Rutgers quarterback Tom Savage ready for sophomore season

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - In his first game last year as a quarterback for Rutgers, Cardinal O'Hara High School graduate Tom Savage got a surprise.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound native of Springfield, Delaware County, was unexpectedly called on to start the second half of the Scarlet Knights' season opener against visiting Cincinnati.

Rutgers was trailing, 31-7.

"It was unique," Savage said last week of that opportunity. "When I came here, I wasn't planning on too much."

Savage passed his first test, literally.

After senior Domenic Natale was intercepted three times in the first half of what turned out to be a 47-15 Rutgers loss, Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano decided to see what his prized recruit had to offer at that early juncture.

Savage responded by completing 15 of 23 passes for 108 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

The next week, he made his first start against Howard and went without a pick again on his way to an 8-for-13 passing day for 223 yards and a pair of TDs.

The Scarlet Knights won, 45-7, that day to begin a four-game winning streak. With Savage throwing for 2,211 yards and 14 touchdowns on 149-of-285 passing, Rutgers finished with a 9-4 record, including a 45-24 victory over Central Florida in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

His final passing yardage total was the most by a true freshman in Big East Conference history.

"They gave me a shot, so all you have to do is perform, and I think that's what I did," said Savage, who threw seven interceptions last season. "I was excited, and of course, I was nervous. Obviously, I still had to earn it during practice."

In his first postseason appearance, Savage had a career-high 294 yards passing, going 14 for 27 with two touchdowns and one interception.

With an eye on their Sept. 2 opener against visiting Norfolk State, Savage and his teammates are looking ahead.

After proving himself on the field last year, one of Savage's priorities during the off-season was to develop as a team leader.

"The most valuable lesson I learned last year was how much I had to do to improve on my leadership ability," he said. "Last year, I tried to establish myself and earn respect in the locker room. This year, I'm a lot more comfortable."

Rutgers center Howard Barbieri, a redshirt senior, said Savage is progressing well in the leadership department.

"I only had a couple of practices with him this spring, but from last year to this year is a big difference," Barbieri said.

Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, who emerged along with Savage last season, is looking forward to growing with his classmate.

"We have a special relationship," said Sanu, who finished with 51 catches for 639 yards and three scores in 2009 while also running for five touchdowns. "We're always on the same page. He knows how to put the ball in the right place."

With 14 starters and 45 lettermen back, Rutgers appears to have what it takes to qualify for its fifth straight bowl game. But this fall, the Scarlet Knights, who averaged nine wins the last four years, will be without the most successful senior class in school history.

Savage, a freshman all-American who was honored as Rutgers' most valuable offensive player after last season, is ready to shoulder his load as the Scarlet Knights move forward.

He will enter the season with more starts than any other current Big East quarterback.

"I'm anticipating it, but I never want to wish time away," Savage said. "There's plenty of time to go this summer . . . I want to make sure when we go out there, we're as good as we can be. Every year, we want to have higher and higher expectations. I can tell from the locker room, and I can tell from everybody on the team, we're excited about this upcoming season."