Underwood looking to duplicate '07 success
North Brunswick native hauled in 65 passes, 1,100 yards as a junior
BY DAN NEWMAN Sports Editor

FILE PHOTO North Brunswick native Tiquan Underwood had a breakout season for the Rutgers University football squad and is intent upon duplicating the feat starting Sept. 1 against Fresno State at 4 p.m. at Rutgers Stadium.

In the end, Tiquan Underwood had it down to Hofstra, Vanderbilt, Purdue and Maryland, for where he would continue his football career. Each of the aforementioned offered academic excellence, strong athletic tradition, and also of great importance, an opportunity for the 6-foot-2 wide receiver to play almost immediately.

Then there was Rutgers, the school that had just completed a dismal 4-7 campaign, including dropping the last five contests. It also offered good academics.

And that's where the similarities ended, at a school that last saw the postseason in 1978, the same school that had more or less become the laughing stock of "major" college football.

"When I was being recruited to come to Rutgers, I really wasn't sure how things would end up," Underwood explained. "The school hadn't been very good for a long time."

Three seasons, 1,437 yards and 11 touchdowns later, it's safe to say that the North Brunswick native made the right choice. Heading into his final season on campus, Underwood can't help but look back at what once was and see just how far the program has come.

"It is pretty amazing where this team was, just even four seasons ago, to where it is now," Underwood said. "Rutgers is on the rise, and now we're right near the top. It feels good to know how much work we've put in around here, and now it's all paying off. We know we're a good team."

Underwood said that one of the main reasons he came to Rutgers was because of the vision that head coach Greg Schiano had during the recruitment process, how he spoke about one day seeing Rutgers going to bowl games and being on national television.

Lining up on the other side of Underwood is Kenny Britt.

"Tiquan is more of an inside guy, and he can make a lot of plays," Britt said. "He has good size and very good speed, and that's what makes him so dangerous. He's definitely a good receiver and I think he'll have a huge season for us."

Part of Britt's suspicions are by way of what his friend did over the summer to prepare for 2008.

"I definitely think I became a better route runner during the offseason," Underwood said. "I worked a lot with [New York Giants wide receiver] Steve Smith and I learned a lot from him, and I think that'll make a difference on the field this season."

Although Underwood attended Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, he still considers North Brunswick his home. And with that comes plenty of newfound responsibility for the Linwood Middle School alum.

"I'm glad that I chose to stay close to home, but sometimes it's a bit tough, with everybody always wanting something. Pictures, autographs, even tickets sometimes," Underwood said. "But that just comes with the territory. I'd rather it be like this than to have us losing games and nobody really caring about our team."