PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's lacrosse saw two student-athletes drafted into professional lacrosse on Tuesday night as the Premier Lacrosse League held its Collegiate Draft on ESPNU. Shane Knobloch was selected in the First Round with the fourth overall selection by the Carolina Chaos. Ross Scott was a Third Round Selection, going 20^th overall to the Chaos.

Knobloch's selection makes him the highest ever PLL draft pick out of Rutgers since the league started. He was the first RU player selected in the First Round since Connor Kirst was the No. 7 overall pick in the First Round in 2021 to the Whipsnakes. On the Chaos, he'll join RU alumn Jules Heningburg. A First Round draft pick himself, going seventh overall in the 2018 Major League Lacrosse Draft to the Florida Launch, Heningburg signed with the Chaos this offseason as a free agent. The pair of draftees will join Heningburg as the first RU alumns to play for the Chaos franchise when the league resumes this summer. Prior to Kirst and Heningburg, the highest draft pick out of Rutgers had been Keith Cromwell, who went seventh overall by the MLL's Bridgeport franchise in 2001.

"We couldn't be happier that Shane was available," Chaos head coach Andy Towers said. "He continued to impress and does not have a weakness. He's crafty and can make defenses pay. He couldn't be a better teammate. He's mentally tough. He's hyper competitive and physically tough. We're elated to pick him up in the first round."

Knobloch played in 60 games as a Scarlet Knight, where the midfielder scored 98 goals and added 49 assists for 147 points. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021, he was subsequently an All-American in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Moorestown, N.J. native was a three-time All-Big Ten selection, twice making the third team.

"With Shane, versatile is an understatement, he was the best two-handed midfielder in college game," Paul Carcaterra said on the ESPNU broadcast. "His wrist action and shooting on the run is exceptional. He's got big time vision. I love this kid."

Scott spent five seasons 'On the Banks', scoring 109 goals and adding 73 assists for 182 points in 66 career games. The West Linn, Ore. native is 11^th all-time at RU in points and 12^th in goals. A three-time All-Big Ten selection, making the First Team this season, he was an All-American in 2022 and 2023. Scott scored 50 goals in the 2022 Final Four Season, tied for the most in a season in program history.

"Ross Scott is explosive with a quick first step," Carcaterra said. "I love this pick for the Chaos."

Rutgers men's lacrosse has established a strong pipeline to the professional ranks. With these two selections, Rutgers boasts a total of 44 alumni all-time between Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and the National Lacrosse League (NLL). This success placing players in the pros has been accelerated recently, with 32 alumni coached at RU by current head coach Brian Brecht to go on to the professional level.

With these two selections, Rutgers has multiple players drafted in the same outdoor draft for the second time in the past three years of the PLL draft, and the third time since 2018.

Rutgers was one of four schools with multiple selections in the first 20 picks of the draft, joining Duke, Notre Dame and Georgetown. Rutgers was the only Big Ten school with two players drafted in the first three rounds. 

Rutgers men's lacrosse has established a strong pipeline to the professional ranks. Rutgers boasts a total of 44 alumni all-time between Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and the National Lacrosse League (NLL). This success placing players in the pros has been accelerated recently, with 32 alumni coached at RU by current head coach Brian Brecht to go on to the professional level.

The PLL season is set to begin on the weekend of June 1. Last season, RU had eight alums on PLL rosters, which did not include Joe Nardella (out with an injury) and Ronan Jacoby (who excelled in February's Champ Series and then signed with the Atlas).
 
Rutgers Players In the PLL Draft
2024: Shane Knobloch, First Round, Chaos; Ross Scott, Third Round, Chaos
2022: Colin Kirst, Third Round, Cannons; Mitch Bartolo, Fourth Round, Redwoods
2021: Connor Kirst, First Round, Whipsnakes
 
Other Rutgers Players Under Head Coach Brian Brecht Drafted by Pro Lacrosse Outdoor Teams (MLL Draft from 2015-2019)
2019: Kyle Pless, 7^th Round, Denver Outlaws
2018: Jules Heningburg, 1^st Round, Florida Launch; Michael Rexrode, 2^nd Round, Florida Launch; Christian Mazzone, Third Round Ohio Machine
2016: Zack Sikora, 7^th Round, Charlotte Hounds; Scott Bieda, 8^th Round, New York Lizards
2015: Joe Nardella, 5^th Round, Boston Cannons