Gary Nova Named Rutgers Starting Quarterback

Added by Gregg Snyder on August 20, 2012.

Head coach Kyle Flood named Gary Nova the starting quarterback for Rutgers this season.

The most important position battle in training camp for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights finally has an outcome. First year head coach Kyle Flood named sophomore Gary Nova the starting quarterback. Nova beat out Chas Dodd.

“We are fortunate to have two talented quarterbacks who have won big games for us,” Flood said. “This has been an excellent competition, but Gary’s body of work ultimately earned him the job.”

Throughout the off-season and training camp, both Nova and Dodd had shown their ability to lead the team and perform at a high level. The battle had been a fairly large debate amongst Rutgers fans since last season, when then head coach Greg Schiano shuffled both players in and out of games. Flood has said he will not continue the quarterback shuffling and will instead stick with his starter. So, it’s Nova’s team now.

The sophomore has a strong arm and will have plenty of talented targets to look for. Despite losing Mohamed Sanu to the NFL, Rutgers returns a loaded group of receivers led by Mark Harrison and Brandon Coleman. Quron Pratt and Jeremy Deering are back as well and should contribute. This past weekend saw sophomore Miles Shuler break out in a big way during the teams’ scrimmage.  Also consider tight ends D.C. Jefferson and Paul Carrezola, as well as running backs Jawan Jamison and Savon Huggins and the Scarlet Knights offense has the potential to bring a lot of fire power.

After graduating from national high school power Don Bosco Prep in NJ, Nova appeared in 10 games as a true freshman last season for Rutgers, including five starts. He finished the year 116-of-227 for 1,553 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Accuracy and decision making has been the areas of Nova’s game which needed to be improved. It appears those improvements have been made, enough so that Flood is confident in his decision.

Rutgers opens the 2012 season Saturday, September 1, on the road against Tulane.