Against North Carolina’s newfound aerial attack, Rutgers’ last line of defense is its best.
Safety Joe Lefeged is the Scarlet Knights’ third-leading tackler and was a preseason second-team All-Big East selection. Two games into his senior season, Lefeged — pronounced Le-fedge — is already living up to expectations.
In Rutgers’ second game of the season, Lefeged didn’t just have a career day. He had a historic day.
In a 19-14 win against Florida International, Lefeged made six tackles, broke up a pass, forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass for 29 yards. Lefeged’s interception also set up a 32-yard touchdown drive, putting the Scarlet Knights ahead 10-7 in the second quarter.
His performance won him the national Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week award, and Lefeged became the first Big East player in conference history to garner the Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week awards in the same week.
“It takes a lot of film study (to prepare for Lefeged),” UNC senior tight end Zack Pianalto said. “I know he’s a great player, but you just attack it the same each week. Rutgers is a very sound team, very sound defense, so they’re going to present a lot of challenges for us, but three days of practice and a good game plan, hopefully we’ll be ready to go.”
But UNC’s offense isn’t the only unit affected by Lefeged. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound playmaker also blocked two punts against Florida International University, the second of which was at the FIU 24-yard line and set up the game-winning touchdown. Lefeged also returns kicks for Rutgers.
“I’m really just starting to learn a little bit about him this week,” UNC sophomore wide receiver Erik Highsmith said.
“I heard he’s pretty athletic and he had two blocks — two blocked punts — an interception, so yeah, we’re going to cut some plays to get him biting down on us and then we’ll beat him over his head.”
