Rutgers football adds 2 (more) international players to bolster special teams

The accents keep changing in the Rutgers Locker room.

Following the successful recruitment of All-American punter Adam Korsak, the Scarlet Knights will once again lean on the international pipeline to bolster its special teams units, NJ Advance Media has learned.

The latest additions to the Rutgers roster include a placekicker from Derry, Ireland and another Australian punter who arrives from the same program as Korsak.

They’ll join the team when summer camp begins in August, ready to address one of the team’s biggest offseason storylines: Who will be Rutgers’ next kicker?

The latest addition could be the leading candidate.

Jude McAtamney arrives at Rutgers with two years of Eligibility remaining after transferring from Chowan University, a Division 2 program in North Carolina. With deep family ties in Gaelic football, McAtamney told The Irish News he Chasing the American Dream – the one that requires shoulder pads and helmets.

McAtamney joins junior Guy Fava, sophomore Michael O’Connor and incoming freshman Jai Patel as candidates to replace former starter Valentino Ambrosio, who entered the transfer Portal in April.

Fava kicked in three games for the Scarlet Knights over the last two seasons, Converting all six PATs and two field goals he attempted in that span. He also handled kickoff duties in eight games last fall.

While the kicking competition remains up for grabs, there should be no debate about the team’s punter.

Korsak Returns for his final season after a record-setting season last fall and will add a mentor to his list of responsibilities. He’ll welcome Flynn Appleby, a standout from the Australian Football League, to Piscataway and help develop the team’s next punting prospect.

Appleby recently racked up top individual honors in the Australian Football League.

A redshirt year likely awaits Appleby, who arrives with four years of Eligibility.

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Patrick Lanni may be reached at [email protected].