Big Ten Football Preview 2015: Three Key Players For Rutgers

This week, we continue our look around the Big Ten with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the players that will be the key to success or failure of the team during the 2015 season.

Hayden Rettig, Sophomore Quarterback

One of the biggest keys to Rutgers' picking up where they left off after an eight win season comes from what they do at quarterback. Gary Nova is gone and Rettig, a LSU transfer, is the leader in the clubhouse to take the reigns from behind center.

Rettig is a former four-star prospect who has the tools to be a good signal-caller for Kyle Flood. We will see how he is able to command the offense if he wins the job.

Leonte Carroo, Senior Wide Receiver

Carroo is easily the best player on this team for 2015. After 55 catches for 1,086 yards and ten touchdowns last season, he nearly declared for the NFL Draft.

He returns to Piscataway as a lethal target in the passing game and someone that opposing defenses will mold their game around. One would assume Rettig or whoever ends up being the quarterback will lean on him heavily in the passing game.

Steve Longa, Junior Linebacker

The Rutgers defense was not great by any stretch of the imagination in 2014, but Longa led the team with 102 tackles as a sophomore. They will need more of the same in order to take a step forward on that side of the ball this upcoming season.