Tariq Cole

The three members of the Rutgers football team joining head coach Chris Ash later this month in Chicago for the 47th Annual Big Ten Media Days and Kickoff Luncheon have been announced. Seniors Blessuan Austin, Tariq Cole and Deonte Roberts will take the trip to the Windy City to represent the Scarlet Knights in front of the conference’s media members next week, according to a press release from the conference.

The trip is Austin’s second consecutive to Big Ten Media Days after his appearance in last season’s preseason luncheon in New York City. The senior cornerback enters his final year of college football after spending the offseason recovering from an ACL injury that ended his 2017 season early. Along with improving physically, the New York native developed from a leadership standpoint, according to his coaches, qualities which will prove useful in representing his program in Chicago.

“He's really been a bright spot in a limited role with the things he's done. More importantly, he's becoming a leader outside of being on the field,” Rutgers cornerbacks coach Cory Robinson said of Austin. “He can't physically contribute as much, but he's really taken a role of coaching those guys, encouraging those guys down-in and down-out as well as in the classroom and the meeting room.”

Roberts enters his senior season as a favorite to be selected as a team captain by his peers. The middle linebacker held the title as a junior last season, proving his credentials as a leader that Ash uses as an example for his underclassman. With another year of experience under his belt and a chip on his shoulder as his college career comes to a close, Roberts is a strong candidate to represent Rutgers in Chicago.

“It's different being a senior where guys are looking up to you,” Roberts said after the first week of spring camp . “Knowing it's your last year, your last go-around, you treat things a little differently. You have perspective on things that you didn't get before. It's just taking steps and trying to be a leader by example.”

Cole is among the most commonly requested member of the Scarlet Knights by the media throughout his career. Seen nearly every week speaking to reporters in the team meeting room after Ash’s weekly press conference on Mondays during the fall, Cole has a plethora of experience in speaking for his peers.

Highly praised by Pro Football Focus throughout his career on the Banks, Cole is aware of his presence in the offensive line room. He takes his responsibilities as a leader for his unit seriously as he prepares to anchor the group.