PISCATAWAY -- According to its website, the Guardian Cap is defined as a soft-shell helmet cover designed to reduce impact of head-to-head collisions by up to 33 percent.

It's a fancy way of saying the extra layer of protection can cut down on the risk of concussions when helmets inevitably collide in a typical football practice.

In its study of football injuries, the NCAA reported concussions make up 7.4 percent of all college-football injuries and the preseason has the highest injury rate compared with in-season and post-season practices.

A.J. Blazek, however, doesn't need any NCAA data to tell him his Rutgers offensive linemen are prone to head injuries any time they line across a fellow 300-pound linemen.

"For linemen,'' the Rutgers offensive line coach said, "it's a bang, bang, bang, bang every play. It's not the one big shot that really gets concussions. It's the o- and d-line getting the majority of them, and it's the repetitive hitting.''

After a handful of Scarlet Knights began wearing the soft-shell helmet covers during spring camp, both the offensive and defensive lines, the linebackers and the running backs are now wearing the Guardian Caps in training camp this summer.

"I'll tell you this -- because I'm not out there banging (so) I ask them: Half of (the players) say they can really tell a difference and ... the other half, they think it's kind of a nuisance the way they fit,'' Blazek said. "But it's half and half. If you got guys thinking it's less shots (to the head), that's what you want.''

This is a Guardian Cap, another layer of protection for the head worn by OL, DL, RB, LB for @RFootball. pic.twitter.com/lM3KRN1ss0 — Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 8, 2017

Count Marcus Applefield among the Rutgers players who believes the extra layer of helmet protection makes a difference.

"Big-time,'' Rutgers' right guard said. "I think they look a little goofy sometimes, but half the hits I take I don't feel as much as if I didn't have them. I like them a lot because I'm a guy who's had more than my share of concussions. I was out with a concussion at the end of last year. So I appreciate them a lot.''

Zach Venesky, Applefield's chief competition for the starting right guard job this summer, echoed that opinion.

"They help a lot,'' the redshirt sophomore said. "It's ridiculous how much it lessens the impact.''

Although they're a relatively new piece of equipment at Rutgers, the Guardian Cap have been around for the better part of this decade. Sports Illustrated reported that several Atlantic Coast Conference teams, including Clemson and Georgia Tech, began wearing them last summer.

"I wore it in high school, so I'm used to it,'' Rutgers center Jonah Jackson said. "It lessens the blow a lot. It's very comfortable. You don't realize it's on your head until it starts slipping off, then you just have to pop it back."

According to their website, Erin and Lee Hanson, the founders of the Georgia-based company, designed the equipment as a way to reduce the force of impact upon collision for football and lacrosse players. Each Guardian Cap costs $59.95 and approximately 30 of the 105 Scarlet Knights wore the padded caps during practice Friday.

"I feel like it's saving my brain a lot,'' Jackson said. "I like it.''

Rutgers defensive line coach Shane Burnham admits the padded helmets took some time to get used to this summer.

"It doesn't sound like football,'' he said. "I'm used to hearing the helmets crack. It don't sound like 'ball.''

Still, Burnham is keeping an open mind as his defensive line charges wear them.

"It keeps them healthy,'' he said. "That's the first time I've been around them. At Florida State and Clemson, some people I know there, they like them. The kids seem to like them.''

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