After a tremendous junior season in which he led the BIG EAST in tackles and took home Defensive Player of the Year accolades, many expected Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene to jump to the pros. However, Greene has his sights set on even bigger things for himself and the Scarlet Knights as he returns for his senior season.

“From the outside looking in, you have what everybody thinks is a great season and (they say) you’ve got to go when you’re hot and all of those things,” Greene told the Star-Ledger last December. “People start talking (about you) and you get a little buzz and you think maybe you could potentially leave and get drafted and try out for a team, whatever the case may be. I’m a Rutgers guy. I love it here. I love the family and I just know in my heart that this is the right decision.”

Greene decided to return to Rutgers even before a nasty ankle injury in last year’s New Era Pinstripe Bowl. That injury kept him out of spring practice, however, he picked up where he left off last year by leading the Scarlet Knights with 14 tackles in their season-opening win at Tulane.

Now, Greene looks to take the Scarlet Knights where they’ve never gone – a BIG EAST Championship and trip to the BCS.

“It would mean everything for me,’’ Greene told the Daily Record. “When I picked to come here, one of the things I said I believed in was the vision of winning a Big East championship. To be able to be the first would be unique and something I would cherish. This senior group would have a hand in doing that, just like every senior group that came through here played their part in getting us where we can do it this year. Everyone who has passed through here would feel like they won a Big East championship.’’

Rutgers opens its home schedule this Saturday against Howard at 3:30pm. The Scarlet Knights’ first BIG EAST contest will come on a September 13 trip to USF.