By any measure, whether it's career-games started or statistical production, Rutgers coach Chris Ash will field his most experienced team since taking over in 2016.

Midway through the 2017 campaign, we analyzed why Rutgers was struggling to be competitive in Ash's second campaign.

One major issue was depth, and the reason why Rutgers lacked experience on the two-deep was because of a failure to retain players from previous recruiting classes.

The analysis found that 43.2 percent of the players (32 of 74) from the 2013, 2014 and 2015 recruiting classes were no longer part of the Rutgers program in 2017.

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

That shouldn't be the case in 2019.

Barring a rash of transfers over the next few months, Rutgers should have plenty of upperclassmen sprinkled throughout its two-deep.

Consider:

Rutgers signed 68 players combined in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 recruiting classes. Of that total, 54 recruits remain in the program.

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Remember when we wrote that 43.2 percent of the players from the 2013-15 recruiting classes were no longer part of the program in 2017?

Well, 78.3 percent of the players from Ash's 2016-18 recruiting classes are expected to be part of the program in 2019.

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Can Rutgers go from 1-11 to a bowl game in 2019? Here's why a dramatic turnaround is possible https://t.co/HcngrKZChR #rutgers — Keith Sargeant (@KSargeantNJ) January 10, 2019

Here's a statistical look of what Rutgers returns in 2019:

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Why Rutgers coach Chris Ash didn't shy away from 1-11 on the recruiting trail | Random Signing Day observations

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Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

28

The total of players who have started games in their Rutgers careers.

This includes 20 offensive players and eight defensive players.

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The offensive players with starting experience are:

QB Artur Sitkowski (11 games, 11 starts)

RB Raheem Blackshear (23 games, 10 starts)

RB Isaih Pacheco (12 games, 3 starts)

FB Max Anthony (22 games, 6 starts)

TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart (25 games, 5 starts)

TE Daevon Robinson (12 games, 4 starts)

TE Travis Vokolek (19 games, 9 starts)

WR Hunter Hayek (23 games, 2 starts)

WR Mohamed Jabbie (17 games, 9 starts)

WR Shameen Jones (12 games, 7 starts)

WR Bo Melton (24 games, 10 starts)

WR Everett Wormley (21 games, 6 starts)

OL Jonah Jackson (29 games, 16 starts)

OL Nick Krimin (19 games, 3 starts)

OL Mike Lonsdorf (10 games, 4 starts)

OL Mike Maietti (21 games, 21 starts)

OL Kamaal Seymour (34 games, 29 starts)

OL Reggie Sutton (4 games, 1 start)

OL Zach Venesky (9 games, 5 starts)

OL Sam Vretman (13 games, 2 starts)

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The defensive players who have started games are:

DL Elorm Lumor (23 games, 13 starts)

DL Willington Previlon (24 games, 6 starts)

DL Julius Turner (24 games, 11 starts)

DL Mike Tverdov (12 games, 2 starts)

LB Rashawn Battle (16 games, 1 start)

LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams (23 games, 18 starts)

DB Damon Hayes (35 games, 21 starts)

CB Avery Young (12 games, 11 starts)

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Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

120

Rutgers ranked last in the Big Ten in scoring offense, totaling 162 points (an average of 13.5 points-per-game).

The Scarlet Knights return 74.1 percent of their scoring production from last season.

Here are Rutgers' returning scoring leaders:

Justin Davidovicz: 44 points

Raheem Blackshear: 30 points

Isaih Pacheco: 18 points

Travis Vokolek: 12 points

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10 players who will determine Rutgers' football success in 2019

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

2,972

Rutgers returns 76.9 percent of its total yards (3,862).

Here are Rutgers' returning all-purpose yardage leaders:

Raheem Blackshear: 1,136

Isaih Pacheco: 910

Bo Melton: 268

Travis Vokolek: 184

Eddie Lewis: 173

Shameen Jones: 162

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1,124

Rutgers ranked 12th in the Big Ten in rushing offense last season, totaling 1,609 yards (an average of 134.1 yards-per-game).

The Scarlet Knights return 69.9 percent of their net-rushing yards.

Here are Rutgers' returning rushing leaders:

Raheem Blackshear: 586

Isaih Pacheco: 551

Charles Snorweah: 23

Bo Melton: 23

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1,216

Rutgers ranked last in the Big Ten in passing offense last season, totaling 1,586 yards (an average of 132.2 yards-per-game).

The Scarlet Knights return 76.7 percent of their passing yards.

Here are Rutgers' returning passing leaders:

Artur Sitkowski: 1,158

Isaih Pacheco: 58

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1,256

No Big Ten team got less production out of its wide receivers than Rutgers last season.

But the good news is the Scarlet Knights return 79.2 percent of their receiving yards.

Here are Rutgers' returning leaders in receiving yards:

Raheem Blackshear: 367

Bo Melton: 245

Eddie Lewis: 173

Travis Vokolek: 184

Shameen Jones: 155

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Can Rutgers go from 1-11 to a bowl game in 2019? Here's why a dramatic turnaround is possible

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

438

While Rutgers boasts plenty of experience on offense, the Scarlet Knights lack returning production on defense.

Rutgers returns just 48.8 percent of its tackles from last season.

Rutgers graduates five of its top-7 tackle leaders, including its top-2 (Trevor Morris and Deonte Roberts).

Here are Rutgers' returning tackle leaders:

(In parentheses is where each player ranked among team leaders in tackles)

Avery Young: 66 (3)

Damon Hayes: 63 (5)

Tyshon Fogg: 48 (T-8)

Tyreek Maddox-Williams: 48 (T-8)

Elorm Lumor: 35 (11)

Julius Turner: 34 (12)

Mike Tverdov: 31 (T-13)

Willington Previlon: 23 (15)

Olakunle Fatukasi 20 (T-16)

Rashawn Battle: 20 (T-16)

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11

Rutgers ranked last in the Big Ten in sacks, recording just 16 in 12 games.

The Scarlet Knights return 68.8 percent of those sacks, with Elorm Lumor and Mike Tverdov the returning leaders at four apiece.

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2

Rutgers ranked last in the Big Ten in interceptions gained last season, picking off nine passes.

The team returns just 22.2 percent of those interceptions, with Damon Hayes (2 INTs) the lone returnee with an INT to his credit last season.

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5 questions facing Rutgers as the college football offseason begins https://t.co/XFNDjyitr7 — Keith Sargeant (@KSargeantNJ) January 8, 2019

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10 bold Rutgers predictions for 2019

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