When linebacker Mohamed Toure announced his return to Rutgers football for the 2024 season, Scarlet Knights fans could not have been more excited. Toure joined a litany of other Rutgers players facing the decision of staying one more year in college, or taking their talents to the NFL. And with another year in the program, Toure and the rest of the upperclassmen will look to bring a playoff berth to the Scarlet Knights in 2024.
Who is Rutgers linebacker Mohamed Toure?
Toure started his football career playing for coach Chris Sacco at Pleasantville high school in New Jersey. Like most star athletes, Toure played on both sides of the ball as a high school player.
As a running back, the Jersey native rushed for 981 yards and 11 touchdowns. On the defensive side, Toure recorded 69 tackles and five sacks as a linebacker. Toure was given a number of accolades for his performances, including being named First-Team All Jersey by the Philadelphia Inquirer as well as being selected to the USA Today Network‘s 2018 All-New Jersey defensive team.
When considering his location, and that cousin Kemoko Turay played for the Scarlet Knights, it made sense why Toure chose to play at Rutgers.
A Staple for the Scarlet Knights
Toure saw limited action in his freshman year, but instantly made an impact for Rutgers in his sophomore season.
Playing as an outside linebacker, Toure started all nine games with the team in the 2020 season. His 4.5 sacks led the team as a sophomore, and Toure ranked eighth in the Big Ten with 0.50 sacks per game. While his only secured 20 tackles, he was one of only two players on the team to record a sack, interception, and a forced fumble throughout the season.
The following year, he also played all 13 games for the Scarlet Knights. He more than doubled his tackle total (52) from the previous year, while securing 4.5 sacks yet again. While fans expected the 2022 season to come with another jump in production from the Jersey native, Toure would miss the entire season after suffering knee injury requiring season-ending surgery. However, things would change drastically in the 2023 season.
Last year, Toure was moved to the inside linebacker position – and it paid dividends for the Rutgers defense. Toure’s 4.5 sacks once again led the team, while his 9.5 tackle for loss also were first among the defense. He finished the year with 93 tackles which were second on the team. Those efforts led to him being listed as a semifinalist for Comeback Player of the Year for the 2023 season. It also led to him being named as the seventh-best linebacker in the Big Ten, per PFF. And heading into the 2024 season, Toure expects big things for the Rutgers defense.
A Curtain Call for the Ages
As he enters his final collegiate season, Toure gave some insight as to why he chose to return to the Scarlet Knights.
“It was my first year playing inside [linebacker in 2023], so I feel like one more year at the position playing next to him [Tyreem Powell], it’s over. They ain’t going to be able to mess with us,” Toure said on an episode of the Reem and Beam Unplugged podcast.
And as it turns out, the decision was made as a collective amongst his teammates.
“Once we all had that conversation, [it was] like, ‘we can do something special. Let’s run it back,'” Toure said. “Once we had that conversation, there wasn’t [any] doubt in my mind. All my brothers [are] with it, we’re all on the same page – let’s do it.”
“I’m really excited, because watching this team progress and just take the steps that we’re taking right now, it’s been amazing to see,” Toure said. “Y’all are pushing me to the point where I’ve got to raise my standard as well. The old standard isn’t the new standard. [I’m] raising it. I’ve got to continue to get better and push other guys to get better. I love it.”
