Aj Surace will make his first career start on Friday night, taking over for Rutgers against Boston College after Dylan Lonergan was injured late in Rutgers’ season-opening lost to UMass. The move gives Rutgers a new starter immediately after one game and hands Surace the chance he did not win in the offseason.
Surace lost the quarterback battle to Lonergan in practice during the offseason, but he now gets the job because the injury changed the depth chart. That makes Friday night more than an ordinary follow-up game for Rutgers. It is the first real look at whether the quarterback who was passed over in camp can handle the role when the pressure arrives for keeps.
There is reason to think Surace can give Rutgers something the offense needs. He ran for 975 yards and 15 touchdowns in his senior year at Notre Dame High School, a reminder that his game offers more than simply standing in the pocket. If he can stay composed, avoid forcing throws and use his legs when plays break down, he can give the Scarlet Knights a different shape at quarterback.
The catch is that Rutgers’ offensive line struggled in the opener, which puts even more weight on how Surace handles pressure. A clean game would not only help Rutgers against Boston College, it would also push the question past this week: if Lonergan returns healthy, does Surace keep the starting job by playing well enough to make the decision harder? That answer will begin on Friday night.
