Rutgers puts D-line coach on the disabled list
On the eve of its season opener, Rutgers has added an unusual name to its injury list.
Defensive line coach Jim Panagos will miss this season after undergoing knee replacement surgery, head coach Greg Schiano told NJ.com.
Panagos will remain with the program but is unable to provide on-field instruction. In his place, Rutgers will promote quality control coach Charlie Noonan, a former team captain as a Scarlet Knight, while also giving an increased role to GA Jamaal Westerman, also a former Knight.
Panagos is another member of the Rutgers staff with scarlet in his blood. He coached the Knights' defensive line from 2012-15, after Schiano left for Tampa Bay. Panagos was Minnesota's defensive line coach in 2019, and held the same post at Temple from 2017-18.
“He tried really hard," Schiano told the site of Panagos. “If there is a silver lining here, we have two guys coaching the defensive linemen who played in our system, understand our culture and were trained by Jim. We certainly lose something, but it’s as good a situation as a replacement plan that you can have. ... That’s where we stand, and we’ll roll with that."
Rutgers will open the 2.0 version of the Greg Schiano era at Michigan State on Saturday (noon ET, BTN).
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
