Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 5 Players to Watch in 2026
By Owain Jones
Rutgers don’t need to reinvent themselves in 2026. They simply need to become more complete.
The Scarlet Knights finished 4-8 last season despite developing one of the Big Ten’s better young offenses. The problem came on the other side of the ball, where a defense that allowed more than 32 points per game consistently left too much for the offense to overcome.
It led to an overhaul this offseason on defense, with Greg Schiano responding by reshaping his coaching staff, hiring Travis Johansen as defensive coordinator and seriously attacking the transfer portal, hoping that those changes can turn narrow defeats into victories.
The pathway is relatively straightforward. Keep the offense moving, find steady quarterback play, and ask a rebuilt defense to become competent rather than spectacular. These five players will have the biggest influence on whether that becomes reality.
Keeping KJ Duff in Piscataway may have been Rutgers’ biggest offseason victory.
After Ian Strong entered the transfer portal, Duff has become the unquestioned focal point of the Scarlet Knights’ passing game. And there is no doubt, he earned that status with one of the finest receiving seasons in program history, hauling in 60 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, while becoming Rutgers’ first 1,000-yard receiver since 2014.
His production wasn’t built on manufactured catches either. Duff averaged more than 18 yards per reception and tied for the national lead with 22 contested catches, proving he could create explosive plays while winning through contact.
But the challenge in 2026 looks slightly different. Rutgers must replace veteran quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, meaning Duff’s reliability becomes even more valuable. Whether Dylan Lonergan or AJ Surace wins the job, having an All-America-calibre receiver capable of turning difficult throws into completions gives the Scarlet Knights their best chance of maintaining one of the conference’s most dangerous offenses.
Breaking in a new quarterback becomes much easier when there’s an established running game alongside him. And Rutgers already has one of the best in Antwan Raymond, who already projects as one of the top running backs eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft.
The junior rushed for 1,244 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, emerging as one of the Big Ten’s most dependable workhorse backs while earning Doak Walker Award semifinalist honours. His production gave Rutgers offensive balance and consistently kept the Scarlet Knights ahead of the chains.
Raymond has already shown he can carry that responsibility over a full Big Ten season. This year is about replication and proving that Rutgers has star power on offense and a keen identity in a bruising Big Ten.
Replacing Athan Kaliakmanis is the biggest football question Rutgers must answer.
Everything else on offense is largely in place. The leading receiver returns. The leading running back returns. The offensive line brings back experience. Now the Scarlet Knights need somebody capable of distributing the football efficiently.
That’s why Dylan Lonergan arrives with so much pressure.
The former four-star recruit has taken an unusual route through college football, but the pedigree has always been there. However, the opportunity to lead an offense has not.
While there is pressure, Rutgers doesn’t need Lonergan to become one of the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks overnight. It needs him to limit mistakes, take advantage of the talent around him, and provide the steady play that allows the offense to maintain last season’s production. If he does that, the offense should remain the strength of this football team.
If Lonergan is to succeed, the players protecting him will need to be on form. And if Raymond is to be the rushing star again, those up front will need to take some credit.
It means that Ryder Langsdale may end up being one of Rutgers’ most important returning starters simply because stability becomes invaluable during quarterback transition.
The veteran tackle helped anchor an offense that produced another 1,000-yard rusher in 2025, providing consistency in both the running and passing games without attracting much attention himself. That’s often the mark of a dependable offensive lineman.
Rutgers has enough skill talent to challenge defenses throughout the Big Ten. Langsdale’s responsibility is making sure the offense has enough time for those playmakers to influence games.
No player better represents Rutgers’ season than Malachi Davis.
The offense will score points. Duff and Raymond have already proved that. The real question is whether the defense can provide enough support and competency to turn competitive performances into victories.
Davis becomes one of the veterans expected to lead that turnaround after Greg Schiano overhauled both his defensive coaching staff and personnel following last season’s struggles. The defense doesn’t need to be one of the best in the nation. It simply needs to become far more difficult to play against.
That starts with disrupting the line of scrimmage.
If Davis can help generate more pressure and the Scarlet Knights become a more disciplined defensive unit, the season could really open up. Rutgers already has enough offense to compete beyond bowl eligibility. Whether it gets there may depend on how much the defense improves.
OWAIN JONES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL & NFL DRAFT ANALYST
OWAIN jones COVERS EVERYTHING college football & NFL DRAFT. COMING WITH PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE, OWAIN was PREVIOUSLY a writer for pfsn and WAS THE NFL DRAFT EDITOR AT NINETY-NINE YARDS WHERE HE CREATED DRAFT TALK. YOU CAN FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @OwainJonesCFB