Rowe adjusting from nickel to life on the island

Coming in as a true freshman last summer to the Rutgers football team, David Rowe knew he wouldn’t have a chance to start at cornerback. The McCourty twins had that locked up.
The freshman still managed to work for playing time and received it in all 13 games, playing special teams and in select packages in the secondary.
During his time on the field Rowe compiled 23 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.
Rowe feels last year’s playing time helped him transition to football at the next level, and with a year under his belt the game is starting to slow down.
“Yeah, it is [starting to slow down],” Rowe said after Thursday’s practice. “I feel more confident now that I know the defense. I know it better than last year so I think that helps for the game slowing down and all.”
Rowe has a coolness and composure about him, which helped him get time on the field despite his inexperience at the college level, something senior cornerback Devin McCourty was very impressed by.
“Rowe is the calm guy,” McCourty said. “In the meeting room [or] off the field he’s always just calm and laid back, so you’re not really worried about him being worried about the pressure on the field, and that’s the reason why he was able to play his freshman year as a true freshman.”
Even with this experience, Rowe has his work cut out for him as he’ll battle the likes of fifth year senior Billy Anderson, junior Brandon Bing, fellow sophmore Brandon Jones and incoming freshmen Logan Ryan and Abdul Smith, who will arrive this summer for one starting spot.
“Everybody is out there just competing, trying to get an upper hand anyway they can,” Rowe said. “Last year I played inside and all my reps were pretty much inside at nickel. This year I’m just trying to get used to the corner [back position] and being out on that island.”
Along with getting a better grasp of the defense, Rowe has also spent time in the weight room to get stronger.
“Being in the weight room has helped me out a lot,” Rowe said. “I’m not the littlest one out there. Me actually looking like another D-1 college football player [out there] helps.”
Rowe has put on five pounds and grown two inches since arriving on the banks as a 5’10” 190-pound freshman, but the 6’0” 195-pound Rowe likes to get physical when he’s out on an island rather than sitting back and reacting.
“[I like] bump and run and getting in their face,” he said. “[I] try and not let them off the line.”
As for how the young cornerback has played this spring, head coach Greg Schiano said that he expects Rowe to compete with everyone else for the open spot next to McCourty.
“David’s gotten better,” he said. “He’s done well … we’ll have some good competition at the corner spot.”
Before arriving at Rutgers, Rowe was a four year starter at Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla., recording 23 interceptions — something he hopes will carry over to the college level. If that happens, it will be a big boost for the Scarlet Knights as they recorded only 10 last season, and the team leaders with two apiece — Courtney Green and Jason McCourty — are likely headed to the NFL.
Along with his ball-hawking abilities, Rowe served has the team’s utility player during his time at Cocoa, lining up at free safety, cornerback, quarterback, receiver, running back and kick returner.
“[It] helped me overall [as a football player],” he said. “Playing receiver kind of helps you knowing what the receiver is gonna do and what he’s thinking about and what he’s reading, and quarterback is the same thing. I think it all just helps and plays in to being more athletic, and if you’re more athletic it helps you anywhere you play.”