Rutgers LB Mohamed Toure suffers torn ACL as Scarlet Knights lose star defender ahead of 2024 season

Rutgers will be without one of its top players for the second time in three years after linebacker Mohamed Toure tore an ACL in preseason camp, coach Greg Schiano announced Tuesday.

Toure entered the season on the Butkus Award watch list after finishing last season as an honorable mention selection on the All-Big Ten teams selected by coaches and media. He was also a semifinalist for Comeback Player of the Year. The senior also missed the entire 2022 season with a torn ACL he suffered in the spring.

"It's sad," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano told reporters . "He put so much work into getting ready for the year. But that's the game of football, unfortunately. There are things like that that happen. As a family, we've surrounded him, we are supporting him. We'll help him through the rehab, we'll get him back and help him reach his goals and aspirations."

Tourre led Rutgers in sacks in every season he played (three of the last four years). The team captain led the Scarlet Knights with 4.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss last season while also recording an interception and forcing a fumble. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the Big Ten's seventh-best linebacker.

The news is devasting for Rutgers, which entered the season riding a crescendo of success after a victory against Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl, the program's first postseason trip since 2014. The Scarlet Knights started 6-2 last season, Schiano's fourth year since returning for a second stint leading the program.

Fellow starting linebacker Tyreem Powell is also recovering from an Achilles injury and may not start the season opener Aug. 31 against Howard .

Rutgers was expected to have one of the Big Ten's better defenses after finishing in the top 35 in most defensive categories last season, including 10th in pass defense (137 yards per game) and yards per pass attempt (6.1). They return the Big Ten's leading rusher ( Kyle Monangai ) and added Minnesota transfer Athan Kaliakmanis at quarterback.

Rutgers was projected to finish ninth in the 18-team Big Ten in the annual media poll conducted by Cleveland.com.

Toure started his Rutgers career as an edge rusher. He returned for a sixth year on campus after contemplating the NFL .

"Every other year, I played off the edge," Toure said at the end of the 2023 regular season. "I never had a year where I played linebacker in the Big Ten. Getting another year of film would be beneficial. But I've been here for five years. That's a long time."

Rutgers opens the season Aug. 31 against FCS Howard.