in a receiving touchdown in each of the last four games, the first Scarlet Knight to achieve the feat since Mark Harrison in 2011. Overall, the Coram, New York, native owns 38 receptions for 571 yards and five scores in 2024. The 15.2 yards per reception rank No. 11 in the Big Ten. He has picked up at least three catches in each of the last five games played, posting a career-high seven receptions in the win at Maryland. He had a 65-yard grab against Minnesota, while totaling a personal-best 110 yards at Virginia Tech. That included a catch-and-run of 63 yards late in the game to set up the winning field goal to beat the Hokies. This marks his first All-Big Ten recognition.


DL AARON LEWIS
Lewis collected honorable-mention status for the third consecutive year. The Williamstown, New Jersey, native posted sacks versus Nebraska, Maryland and Illinois with 27 tackles overall. He also batted down passes versus Akron and Maryland. Lewis, who has played in 53 games for RU, joins Christian Izien (2020-22) and Adam Korsak (2018-22) as Scarlet Knights to merit All-Big Ten recognition in three different seasons.


DB SHAQUAN LOYAL
Loyal has started all 12 games at defensive back in various roles, totaling 70 tackles to rank second on the team. The Newark, New Jersey, native had a career-high 13 stops at Maryland, while posting 10 versus Wisconsin and Illinois. He also brought in interceptions versus Akron and Wisconsin, adding seven pass breakups. Loyal contributed a fumble recovery that helped lead to the go-ahead touchdown in the win over Minnesota. This marks his first All-Big Ten recognition.


LB TYREEM POWELL
A team captain, Powell has totaled 49 tackles in nine games. He forced a fumble against Minnesota that sparked a comeback win in the fourth quarter, ending the game with a season-best eight tackles. The Vineland, New Jersey, native broke up two passes versus Washington and had tackle-for-loss on his first play from scrimmage of the season at Virginia Tech. This marks his first All-Big Ten recognition.


OL GUS ZILINSKAS
Zilinskas has started all 12 games at center for the Scarlet Knights. The Englewood, Colorado, native has been part of an offensive line that has paved the way for the third-best rushing attack (176.3 yards per game) in the Big Ten, on track for RU's best placement since joining the league. The unit has permitted two or less sacks in 9-of-12 games with none permitted five times. He is rated as the No. 7 center in the Big Ten by Pro Football Focus. Zilinskas was also honorable mention in 2023 and has started each of the last 25 games at the position.


OL REGGIE SUTTON
Sutton is in his seventh season with the Scarlet Knights and has impacted the program on and off the field. He is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and was selected to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society. The Baltimore, Maryland, native is also active within Chop4Change, a program that involves giving back to the community. He earned his undergraduate degree in labor studies in 2022 and holds a 3.9 GPA as a graduate student in the labor studies and employment relations program. Sutton has played in 39 career games with 20 starts on the offensive line for the Scarlet Knights, including making a comeback from an injury that forced him to missed parts of two seasons. He has seen action in eight games in 2024.

The Scarlet Knights are bowl eligible and are poised to earn the 13th bowl invitation in program history. For fans interested in receiving bowl ticket information, please submit the 2024 Rutgers Bowl Interest Form. Details will be sent out as they become available in the coming weeks.

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