Heisman hype starts early for Rutgers' Rice

PISCATAWAY - With football season just over two months away, Rutgers Athletics unveiled its Web site for Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice Wednesday.

The Web site, SeeRayRun.com, is a comprehensive site featuring everything you need to know about the Rutgers junior running back.

The site includes a complete biography on Rice in addition to game-by-game statistics, highlight video, photo gallery, and news and notes on the All-America running back.

The Web site will be updated throughout the preseason and regular season, including video clips, news and notes, and feature stories on Rice.

"Ray is certainly a Heisman Trophy candidate from whom we expect big things this season," said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.

Rice enters the 2007 season as the nation's third-leading active rusher with 2,914 career rushing yards. He needs 201 yards to become Rutgers' all-time leading rusher.

"It is an honor to be mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate," stated Rice. "It is great exposure for the program and I just want to continue to be the best player I can be this season."

In 2006, Rice finished second in the nation with 1,794 rushing yards to go along with 20 touchdowns. He established a Big East single-season record with the 1,794 yards.

Rice was a finalist for the Maxwell Award last season, in addition to earning Second Team All-America honors by several media outlets. In 2007, Rice was named to the prestigious Playboy All-America team.

Three RU standouts named to Maxwell and Bednarik watch lists

Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski announced on Friday the 2007 Watch Lists for the 71st Maxwell Award and the 13th Chuck Bednarik Award. Each list consists of 65 players who were selected based on their performance during the 2006 season.

Rutgers has three players on the lists, including Rice on the Maxwell Award Watch List, while senior defensive tackle Eric Foster (Homestead, Fla.) and junior free safety Courtney Greene (New Rochelle, N.Y.) are on the Bednarik Award Watch List.

The Maxwell Award has been presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell.

The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagle great. Mr. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame '67.

Foster earned First Team All-America honors by the Football Writers Association of America last year after recording 51 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Both Foster and Rice were named Preseason All-Americans by several media outlets this summer, including Athlon and The Sporting News.

Greene was a Second Team All-Big East honoree last season after finishing second on the team with 82 tackles. He also led Rutgers with four interceptions.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced in early November and three finalists for each award will be announced Nov. 26. The winners of the 2007 Maxwell and Bednarik awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 6.

The formal presentation of the awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah's Entertainment Atlantic City in March 2008.

The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club's Selection Committee, and the Maxwell Club reserves the right to make additions and deletions to the lists as the 2007 season unfolds.

All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA sports information directors, head coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for the awards.

Rutgers announces two football kickoff times

Kickoff times for two Rutgers home games vs. Buffalo and Norfolk State were announced recently.

The Scarlet Knights open the 2007 season Thursday, Aug. 30, vs. Buffalo at 7 p.m. at Rutgers Stadium. Homecoming 2007 will take place Saturday, Sept. 15, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Norfolk State. Television information for both games will be announced in July.

The Scarlet Knights begin the season with five consecutive home games.

Six of Rutgers' 12 games now have kickoff times, including four national television broadcasts on ESPN or ESPN2. The Scarlet Knights play on ESPN vs. Navy (Friday, Sept. 7, 7 p.m.), USF (Thursday, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.) and at Louisville (Thursday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m.) while the game at Army (Friday, Nov. 9, 8 p.m.) will air on ESPN2.

The Scarlet Knights return 36 letter-winners and 14 starters from last season's 11-2 squad that finished No. 12 in the nation and defeated Kansas State 37-10 in the inaugural Texas Bowl.

Rutgers reports for the opening of preseason camp Aug. 2.