PISCATAWAY – Rutgers football played its first scrimmage of training camp Saturday, an opportunity to get into a game-like setting with just less than three weeks to go until the season opener against Howard.

Here’s what coach Greg Schiano had to say afterward about what he saw from his team:

Athan Kaliakmanis and the offense

Overall Kaliakmanis was proficient and accurate with his passing. Schiano liked the way the Minnesota transfer commanded the offense.

“I thought it was good,” Schiano said. “I thought he handled the operation well. Missed a couple of deep comebacks that I’m sure he would like to throw again. But he hit a lot of balls. I thought he did just what we needed him to do today.”

Rutgers needs to take a step forward offensively this season – it wasn’t as productive as it needed to be in 2023. The Scarlet Knights have a deep and talented wide receiver corps, and Schiano said Ian Strong and Dymere Miller, in particular, had solid performances during the scrimmage.

As far as tight end?

It’s a position that has potential but is relatively young and inexperienced. Kenny Fletcher moved from defensive end to tight end ahead of the Pinstripe Bowl last season.

“We are getting better,” Schiano said. “There is not a lot of experience there. Obviously, Kenny every day is making leaps and bounds and growth. Then Mike (Higgins), Victor (Konopka) and the whole group of them. They’ve definitely improved but they have to because none of them played very much.”

Offensive line update

Rutgers returns six offensive linemen with starting experience (Hollin Pierce, Bryan Felter, Tyler Needham, Gus Zilinskas, Kobe Asamoah and Reggie Sutton) and it also brought in Shedrick Rhodes Jr., who started every all 13 games at right tackle last season.

Schiano said Saturday that while the starting five is pretty much set, it’s the depth behind that group that still needs to develop.

“That’s the hardest thing to tell when you’re on the field, so I’m anxious to watch the tape,” Schiano said. “Offensive linemen take so much time because you have to work in unison. Defensive linemen are generally a little bit more athletic so they’re battling uphill. But we’re getting better. Our guys are getting better. As long as we continue to get better every day, we’ll get some depth on the O-line. You need it, because it’s a very physical league.”

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Young linebackers stepping up

Schiano said Moses Walker and Dariel Djabome have been getting first-team reps since Tyreem Powell and Mohamed Toure “are still recovering.”

Powell is working his way back from a torn Achilles he suffered at the start of winter workouts.

“That experience is invaluable,” Schiano said. “They’re working with the first unit. We’re going to play a lot of guys so it’s great work for them. They’re getting better. So is Abram Wright, Timmy Hinspeter, a bunch of guys getting better because they’re getting these valuable reps.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football training camp scrimmage takeaways