PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Perhaps the biggest contributions from Antwan Raymond on Thursday night came not in running the ball, but in the way the Rutgers football running back consistently picked up on loose defenders and provided pass protection. It was this subtle nuance that helped Rutgers maintain things offensively in a 34-31 season-opening win over Ohio.
The boxscore doesn't lie as Raymond picked up where he left off last season, leading Rutgers with 88 rushing yards on 14 carries and scoring the game's opening touchdown. And while it appears that Raymond is already polished and in mid-season form running the ball, on three noticeable occasions against Ohio he picked up on the pressure and provided outstanding blocking in the backfield.
''One thing we pride ourselves on is pass protection in the running back room,'' Raymond told Scarlet Nation after the game.