Rutgers has rebuilt depth in its running back room.
The Scarlet Knights received a commitment from Clay Thevenin, a running back transfer from Louisiana Tech, he announced on social media Sunday night.
The 5-foot-10, 202-pounder has one year of eligibility remaining after playing two years of junior college and a year at Louisiana Tech. Given how many former junior college players have successfully sued the NCAA for more eligibility — including Rutgers safety Jett Elad last fall — that is not set in stone.
Thevenin is the 11th transfer to commit to the Scarlet Knights this offseason, and the first running back. He will take spots left by outgoing transfers Samuel Brown and CJ Campbell, and projects to compete with returnees Ja’Shon Benjamin, Edd Guerrier and Terrell Mitchell for snaps behind star junior Antwan Raymond.
Thevenin rushed for 634 yards — 448 of which (70.7%) came after contact — and eight touchdowns on 131 carries last season. He forced 34 missed tackles and had 19 runs of 10-plus yards, per ProFootballFocus.
As a receiver, Thevenin caught 33 passes on 37 targets for 262 yards.
Here is where things stand in the transfer portal for Rutgers after Thevenin‘s commitment:
INCOMING (FORMER SCHOOL IN PARENTHESIS)
— QB Dylan Lonergan (Boston College)
— RB Clay Thevenin (Louisiana Tech).
— LB Ty Morris (Rice)
— DT Rondo Porter (Appalachian State)
— OL Isaiah Cook (Delaware State)
— OL Everett Small (Eastern Michigan)
— DB Bradlee Jones (Citadel)
— DT Jaedin Lee (Maine)
— TE Kam Anthony (Ball State)
— DE Malachi Smith (Toledo)
— CB Zahmir Dawud (Villanova)
OUTGOING (LANDING SPOT IN PARENTHESIS)
— WR Ian Strong (California)
— CB Bo Mascoe (Texas)
— DE Jordan Walker (Georgia Tech)
— CB Jacobie Henderson (Virginia)
— LB Sam Robinson (USF)
— OT Taj White (Colorado)
— RB CJ Campbell (Duke)
— RB Samuel Brown (Temple)
— OL John Stone (Temple)
— OL Zach Aamland (Temple)
— DT Darold DeNgohe (UCLA)
— CB Renick Doralis
— CB Michael Robinson (
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— LB Talibi Kaba
— OL Carter Kadow
— WR Dane Pardridge