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Rutgers football welcomes back a familiar face to help boost linebacker depth

Rutgers football welcomes back a familiar face to help boost linebacker depth

Yahoo22-07-2025
LAS VEGAS – Rutgers football has reunited with a former player to boost its depth at linebacker.
Coach Greg Schiano confirmed Tuesday that linebacker Austin Dean is back with the program. Dean was with the Scarlet Knights for two seasons before transferring to Georgia Tech for two seasons.
Dean in 2022 played in all 12 games and made one start. He finished with 19 tackles for the Scarlet Knights that season.
Rutgers needed some additional depth at linebacker – especially after Mohamed Toure transferred out to Miami.
Dariel Djabome and Moses Walker are likely going to start, but options behind them are relatively thin. Sam Pilof recently announced that he medically retired, and Abram Wright is still recovering from an injury he suffered last season.
So it's unclear what Dean's role will be but Schiano's giving him the opportunity to carve out a large one if he earns it.
'Competition is everything,' Schiano said in a meeting with a small group of local reporters ahead of Big Ten Media Days at Mandalay Bay. 'You're coming in and you're competing. If you go do the job, you're going to win the job.'
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football: Linebacker Austin Dean returns to program
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