This evening a new season is upon us at the birthplace of college football. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are suiting up for their 157th season on the banks of the Old Raritan. Here is a small preview of what’s to come in Piscataway this fall:
OFFENSE
It was an offseason highlighted by the announcements that wide-receiver KJ Duff and running back Antwan Raymond were returning this season. Both stars were expected to depart to different schools but with the help of NIL, everything was sorted out, getting the duo to come back for one more year.
With starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis going on to the NFL, the Scarlet Knights needed to bring someone in to compete for the starting spot. They signed Dylan Lonergan, who played at Boston College last season and was a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide prior. He was named the starter over teammate AJ Surace on August 24.
The offensive line is almost fully revamped with only two returning starters in Right Guard Kwabena Asamoah and Left Guard Dantae Chin. Besides left tackle Moshood Giwa who transferred from Long Island University, the rest of the projected starting line are members of the roster who have moved up in the depth chart.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
A lot of changes have come to the defense compared to last year as they are projected to have five incoming transfers to take starting spots. Whether it’s graduation or players heading to brighter pastures, a different outcome is certain.
Safety Kaj Sanders will be playing in his third season in Piscataway. Having the second most total tackles on defense last year, the starting safety is expected to be a key member of the squad. His production will rise especially with the departure of Bo Mascoe and Jacobie Henderson.
Jai Patel has been the starting kicker for the past three seasons. However those days are over for now as it was announced on September 2 that Dane Pizzaro would be taking over the reins. The Junior has played only two games in his time with the program.
KJ Duff is projected to be the team’s punt returner, replacing a graduating DT Sheffield. Ben Black will pick things up from last season as the starting kick returner.
RECRUITING/TRANSFERS
As Name, Image, and Likeness, also known as NIL, has taken over the college sports world, it’s been a road block on the football side for the Scarlet Knights. While they brought in fresh new faces, they lost key team pieces that set a high bar for their replacements.
On offense they lost wide receiver Ian Strong to the University of California and starting right tackle Taj White to Colorado. Defensively they lost two starting defensive backs in Bo Mascoe and Jacobie Henderson. A total of 16 players left the program and 15 came in. Out of the 15 transfers to join the program, only two come from Power-4 schools.
INCOMING TRANSFERS
Dylan Lonergan –QB – Boston College
Kevyn Humes – CB – Maryland
Mikey Munn – CB – South Dakota
Bradlee Jones – CB – The Citadel
Zahmir Dawud – CB – Villanova
Sean Allison – LB – Drake
Ty Morris – LB – Rice
J’Dan Burnett – Edge – Tulsa
Malachi Davis – Edge – Toledo
Jaedin Lee – DL – Maine
Rondo Porter – DL – Appalachian State
Isaiah Cook – IOL – Delaware State
Everett Small –(OT – Eastern Michigan
Kameron Anthony – TE – Ball State
Clay Thevenin – RB – Louisiana Tech
OUTGOING TRANSFERS
Ian Strong – WR → California
Bo Mascoe –CB → Texas
Talibi Kaba – LB → Rutgers (Withdrawn From Portal)
Taj White – OT → Colorado
Jordan Walker – Edge → Georgia Tech
Jacobie Henderson – CB → Virginia
Djibril Rahman – Edge → San Diego State
Darold DeNgohe – DL → UCLA
Renick Dorilas – CB → UConn
Sam Robinson – LB → South Florida
John Stone – IOL → Temple
Sam Brown – RB → Temple
CJ Campbell Jr. – RB → Duke
Michael Robinson II – CB → UMass
Zach Aamland – OT → Temple
Dane Pardridge – WR → Indiana State
They recruited 25 high school athletes to enroll including four 4-stars. The class ranks 45th in 247 Sports’ class of 2026. St. Augustine Prep’s Cameron Greene and RJ Wortman are the only two New Jerseyans from the group to join the Scarlet Knights.
ENROLLEES
Dyzier Carter – WR – Louisa County High School (VA)
Rinaldo Callaway III – EDGE – Southwest High School (GA)
Messiah Tilson – S – Guilford High School (IL)
Devonte Anderson – CB – West Orange High School (FL)
JJ Conyers – CB – Sumner High School (FL)
Reece Beck – DL – Ponte Vedra High School (FL)
Jared Smith – IOL – Stockbridge High School (GA)
Brandon Murray – CB – Battlefield High School (VA)
Logan Anthony – IOL – Palmerton High School (PA)
Elias Coke – WR – Harrisburg High School (PA)
James Cocozzo – IOL – Stillwater High School (NY)
Xavier Stearn – QB – Germantown Academy (PA)
Tyler Duell – OT – West Chester East High School (PA)
Tanner Raymond – LB – Choate Rosemary Hall (CT)
DJ Howerton – TE – Grimsley High School (NC)
Cameron Greene – OT – St. Augustine Prep (NJ)
Michael Dukes III – RB – Martin Luther King High School (MI)
Donovan Johnson – IOL – Pine Forest High School (NC)
Sebastian Cruz – S – Fleming Island High School (FL)
Jermaine Polk – DL – St. Francis de Sales High School (OH)
Joey Kopec – LB – Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (OH)
Brady Owens – TE – Yorktown High School (VA)
Ian Asaeli Ngaue-Stephenson – DL – Mesa High School (AZ)
RJ Wortman – S – Colonia High School (NJ)
Aiden Gibson – RB – Woodruff High School (SC)
COACHING
Greg Schiano is set to lead this program for his 18th year at Rutgers. In his second stint with the Scarlet Knights, his record is 31-41 in six seasons.
While he retains offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, co-defensive coordinators Robb Smith and Zach Sparber were fired in the off-season. They will be replaced by former South Dakota head coach Travis Johansen, who in his loan season led the Coyotes to a 12-5 record and an FBS Championship quarter-finals appearance in 2025.
SCHEDULE
Ever since they joined the Big Ten in 2014, the schedule has always been a challenge. It doesn’t get easier as they’re set to face off against four pre-season AP Top 25 teams, including the National Champion Indiana Hoosiers.
Week 1: Thursday, Sep 3, 2026 vs. UMass – 6:00 PM ET Location: SHI Stadium (Piscataway, NJ)
Week 2: Friday, Sep 11, 2026 at Boston College – 7:30 PM ET Location: Alumni Stadium (Chestnut Hill, MA)
Week 3: Saturday, Sep 19, 2026 vs. USC – 3:30 PM ET Location: SHI Stadium (Piscataway, NJ)
Week 4: Friday, Sep 25, 2026 vs. Howard – 7:00 PM ET Location: SHI Stadium (Piscataway, NJ)
Week 5: Saturday, Oct 3, 2026 vs. Indiana – 8:00 PM ET Location: SHI Stadium (Piscataway, NJ)
Week 6: Saturday, Oct 10, 2026 BYE WEEK
Week 7: Saturday, Oct 17, 2026 at Maryland – 1:00 PM ET Location: SECU Stadium (College Park, MD)
Week 8: Saturday, Oct 24, 2026 Northwestern – Time TBA Location: Ryan Field (Evanston, IL)
Week 9: Saturday, Oct 31, 2026 vs. Michigan – Time TBA Location: SHI Stadium (Piscataway, NJ)
Week 10: Saturday, Nov 7, 2026 at Wisconsin – Time TBA Location: Camp Randall Stadium (Madison, WI)
Week 11: Saturday, Nov 14, 2026 vs. Nebraska – Time TBA Location: SHI Stadium (Piscataway, NJ)
Week 12: Saturday, Nov 21, 2026 at Penn State – Time TBA Location: Beaver Stadium (University Park, PA)
Week 13: Saturday, Nov 28, 2026 Michigan State – Time TBA Location: SHI Stadium (Piscataway, NJ)
Though it may be a topic around fans, it’s not a bad assumption that Schiano could make it to the hot seat sometime in the next six months. While he’s a highly notable figure to the program, the huge success from his first time around as head coach Rutgers has not correlated into the second. Keli Zinn was hired as the Scarlet Knights athletic director in the summer of 2025 and has made good progress in evolving sports programs at Rutgers. If the football team doesn’t show they’re headed in the right direction, it could be time for her to make some gut-wrenching decisions.
