Janarion Grant Must Become More Involved In Offense for Rutgers Football

Rutgers doesn’t have much to look forward to this season following multiple waves of arrests arrests that stripped the team of numerous starters. If that wasn’t enough, head coach Kyle Flood was also suspended and won’t be able to rejoin the team until the week of the Indiana game that will be played on October 17. It’s a dark time for the program, but they still have talent on the roster who they can groom for success in the next the next couple of years.

The Scarlet Knights are off to a 1-2 start and suffered two bad losses in the last two weeks, but one point of optimism is receiver/kick returner, Janarion Grant.

The junior showed flashes for the Scarlet Knights last season and burst onto the scene two weeks ago against Washington State with two late special teams touchdowns to give Rutgers the lead each time. The team couldn’t hold the lead in either instance and the team lost to a bad Cougars team.

Grant has been dynamic to say the least on special teams this year and interim coach Norries Wilson will have to put together a game plan to get him more involved on offense as well if the team has any shot to win a game in conference play. Penn State was able to contain Grant in their recent game, holding him to four receptions for just 22 yards. Quarterback Chris Laviano doesn’t have many weapons which means you should expect to see him targeting Grant with regularity this season.

With senior captain Leonte Carroo out indefinitely following an arrest and suspension, the Scarlet Knights will need to find playmakers elsewhere. Without a lot of depth, Grant should be asked to carry much of the offensive load moving forward if the team is expected to have any kind of success.

Jason Shawley is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com covering Big Ten Football. Follow him on Twitter @jshawls.