11 people who will shape Rutgers football in 2018

Rutgers coach Chris Ash enters his third season in 2018. In many cases, that's a swing season for a first-time coach, but Ash's future already seems secure as Rutgers is willing to demonstrate patience.

Still, the coach has major decisions ahead of him that he needs to get right the third time around.

Answers could determine if Rutgers is going to be a bowl contender or pretender in 2018.

Some of the people who shape Rutgers football year after year will never change as long as they stay in their current roles. Some are different every year depending on the needs and position of the program.

But even the annual names face different challenges depending on the year.

Here is NJ Advance Media's list of the 11 people who shape Rutgers football in 2018.

Niemann returns nine starters, including linebacker Tyreek Maddox-Williams (who started in 2016 before a season-ending torn ACL) and K.J. Gray (who started at both safety positions in 2017 because of injuries).

Even facing mounting injuries, defense was the team strength last season. It should be again as long as Niemann can scheme some blitzes that will allow Rutgers to get a pass rush from non-traditional positions. The defensive line is just too inexperienced and the sack numbers have been low two years in a row with veterans.

If Rutgers can stay healthy, its secondary will be one of the best in the Big Ten and most experienced in the country.

Rutgers needs to prove that it can be the kind of player development program that Ash wants.

Certain players like improved linebackers Deonte Roberts and Trevor Morris, offensive lineman Mike Maietti and tight end Jerome Washington took step forwards that in 2017, but the number needs to be greater in 2018.

Under NCAA rules, Parker gets to spend the most time with Rutgers players during the offseason, so he is the one molding their toughness. And players seem to love that he gets the most out of them.

But the strength and conditioning department, including nutrition, in conjunction with outside experts needs to continue to study possible causes for the injury bug that hit the program. A jinx? Bad luck? Football is a rough sport? That all sounded plausible in 2016, but it's been two years of bad breaks, especially torn ACLs.