Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, August 29, 2017

Kyle Bolin left Louisville as a grad transfer after last season with the intent on landing somewhere he could compete for a starting job in a marquee conference. Mission accomplished.

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Bolin recently was named the starting signal-caller for Rutgers, winning a heated competition for the job by beating out Gio Rescigno and touted true freshman Jonathan Lewis.

The 6-2, 212-pound Lexington, Ky., native made six starts at Louisville, with five coming in 2015. His start in 2014 came vs. Georgia in the Belk Bowl. Last season, he lost out on the starting job to Lamar Jackson, who went on to win the Heisman. Overall, Bolin played in six games in Derby City. He left Louisville with 2,104 passing yards, 13 touchdown tosses and 10 picks.

Now, Bolin will try to help revive a moribund Rutgers offense that was last in the Big Ten in 2016 in scoring (15.7 ppg) and last in total offense (283.2 ypg).

I caught up with Bolin as he prepped for the Scarlet Knights? season-opener vs. Washington on Friday in Piscataway, N.J.

Q: Why did you opt for Rutgers?
A: When I decided to transfer, I wanted to find a program where I had the best opportunity to be successful and to make it to the next level. After talking to a few programs and weighing my options, I felt Rutgers was the best opportunity in terms of competition we would be facing and opportunity to get on the field and help change a program.

Q: Have you been to the iconic Rutgers eatery Stuff Yer Face yet?
A: I have been plenty of times. It is very good. I forgot what my go-to order is, but I think it has bacon, broccoli, chicken and cheese. It has a weird name (Corbett Boli). It is delicious. And it comes with ranch dipping sauce. You can?t beat it.

 

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Q: What do miss most about your hometown of Lexington, Ky.? Are you a big UK basketball fan?
A: Not really, I never have been a big Kentucky fan. Growing up, I was a Tennessee fan. I had a checkerboard end zone on my wall. I am a huge Peyton Manning fan, Erik Ainge. I miss being around my family. But I like New Jersey.

Q: Do you keep in touch with Lamar Jackson?
A: I do. I try to keep in touch with the quarterbacks as much as I can (at Louisville). They have been busy preparing for Purdue this weekend. But I will definitely be sending them a text on Saturday morning to wish them best of luck.

Q: What have you binge watched of late?
A: I binge watch a bunch of shows. I just finished up ?Shooter? and ?Power.? And I?m getting back into ?Scandal? and ?Quantico.?

Q: See any movies this summer?
A: I didn?t get to. I was focusing on football.

Q: Which teammate would you take home to dinner with you?
A: If not Ross Douglas because he actually already has been to my hometown and been to my home for dinner, it would be Gus Edwards if it was a new guy.

Q: Talk about the Miami (Fla.) transfer running back Gus Edwards. He is a good-looking player.
A: I expect him to have a big year. Not only the physical gifts he has been blessed with, but he also is playing for a purpose. He has a girlfriend at home, a young son and I can tell how serious he is in order to give his family the best opportunity to be successful in coming years. I am excited to get on the field with him and watch him perform at a high level.

Q: What is your pregame ritual?
A: I like to walk the field and say one Hail Mary at each end zone. And then I drop to a knee and say the ?Our Father? at the middle of the field. And I also listen to ?The World?s Greatest? by R. Kelly before every game.

Q: Who plays you in a movie about your life?
A: Oh, that?s a tough one. I will go with Bradley Cooper.

Q: Who would be your leading lady?
A: Halle Berry.

Q: Coke? Pepsi? Or neither?
A: I am not a big soda guy. I do drink a lot of water and Gatorade to stay hydrated. When I am feeling dangerous, I like to drink Arizona pink lemonade, Arnold Palmer and the Mucho Mango.

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