Blog Article
Rutgers Football 2025: The Year Everything Changes
Rutgers football is about to face its biggest test since Greg Schiano returned to Piscataway.
After back-to-back 7-6 seasons and consecutive bowl appearances for the first time since 2011-12, the Scarlet Knights have built something real. But 2025 isn’t about maintaining momentum anymore. It’s about proving they belong among the Big Ten elite when the schedule stops being friendly.
The Foundation Is Strong, But Now Comes The Real Test
Most people don’t understand Rutgers’ situation: the program has quietly become one of the most stable rebuilds in college football. While everyone was focused on flashier turnarounds, Schiano methodically constructed something sustainable.
Consider these facts:
- Three NFL draft picks in 2025 (most since 2013)
- Consecutive winning seasons for the first time in over a decade
- Top-30 recruiting class with 10 four-star prospects
- Contract extension through 2030, showing institutional commitment
The foundation isn’t just solid. It’s the strongest since the mid-2000s peak that put Rutgers on the national map.
But foundations don’t win games. Players do. The 2025 schedule is about to test every brick Schiano has carefully laid.
Finally: Quarterback Stability (Yes, Really)
For the first time in recent memory, Rutgers enters a season without quarterback uncertainty haunting every conversation.
Athan Kaliakmanis will be the starter for the second consecutive year. This might not sound revolutionary until you consider the program’s recent history at the position: seven years where no QB could complete a full season, followed by Gavin Wimsatt posting the lowest passer rating among Power conference quarterbacks.
The Minnesota transfer threw for 2,698 yards with 18 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in 2024. More importantly, he showed the clutch gene with memorable late-game drives, including that thriller against Illinois.
Schiano emphasized after spring practice that Kaliakmanis “had a full season working under Coach Ciarrocca” and now has the credibility to “be a quarterback/leader that we need him to be.”
Behind him, sophomore AJ Surace impressed in the spring game with 220 yards on 15-of-24 passing. The depth that killed previous seasons finally exists.
The Offensive Line: Four Anchors, One Question Mark
The offensive line returns four battle-tested starters who helped produce 376 points (most in Rutgers’ Big Ten era):
- #65 LG Felter
- #59 C G. Zilinskas
- #69 RG Asamoah
- #56 RT Needham
The challenge? Replacing NFL-bound left tackle Hollin Pierce.
Tyler Needham has shifted to left tackle, and Taj White has moved to right tackle during spring practices. The staff continues monitoring the transfer portal for additional depth, but the interior line showed resilience when Felter fell injured in 2024.
This unit has been through fire together. They know how to handle adversity.
The Running Game Revolution
Kyle Monangai is gone, taking his 1,279 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns to the Chicago Bears.
That might be a good thing: Rutgers overused Monangai in 2024, making the offense predictable and wearing down their best weapon. Other backs like Benjamin and Brown showed superior efficiency when given opportunities, but the staff stuck with the “feed the bell cow” mentality.
Andrew Rice of On the Banks expects a complete philosophical shift. FAU transfer CJ Campbell will likely lead a committee approach featuring:
- Antoine Raymond (returning sophomore)
- Edd Guerrier (showed flashes in spring game)
- Terrell Mitchell (true freshman with big-play ability)
A balanced backfield could improve overall production while keeping everyone fresh for Big Ten battles.
Receiver Room Gets Much-Needed Star Power
The departure of top target Dymere Miller created an opportunity for dramatic change.
Enter North Texas transfer DT Sheffield, who posted 822 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. He provides the veteran production and leadership that this young group desperately needed.
But the real excitement comes from emerging young talent:
- Vernon Allen III and Jourdin Houston combined for 143 yards in the spring game
- Ian Strong returns from injury with renewed focus
- KJ Duff continues developing into a reliable option
This position has been Rutgers’ Achilles heel for years. The pieces are finally in place for a breakthrough.
Defense Gets Complete Makeover
October’s four-game losing streak exposed defensive weaknesses that couldn’t be ignored. Allowing 33 points per game during that stretch cost Rutgers any shot at a special season.
Schiano’s response? Blow it up and start over.
New Leadership Structure
Co-defensive coordinators Robb Smith and Zach Sparber will replace departed coordinator Joe Harasymiak. Smith will call plays, bringing extensive experience and a track record of improvement. Sparber, who also coaches linebackers, is considered a rising star in the profession.
Transfer Portal Aggressive Approach
The defensive line received the most dramatic overhaul:
- Eric O’Neill (13 sacks at James Madison, fourth-most nationally)
- Doug Blue-Eli (run-stuffing tackle from USF)
- Darold DeNgohe (interior pressure from James Madison)
Combined with returning veterans Jordan Walker and Keshon Griffin, this unit should generate significantly more disruption.
Secondary Rebuilds From Scratch
Four key contributors departed, but spring practices revealed promising depth:
- Sophomores Bo Mascoe and Kaj Sanders emerged as reliable options
- Al-Shadee Salaam (converted RB) earned “most improved defensive player”
- Four-star freshman Michael Clayton adds immediate talent
Recruiting Renaissance Continues
Schiano’s program building received another massive boost with a consensus top-30 recruiting class.
The numbers tell the story:
- 10 four-star recruits across multiple positions
- Six defensive linemen addressing the biggest need
- Four linebackers providing depth and competition
- Three defensive backs for the secondary rebuilding
Linebacker Kamar Archie and offensive lineman Ja’Elyne Matthews headline a class that should provide immediate impact and future starting potential.
The geographic footprint reflects Schiano’s “State of Rutgers” philosophy, emphasizing New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania while strategically expanding into areas like Texas.
Schedule Reality: Welcome to Hell Week (Every Week)
Every bit of optimism about roster improvements crashes into the brutal reality of the 2025 schedule.
Non-conference games against Ohio, Miami of Ohio, and Norfolk State represent Schiano’s typical approach of building early momentum. He’s unbeaten in non-conference play since returning in 2020, and these three games must continue that streak.
But conference play? That’s where things get terrifying.
The Gauntlet Includes:
- Oregon (road)
- Ohio State (road)
- Penn State (home)
- Iowa (home)
- Illinois (road)
- Washington (road)
- Minnesota (road)
Back-to-back road games against Minnesota and Washington will test depth and resilience. Even the “easier” road game at Purdue is uncertain with Purdue under new coaching.
The season opens Thursday, Aug. 28, against Ohio, continuing the trend of Thursday night season openers. Early betting lines have Rutgers as double-digit favorites, suggesting confidence in the non-conference sweep.
Coaching Security Provides Stability
Despite the challenging outlook, Schiano’s position remains completely secure.
His contract extension through 2030 and the program’s clear upward trajectory since 2020 provide stability even if 2025 proves difficult. National analysts note that Schiano has “steadily built the program to respectability in the Big Ten” and receives too little credit for his work.
The NFL pipeline continues strengthening recruiting credibility and program prestige. When recruits see former teammates succeeding at the next level, it validates the development process.
Keys to Survival (And Maybe Success)
Rutgers must approach 2025 with surgical precision in their preparation and execution.
Non-Conference Perfection Required: All three early games represent must-wins. Any slip-up eliminates bowl eligibility hopes before Big Ten play begins.
Identify Winnable Conference Games: Purdue and Maryland offer the most realistic paths to additional victories. Minnesota and Illinois represent upset potential if everything clicks.
Defensive Coordinator Chemistry: The Smith-Sparber tandem must quickly implement systems that maximize transfer talent while developing young players. The emphasis on rotation should prevent the fatigue-related dropoffs that plagued 2024.
Offensive Balance Finally Achieved: Establishing a more balanced attack takes pressure off the running game against stronger Big Ten defenses. Kaliakmanis’s continued development and emerging receiving threats could unlock explosive potential.
The Verdict: Foundation Testing Time
Projections suggest a 4-8 record, but that reflects schedule difficulty rather than program regression.
Bowl eligibility requires overachievement and likely at least one signature upset. However, Schiano’s foundation appears stronger than at any point since the mid-2000s peak.
Here’s what 2025 is really about: proving Rutgers can compete consistently against elite competition. Avoiding blowout losses and remaining competitive in most games demonstrates readiness for sustained success when future schedules prove more favorable.
Success Metrics Beyond Wins and Losses
The coaching staff’s aggressive approach to roster construction through recruiting and transfers shows a commitment to accelerating development rather than accepting mediocrity.
Competitive games against Oregon and Ohio State might prove more valuable than an extra victory against inferior competition. The schedule provides an opportunity to prove belonging among Big Ten elites, even if the record doesn’t immediately reflect that progress.
For Rutgers faithful, this is the year everything changes.
The program has reached its highest sustained level since joining the Big Ten. The next step requires navigating the conference’s toughest opponents with a roster still building toward championship-level depth.
The foundation is strong, but 2025 will test whether it can withstand the full weight of Big Ten expectations.
Get ready for the most important season in Greg Schiano’s second tenure.
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