Rutgers’ roster will be significantly lighter as Chris Ash heads into his third summer camp with the Big Ten program.
Last month, it was reported that as many as eight Scarlet Knight football players were under investigation for the fraudulent use of credit cards. Two of those players, junior defensive back K.J. Gray and sophomore linebacker Brendan DeVera, have already been dismissed by the head coach for their alleged involvement.
Thursday, nj.com reported that the remaining six players -- redshirt junior linebacker/safety Malik Dixon, senior defensive back Kobe Marfo, sophomore defensive end C.J. Onyechi (pictured), redshirt freshman cornerback Edwin Lopez, redshirt freshman defensive back Naijee Jones and redshirt freshman linebacker Syhiem Simmons -- are not listed on RU’s most recent roster update and are not with the team as camp kicks off today. The website wrote that “Ash told NJ Advance Media the six players not listed on the training-camp roster are part of an ongoing investigation and he couldn’t make any comments beyond that.”
Thus far, no charges have been filed against any of the players. The Middlesex County (NJ) prosecutor’s office is “providing legal guidance” to the university’s police department, which is heading the investigation.
Of the sextet, only Onyechi (12 games) saw significant action last season. Marfo played in one game, while Jones, Lopez and Simmons took redshirts as true freshmen. Dixon came to RU as a junior college transfer this offseason.
By far the biggest loss is that of Gray, who started four of the 10 games in which he played in 2017. After leading all defensive backs in tackles (58), Gray had been expected to take over as the Scarlet Knights’ starting strong safety.