PISCATAWAY – As Rutgers football enters Year 2 under offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, the Scarlet Knights are hoping a converted defensive end can provide quality production at tight end.

And Kenny Fletcher is optimistic he’ll follow through on those hopes.

The Delran product said following Monday’s training camp practice that he put in the work over the summer to get more comfortable with the playbook and his adjustment to tight end is going smoothly.

“The summer was tough,” Fletcher said. “The conditioning was tough. But with my development in the tight-end position, I think I got better and I learned more in the playbook. Everything’s been going well.”

That’s good news for Rutgers, which needs to replace Johnny Langan and Shawn Bowman at tight end.

Fletcher met with coach Greg Schiano late last season about finding a bigger role on the team, and moving to tight end was an option. That’s where the 6-foot-3, 246-pound Fletcher appeared against Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl, and he’s remained at the position.

Schiano during the spring said he liked what he was seeing from Fletcher. He had no doubt Fletcher had the tools to succeed at the position once he learned the intricacies and details.

“He’s adjusting well,” Schiano said during the spring. “He can do everything. He just needs to learn how to do everything every play. And he needs to learn what those plays are every play. But there’s nothing that kid can’t do. He’s uber-talented, he’s tough. He’s up to 240-something pounds. He’s what you look for.”

Rutgers has options at tight end in addition to Fletcher, including Victor Konopka, Mike Higgins and Logan Blake. The Scarlet Knights also welcomed in freshmen Monte Keener and Matthew Ogunniyi in the offseason.

Tight end has been somewhat inconsistent for Rutgers in recent seasons. Langan last season caught 14 passes for 121 yards while Bowman had four catches for 24 yards.

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The Scarlet Knights could use more production from the position. Fletcher’s time as a wide receiver in high school – he caught 34 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns as a senior – will certainly help him as a tight end.

And as far as blocking goes, Fletcher said he draws on his experience on the defensive side of the ball.

“I love blocking because of the violence in it,” Fletcher said. “You can use some of your defensive violence and techniques and transfer it to tight end.”

Fletcher said he’s learned plenty from both Ciarrocca and first-year tight ends coach Scott Vallone.

But most of all, the time he spent learning the playbook over the summer has already paid off in training camp.

He’s feeling increasingly comfortable at tight end, which could be a sign of good things to come for the Scarlet Knights offense.

“I dug deeper into the playbook because you can never know enough,” Fletcher said. “Once you think you know something all the way, you really don’t. I dug deeper, and as I dug deeper I learned more so I felt more comfortable. As training camp’s been going along right now, it’s helping me.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football: Kenny Fletcher continues to adjust well at tight end