First pick displays impact safety's progress

Joe Lefeged started making plays when he was a freshman.
Now a junior, the safety started letting his teammates know about it.
“He’s kind of made that name for himself around here,” said Rutgers football team captain and senior cornerback Devin McCourty. “I guess it started last year when he scooped the ball and scored against Army. Ever since then, he’s been walking around saying he’s a big play guy.”
When Lefeged recorded his first career interception against Connecticut last week, he completed his résumé.
Forced fumbles: He has two of them this year and another as a freshman.
Fumble recoveries: He returned one for a touchdown against Army last season and recovered two others in his career.
Sacks: There are plenty.
And crushing hits: He made a few of them too.
“I think it’s just something that he has naturally — to be in the right place in the right time and take advantage of it by making a big play,” McCourty said.
Although Lefeged disagrees, he could not help but to smile at the thought.
“I don’t think it comes naturally,” Lefeged said. “We work so hard at creating takeaways. It’s just the little things — if you do the little things, the big things take care of themselves.”
The interception came on an unusual play.
As the Huskies’ center snapped the ball, the tight end fell forward, the offensive line stood still and quarterback Zach Frazer walked towards the line of scrimmage looking to make an adjustment.
“I guess the center snapped the ball before everybody was ready and then there was a one second pause before everybody went,” McCourty said. “I was actually covering the guy that the quarterback was trying to throw the ball to, and as I looked back, I saw Joe reach up and snag the ball. It was a weird play and kind of a goofy one to get your first interception on.”
But Lefeged will take it, he said.
Early in the season, before the Maryland matchup, Lefeged said he wanted to record his first interception more than any other big play.
Four games and one goofy play later, he has it.
“I’m happy I got it,” Lefeged said. “That was my first interception, so it means a lot to me. I think they might have snapped the ball too early and then the quarterback made the pass, but I was able to read his eyes and was able to turn with the pick.”
It was one of the Scarlet Knights’ three interceptions on the day — the number the defense sets as its turnover goal each game — but it was just another reason Lefeged is earning the reputation as a playmaker.
The Germantown, Md., native’s homecoming game against the Terrapins this year is an even bigger reason.
“Just look at the game he had against Maryland,” McCourty said. “He caused the fumble for the touchdown and then he hit the quarterback’s arm, and it led to Billy [Anderson]’s interception. He’s just continued to do that.”
According to head coach Greg Schiano, it is nothing new to Lefeged, who let his athletic ability take over from the very beginning.
“Joe’s always been in the middle of things,” Schiano said. “I think the better athletes always seem to be in the middle of it.”
But Lefeged credits the coaches for putting him in the position to succeed.
“The coaches scheme things so players can be in one-on-one situations and use their athletic ability to make plays,” Lefeged said. “You just have to take make them. We train hard we take advantage of our opportunities.”
And while Lefeged takes advantage, it is at a safety position that he did not play until he arrived at RU.
Lefeged was a high school linebacker, and that mentality carries over to his role as the Knights’ hard-hitting safety.
“Mentality-wise, it’s not that much of a difference,” Lefeged said. “You have to be physical to play safety, especially here. Our safeties go into the box, they play pass coverage; they do it all. You have to have the mentality of a linebacker to be able to play the field.”
 

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