Rutgers football: 3 takeaways from Pinstripe Bowl win over Miami
![Dec 28, 2023; Bronx, NY, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) celebrates his Dec 28, 2023; Bronx, NY, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) celebrates his](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_7234,h_4069,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/194/01hjs7czn1nn58jt22f7.jpg)
2. Kyle Monangai might be the Big Ten's best in 2024
It's not often you see a strong running back return for their senior season, especially when the shelf life at that position at the next level is so short, but Kyle Monangai announced a couple of weeks ago that he'd be back with Rutgers in 2024.
It was somewhat surprising to hear that and that he would play in a "meaningless" bowl game against Miami, but he is a competitor and wanted to prove himself.
And he did just that against the Hurricanes to the tune of 163 yards and a touchdown on 6.5 yards per carry. He was the best player on the field for Rutgers and he continued to make Miami pay for not closing those running lanes. His 40-yard run down inside the 5-yard-line in the fourth quarter essentially put the game away as the Scarlet Knights would go on to score the game-winning touchdown on a Gavin Wimsatt tush-push a couple of plays later.
Returning in 2024, there's a good chance the 1,000-yard rusher for Rutgers will be the best running back in the Big Ten. He's got the potential to be for sure, he just needs to build on this season.
I can see Monangai pushing for Doak Walker in 2024.