PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Following a team vote, QB Athan Kaliakmanis, DB Robert Longerbeam, DB Joe Lusardi, RB Kyle Monangai, LB Tyreem Powell and LB Mohamed Toure were selected as the 2024 Rutgers football captains. The group leads the Scarlet Knights into the Aug. 29 season opener versus Howard. Lusardi, Monangai and Toure also served as captains last year.


ATHAN KALIAKMANIS
Kaliakmanis enters his first season at Rutgers after playing in 23 games with 17 starts at quarterback for Minnesota the previous two seasons. He completed 216-of-405 passes for 2,784 yards and 17 touchdowns, adding 234 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. The Antioch, Illinois, native has three games with three touchdown passes and posted a career-high 319 passing yards in 2022 versus Wisconsin.


ROBERT LONGERBEAM
Longerbeam was one of two players in the Big Ten with double-digit pass breakups in 2023, ranking fourth in the league with 0.85 passes defended per game (10 breakups, one interception). That included three passes deflected in the win at Indiana and two fumbles forced in the comeback over Michigan State. The defensive back from Alexandria, Virginia, additionally had a pick versus Northwestern, a sack against Virginia Tech, pounced on a muffed punt at Indiana and totaled 43 tackles in 13 starts. He was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media and is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.


JOE LUSARDI
Lusardi enters his fifth season in the program with 37 games of experience. The Summit, New Jersey, native has totaled 15 tackles with action at safety and on special teams. Lusardi is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.


KYLE MONANGAI
The Big Ten's leading rusher in 2023, Monangai racked up 1,262 rushing yards with seven 100-yard games and three with 150 or more yards. The running back was voted Second Team All-Big Ten, ranked No. 12 nationally, second in the league and sixth in the school record book with 242 carries. He scored eight touchdowns, including a score on 163 rushing yards to garner MVP in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl win over Miami. The Roseland, New Jersey, native rated as the top running back in the Big Ten, best in the Power 5 and No. 5 nationally by Pro Football Focus. Monangai is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was recently named to the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award watch lists.


TYREEM POWELL
Powell has played in 33 games the last three seasons, totaling 144 tackles with eight for loss and five sacks, adding eight passes defended (seven breakups, one interception) and a forced fumble. The linebacker led Rutgers with 53 tackles last year before missing the final five games due to injury. The Vineland, New Jersey, native posted a career-high 11 stops in the win over Virginia Tech, contributing sacks versus Northwestern and at Michigan. Powell is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was recently named to the Comeback Player of the Year watch list.


MOHAMED TOURE
Toure returned to the field after missing the 2022 season to play all 13 games and rank second on the defense with 93 tackles, including a team-high 9.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. He posted a career-high 11 stops versus Maryland and had an interception against Ohio State. The linebacker from Pleasantville, New Jersey, was named as a Comeback Player of the Year semifinalist, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in the coaches and media votes and rated as the No. 7 linebacker in the Big Ten by Pro Football Focus. He was recently named to the Butkus Award watch list.

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