Rutgers' Justin Goodwin

Rutgers sophomore Justin Goodwin is switching to cornerback from running back.

(Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)

PISCATAWAY -- After receiving bad news on the injury front with the uncertain status of freshman cornerback Dre Boggs, it didn't take long for Kyle Flood to react. The Rutgers football coach on Wednesday responded by moving his team's second-leading rusher to cornerback.

Justin Goodwin, who was enjoying a solid summer on offense after rushing for 521 yards and five touchdowns last fall as a freshman, is getting a look at cornerback. Goodwin's switch from running back comes a day after Boggs -- who had worked his way to first-team corner -- sustained a lower-body injury in the first of two double-session practices Tuesday.

Flood said Goodwin will play cornerback at least through Saturday's scrimmage, and didn't rule out moving him back to running back. Flood also didn't rule out possibly playing Goodwin at both running back and cornerback in the same game this season.

With Boggs expected to be out indefinitely, Goodwin will join a cornerback group that currently includes sophomore Anthony Cioffi, fifth-year Gareef Glashen, freshman Kam Lott, freshman Isaiah Wharton, freshman Darian Dailey and third-year sophomore Brian Verbitski. Nadir Barnwell is in that mix to start, but his status for the opener is unknown as he nurses an ankle injury.

Heading into preseason camp, no position group was more scrutinized than cornerback after Rutgers yielded 4,056 passing yards last season. Now, with the injury situation and lack of proven depth, all eyes will be on the CB corps heading into the Aug. 28 opener at pass-happy Washington State.

The Cougars led the nation last season in both completions and pass attempts behind Connor Halliday, a now fifth-year senior who threw for 4,597 yards and 34 touchdowns on 449-for-714 passing. Rutgers last season ranked 120th out of 123 schools in pass defense, allowing 312 yards per game.

Despite Goodwin's strong camp at running back, his move to defense makes sense considering a deep stable of rushers that includes fourth-year junior Paul James, third-year sophomore Desmon Peoples, promising freshmen Josh Hicks and Robert Martin and redshirt freshman Devan Carter.

Faced a similar injury concerns at cornerback last season, Flood responded by moving wide receiver Ruhann Peele to the defensive back for a four-game stretch in November. Peele, who is back playing at wide receiver, is sidelined for the season opener and perhaps longer with an upper-body injury.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.