Is Kyle Monangai playing today? Exploring Rutgers star tailback’s availability

Kyle Monangai is a key part of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights offense. The Scarlet Knights (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten) operate a rush-heavy offense, and Monangai is the lead running back on the squad.

Let's examine Monangai's availability ahead of Rutgers' Week 11 game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Is Kyle Monangai playing today?

No, Kyle Monangai is not playing in today's game against the Golden Gophers. According to Pete Thamel, the Scarlet Knights will be without Monangai against Minnesota today.

The RB1 suffered an undisclosed injury against the USC Trojans on Oct. 25. He'll be joined on the sidelines by DE Wesley Bailey, who is ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will likely utilize a running back committee comprised of Samuel Brown V and Antwan Raymond to replace Monangai's productivity. They could also pivot to a pass-heavy system, one that they haven't utilized in the 2024 season, with only Ian Strong and Dymere Miller having 100+ receiving yards games in 2024.

How has Kyle Monangai performed this season?

Kyle Monangai is having a superb 2024 college football season. The Scarlet Knights RB1 has racked up 172 carries, 931 rushing yards, and 10 touchdowns in eight games. He has amassed the stat line while averaging 5.4 per carry, which is a career-high.

Monangai has led the Scarlet Knights in rushing yards in every game this season. He has rushed for over 100 yards four times and racked up 208 rushing yards against the Akron Zips earlier this season. He's projected to surpass his 1,262 career-high rushing yards, which he achieved in the 2023 season.

The Scarlet Knights will have their work cut out in Week 11 as they're set to face off against an in-form Minnesota side. The Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-3, 4-2) enter the game on a streak of four consecutive victories, while the Scarlet Knights have dropped four in a row. It'll be interesting to see how Rutgers can replace Monangai's productivity and keep the scoreline respectable in the process.