Rutgers’ Greg Schiano ‘certainly anticipates’ Gavin Wimsatt returning for 2023 season

Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt (2) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Greg Schiano does not see Gavin Wimsatt going anywhere.

The Rutgers head coach said Saturday that he “certainly anticipates” the redshirt freshman quarterback being on the Scarlet Knights roster next fall, although he did not address whether Wimsatt would be the starting quarterback. But Schiano also admitted that “nothing would shock” him given the unprecedented player movement within the current reality of college sports.

“I certainly anticipate him being on the roster. I’ve been led to believe nothing else,” Schiano said following his team’s 37-0 loss to Maryland. “Again, to think that anyone knows what another human is thinking, you never know. You never, ever know. So, would anything shock me? Nothing would shock me. But do I think we have relationships with our players that are above and beyond playing on a field? Yeah.”

Wimsatt was not made available to the media following Saturday’s loss. He has not spoken to the media since the Scarlet Knights (4-8, 1-8) fell to Michigan State in East Lansing two weeks ago, a game that featured the best performance of his young career.

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The Owensboro, Kentucky, native started the final five games of the season for Rutgers, taking over the role from veteran starter Noah Vedral and sophomore back-up Evan Simon ahead of a road trip to Minnesota last month. It put an end to the quarterback carousel from the first half of the season, when injury and indecision from former offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson and company led to Simon, Wimsatt, Vedral and converted tight end Johnny Langan all playing significant snaps behind center prior to the bye week.

Wimsatt threw for 757 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions on 65-of-145 passing (44.8%) while rushing for 156 yards on 21 non-sack carries in seven appearances on the season.

In his five Big Ten starts, Wimsatt threw for 640 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions on 55-of-122 passing (45%).

Entering the final weekend of the season, Wimsatt had the second-worst completion percentage (44.7%) among FBS quarterbacks with at least 125 pass attempts, and an 5-of-13 day against the Terrapins surely did not help things.

Wimsatt’s time behind center featured flashes of his immense potential and long stretches of struggles at the helm of the Big Ten’s second-worst offense. Only Northwestern scored less points and gained less yards in conference play than the Scarlet Knights, who averaged 11.6 and 252.4, respectively, in nine games.

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Wimsatt shined against Michigan State’s dreadful defense, setting a career-high in passing yards (236), touchdown passes (two) and completions (20) in East Lansing, but struggled mightily against Michigan, Penn State and Minnesota’s stout units.

No game exemplified Wimsatt’s up-and-down season more than the meeting with the Wolverines. After throwing for 122 yards and a touchdown in the first half, he threw three interceptions in a disastrous third quarter that helped turn a 3-point halftime lead into a 38-point blowout loss.

Rutgers will bank on Wimsatt correcting his recurring mistakes, building on his accumulated experience and develop to the point where his performance against Michigan State becomes the standard.

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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.

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