Howard quarterback Tyriq Starks is back for his senior season, but his last year saw him toss nine touchdowns alongside a whopping 12 interceptions. That's a stat Rutgers is absolutely eyeing up as they prepare to host the Bison on Friday, September 25th, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. This matchup is a bit of a weird one on the schedule, coming a week *after* the Scarlet Knights already opened conference play against USC. You rarely see that kind of nonconference finish.
Howard's Offense: Run-Heavy With a Loose Cannon?
The Bison are bringing back a lot of their firepower on offense, and it looks like they'll be leaning hard on their ground game. Starks completed 57.9 percent of his passes last season, hitting 176 of 304 attempts for 1,801 yards, but those 12 picks are a glaring red flag. He did add 138 carries for 193 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, so he's not a statue back there. Their lead running back from last season, sophomore Anthonay Reagan Jr., returns after a solid year: 122 carries for 671 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Backup Travis Kearny also got good touches, with 80 carries for 318 yards and three scores. They're also returning their top two wideouts: Andre Cooper II led in receiving yards with 23 catches for 364 yards and two touchdowns, and Breylin Smith led in overall catches, pulling in 29 for 234 yards and one touchdown. Even tight end Montrell Walker is back after 11 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. The pieces are there, but how will Starks manage those turnovers?Defensive Gaps and an Easy Win for the Knights
On defense, Howard got absolutely gutted by the transfer portal. They lost both of their sack leaders from last season, plus one of their best defensive backs. That's a massive hit to their pass rush and secondary. The good news for them is that tackle leader Kendrick Green is back, after putting up 60 total tackles and two interceptions last year. They did bring in Semaj Pierre, a former wide receiver from Rice, who had a pretty underwhelming six catches for 12 yards in his one season in Houston. If he's a defensive answer, that's a tough look. The message is clear: if Rutgers can shut down that run game early and effectively, this one should be a cruise. The Knights need to build a big lead fast and not give Howard any reason to hang around. This should be an easy 30-point plus victory for Rutgers, seriously. They've beaten Howard three times before, all by double digits, including a dominant 44-7 win in their last matchup in 2024. Next up on the schedule for the Knights after this nonconference wrap-up is a home game against Indiana on October 3rd. Shutting down Howard's run and forcing Starks to throw into those lost defensive weapons is the absolute key to setting the tone for the rest of the season.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.