As a redshirt junior this fall, Marcus Applefield started 10 of the 12 games he played in for Rutgers. It was a breakthrough campaign for the 6-5, 308-pounder from Weeki, Wachee, Fla., who played in just 15 games combined over the previous two seasons.

Applefield would've had a good chance to start in 2018, but he is electing to go the grad-transfer route and play for another program next fall.

He announced his intentions in a Twitter post Wednesday night.

I would like to thank Rutgers University and the state of New Jersey for the past four years.I’ve had an amazing time and will love my brothers here forever. I have chosen to play my last year at another program.#jerseylove — Marcus Applefield (@applefield71) December 5, 2017

In addition to playing in 27 games over the last three seasons, Applefield was a member of the Academic All-Big Ten team in all three years.

Applefield's departure, coupled with left guard Dorian Miller's graduation, means Rutgers is losing two of its five starters along the offensive line.

Scarlet Knights offensive line coach A.J. Blazek will have plenty of options, with redshirt sophomore Jonah Jackson, freshman Micah Clark, redshirt freshman Nick Krimin and redshirt sophomore Zach Venesky expected to compete for starting jobs at the two guard spots.

With left tackle Tariq Cole, Miller, center Michael Maietti, Applefield and right tackle Kamaal Seymour starting the majority of games, Rutgers ranked second in the Big Ten in sacks allowed (18) and helped pave the way for the conference's 10th-best rushing offense.

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