Rutgers Football - 2025 Season Team Preview

The Summer season is beginning to wind down, with college football training camps now in the thick of practices and scrimmages, which only means one thing: The college football season is right around the corner. While it was certainly a season filled with excitement followed by countless reasons of disappointment, the Rutgers Football team looks to bounce back with another winning season, despite losing some key pieces to the NFL. Greg Schiano’s 2025 squad, which will be his 6th since returning to the banks, and the 17th overall, will be even more prepared for unexpected twists and turns that occur throughout a college football season, like we saw last year with the endless injuries. Here is a deep analysis of what the team looks like this year up close, going position by position:

Quarterbacks:

There will be no battle for the starting QB in Piscataway this season, as Athan Kaliakmanis will once again hold the QB1 spot following a strong Junior season in 2024. Kaliakmanis threw for 2,696 yards, which was the most by a Rutgers QB since Gary Nova in Rutgers’ inaugural Big Ten season in 2014. He was pretty efficient as well, throwing for 18 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions, at a 53.9% completion percentage. Redshirt Freshman A.J. Surace is the clear backup behind Kaliakmanis, and should be ready for game action if need-be. True Freshman Sean Ashenfelder will be the third string, and take a year of development before being ready for game action. 

Running Backs:

The obvious, main glaring piece that will not be returning to the Scarlet Knights this season is prominent RB Kyle Monangai, who ended up being drafted in the 7th Round by the Chicago Bears. Despite the loss, Rutgers returns two young, but talented backs, including Sophomore Antwan Raymond, who rushed for 457 yards and scored a program record 8 touchdowns as a freshman in 2024. Sophomore Ja’shon Benjamin also returns after maintaining his redshirt last season, following a strong true freshman season in 2023. Rutgers also added Florida Atlantic transfer CJ Campbell, who will likely start for Rutgers, while splitting plenty of snaps with the other two backs. Campbell will serve a “Swiss-Army-Knife” role for Rutgers, as at FAU in 2024 he rushed for 844 yards, as well as having 466 receiving yards. Senior Samuel Brown V continues to recover from an ACL tear, but could become a contributor later in the season. Underclassman Edd Guerrier and Terell Mitchell continue to develop. The running back position shouldn’t be a problem for Rutgers this season. 

Wide Receivers:

Despite the loss of Dymere Miller to the NFL, The WR core for Rutgers this season may be the strongest link of players they will have. Returning starter Ian Strong will likely lead the way, with the potential of becoming the first Rutgers WR to surpass the 1,000 receiving yards mark since Leonte Carroo in 2014. The Scarlet Knights added North Texas transfer DT Sheffield, who had 822 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. The final starter will be Sophomore KJ Duff, who displayed his talent and potential as a true freshman last season. Reserves include Ben Black, Northern Illinois transfer Dane Pardridge, and a trio of freshmen, Vernon Allen III, Jourdin Houston, and Michael Thomas III. 

Tight Ends:

There is a current battle for the top Tight End in 2025, between returning starter Kenny Fletcher, who missed the last half of the 2024 season with an injury, and new Charlotte transfer Colin Weber. In his final two seasons at Charlotte, Weber had 575 receiving yards, while serving as a great blocker. With the recent retirement of veteran Victor Konopka, that leaves Logan Blake and Mike Higgins as the key reserves,  both of whom provided some relief at the position late last year due to injuries. Monte Keener and Ben Rothhaar will continue to develop.

Offensive Line:

Rutgers’ Offensive Line group might just be the strongest and most talented group it’s had in over a decade. The amount of ensured depth at the position thanks to the transfer portal gives the group plenty of security in case of a disaster of injuries, like we saw last season. They are projected to return at least 4 starters, including Bryan Felter, Gus Zilinskas, Kwabena Asamoah, and Taj White, with a battle for the Left Tackle spot, between returning starter Tyler Needham and FCS All-American Lafayette transfer Ryder Langsdale, who hails from Ridgewood. One of the two will replace Hollin Pierce, who led the position group last season, and currently is with the Philadelphia Eagles. Reserves include Nick Oliveira, Dantae Chin, Moshood Giwa, Justin Cesaire, Hank Zilinksas, Terrance Salami, and Raynor Andrews.

Defensive Line:

Following the departure of Defensive Coordinator Joe Harasymiak, who is now the Head Coach at UMass, the entire Rutgers defense will need to adapt to a new system, under new Co-DC Robb Smith, who returns to Rutgers for a third time under Schiano. The D-Line will undergo the biggest change, with all four starters from last season moving on. Rutgers landed four key transfers for the group, with Eric O’Neill and Bradley Weaver at the Ends, and Darold DeNoghoe and Doug Blue-Eli at the Tackles. Returners Jordan Walker and Jordan Thompson also have chances of big roles. Other potential starters at DT include returners Keshon Griffin and Zaire Angoy. More reserves include Oliver Billotte, Djibril Abdou Rahman and Freshman Braxton Kyle. 

Linebackers:

Another position group that will undergo some growing pains include the Linebackers, which features a new position coach, who also serves as the Co-DC, in Zach Sparber. The glaring losses of Mohamed Toure and Tyreem Powell still sting, but the group they have currently still has plenty of talent. The number on Linebacker in 2025 is undoubtedly Dariel Djabome, who is 2nd returning tackler in the Big Ten, following a 105 tackle season, along with 3.5 sacks. Senior Moses Walker will likely have his chance to take over as the 2nd starter, despite struggles in coverage last season. Redshirt Freshman Sam Robinson has the chance to surprise many fans and be a big time contributor on the defense, potentially even inserting himself into the starting core. Abram Wright has returned from his own ACL tear, and looks to contribute at some point this season. Austin Dean returns to Rutgers following a two-year stint at Georgia Tech. 

Cornerbacks:

Robert Longerbeam was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 6th Round in the NFL Draft, and leaves Rutgers’ Cornerback room with snaps to be filled. They did just that, landing Penn State transfer Cam Miller, as well as Marshall transfer Nickelback Jacobie Henderson, as potential starters. Junior Bo Mascoe will be the top returnee, and Al-Shadee Salaam will certainly be given a long look to start. Reserves include Sage Clawges and Kevin Levy, two young CBs who already have some on-field experience.

Safeties:

Rutgers had to replace the departing Flip Dixon, who spent training camp with the Buffalo Bills this past July. He played a Hybrid Safety type position, and Rutgers went out into the transfer portal to land another version of just that, in 7th year Senior Jett Elad, who comes from UNLV. Sophomore Kaj Sanders, who played his High School ball at Bergen Catholic, will likely be the 2nd starter, after a solid season. Mercer transfer Chris Joines, Davoun Fuse, and Jesse Ofurie will be behind them as reserves.  

Special Teams:

For the third straight season, Rutgers has their go-to field goal and PAT kicker in Jai Patel, who nailed his final 12 field goals of the season perfectly. Northern Irish Kicker Jack Scullion will again handle the kickoffs. Jakob Anderson has returned for his Sophomore season as Rutgers’ Punter. With the departure of transfer Long Snapper Caleb Johnston, it means Michael O’Connor will serve as the team's starter in that position. The kick and punt returners are still yet to be decided, but candidates for either with the departure of Christian Dremel include DT Sheffield, who returned kicks for North Texas, or Ben Black, who returned some kicks last season as well. Newly added Dane Pardridge also served as Northern Illinois’s punt returner last season, and could very likely be there for Rutgers as well.