Ash promotes two assistants, talks first day of spring

PISCATAWAY >> In a way it was only fitting, and ironic, that on a day when plenty of storylines emerged, Rutgers head coach Chris Ash diffused one.

No, Ash insisted, there is nothing to draw from the fact that fifth-year senior Zach Allen lined up first among quarterbacks during stretches on the first day of spring camp.

The media were permitted to watch the opening 45 minutes of practice at the Rutgers Indoor Practice Bubble on Thursday, the first of 15 spring sessions for the Scarlet Knights.

“He’s a senior. That’s it. There’s nothing to that,” Ash said. “I know you guys try to look at all those little things. You’ve got to make a story out of something so you get a paycheck, but there’s no story there. It’s a stretch line where a senior is in front.”

Junior Gio Rescigno is the incumbent starting quarterback from the final five games last season, but another open competition for the job awaits this spring. Rescigno is competing alongside Allen and sophomore dual-threat quarterback Tylin Oden. Prized St. Peter’s Prep recruit Johnathan Lewis arrives on campus this summer.

“Nothing is given,” Ash said. “It’s got to be earned, and Gio knows that. He’s going out to try to, through the course of spring practice, hopefully become the number one quarterback.”

Here are the highlights from Ash’s Thursday media session: Ash Jay Niemann, who will continue to call plays.

Offensive line coach AJ Blazek is now also the assistant head coach.

“He’s tremendous with our players, he’s great out in public with whether it be high school coaches, fans, donors, whoever it may be that have come across AJ,” Ash said. “AJ is high energy, very intelligent, cares about people, does a great job in our program. He’s a guy that I lean on a lot.” Thursday.

Harris also plays baseball at Rutgers and did not participate in last year’s spring camp. How often he will practice before the summer remains to be seen.

“He’s a baseball player, and that’s his priority right now and that was the agreement that we had,” Ash said. “If the weekly schedule of baseball allows him to come over and be around football at all, then he can do it.”