Rutgers football has another reason to celebrate Marco Battaglia.
The Rutgers legend has been named to Sporting News’ 1990s All-Decade Team, adding another line to a résumé that already makes him one of the most familiar names in program history. Battaglia also continues to stay connected to the school, which honored him by naming the football team’s practice complex after him.
His final season at Rutgers in 1995 was the kind of year that still stands out in the record book. Battaglia finished as a consensus All-American and also earned All-American honors from UPI in 2024. He was everywhere for the Scarlet Knights that fall, leading the nation’s tight ends with 69 catches, 894 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions.
That season also put him in a unique place in college football history. Battaglia became the first tight end ever to be named a conference player of the year when he took home Big East Conference Player of the Year honors. He also led all receivers in the conference in catches.
One of the signature moments of his Rutgers career came against No. 6 Penn State, when Battaglia put together a monster performance with 13 receptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns. That game remains one of the most memorable individual outings in Rutgers history.
Battaglia’s 1995 season drew national attention across the sport, with recognition from the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp, Football Coaches Association, Football News, Pro and College Football News Weekly, and UPI.
In Other News...
Greg Schiano Sees A New Way For Rutgers To Build Depth
A new NCAA eligibility rule could quietly reshape how Rutgers and every other program handles development, and Greg Schiano sounds like a coach who sees the upside right away. The so-called five-for-five rule replaces the old patchwork of redshirt and waiver policies with one five-year window that begins after an athletes 19th birthday, giving staffs a simpler way to manage careers and a little more freedom to get younger players onto the field.
For Schiano, the appeal is straightforward: more chances to use freshmen and other inexperienced players in real games without burning a year of eligibility. In a sport where depth often matters most when the score gets out of hand, the change could help Rutgers build out its roster in a more practical way, even if the broader impact of the rule will take some time to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Defense Is Taking Shape Around One Crucial Camp Trend
Rutgers has spent camp trying to get comfortable on defense, and a couple of newcomers have been central to that process. Linebacker Ty Morris arrived in January and has had months to digest Travis Johansens system, while defensive back Mikey Munn came in this summer after spending time in Johansens defense at South Dakota. For a unit still finding its shape, that kind of familiarity matters, especially when the staff is trying to build answers quickly.
Morris and Munn give the Scarlet Knights a pair of players who can help bridge the gap between what Johansen wants to teach and what the defense can execute on the field. Rutgers also announced a new Touchdown Terrace for fans in the student section, a small but visible sign of the program trying to keep momentum around the team. The more pressing question is how much those camp developments will translate once the real pressure starts. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Volleyball Has A Home Slate Fans Can Actually Rally Around
Rutgers womens volleyball is starting to give fans something tangible to circle on the calendar, with season and individual game tickets now on sale for the 2026 campaign. It will be a milestone year too, the programs 50th season, and the home schedule has a little more substance to it than a typical offering. The Scarlet Knights will bring 12 opponents to Jersey Mikes Arena, including nine Big Ten matches and a mix of nonconference dates that should help make the fall feel a bit more connected for anyone looking to follow along.
There is also a wrinkle at the end of the slate that gives the schedule some personality. A few of the doubleheaders will be sold with single admission, which should make for an easy day at the arena, and the home finale against Maryland will move to the College Avenue Gym with free admission. For a program trying to build more of a home-court rhythm, it is the kind of setup that gives Rutgers a chance to turn more dates into reasons for fans to show up. [Read more 🡒]