WEEK 7 · Oct 17 · SECU STADIUM · 26 DAYS SP+ '25 +1.0 · #72

Rutgers

Proven Ciarrocca offense built around Raymond and Duff, strapped to an FBS-worst defense torn down and rebuilt through the portal under new DC Johansen — market says 4.5 wins.

2025 · 5-7 (2-7 B1G); missed a bowl that was the preseason expectation

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THE MARYLAND ANGLE

They will circle Oct 17 in College Park as a must-have for bowl math off a 4.5 win total. The offense runs through Raymond (1,241 yards in 2025) and Duff (1,084 receiving, the national lead in contested catches), with the QB unsettled into camp; the secondary is portal-patched under a first-year coordinator's install.

Offense

SCHEMECiarrocca system, year 4 — efficient, low-turnover, with a legit downfield passing element. 407.1 ypg in 2025 (389.1 in B1G play), program's best marks since joining the league.

QBNo starter has been named: redshirt freshman AJ Surace and Boston College transfer Dylan Lonergan are the principals, with the battle running through camp; sophomore Sean Ashenfelder drew camp-standout notice at the spot (SI, Aug 15). Both Surace and Lonergan sit atop the current Ourlads chart.

RETURNRaymond (RB) — 1,241 yds, 13 TD in 2025 · Duff (WR) — 60 catches, 1,084 yds, 7 TD · Black (WR) — projected starter per Ourlads · Blake (TE) — projected starter per Ourlads

ADDSLonergan (QB, Boston College) · Thevenin (RB, Louisiana Tech) · Anthony (TE, Ball State) · Cook (OL, Delaware State) · Small (OL, Eastern Michigan)

The offense worked in 2025 and the two best skill pieces are back. Strong's exit to Cal opens a starting receiver spot opposite Duff, and whoever wins the QB job inherits a run game that can carry the script. Identity is set; the question is QB and WR2.

Defense

SCHEMEFull reinstall under Johansen (ex-South Dakota HC, 14 years of DC experience; eight top-25 units at his level). Exact front/coverage structure not publicly detailed; spring was instruction and evaluation, not competition.

RETURNAngoy (DT) · Griffin (DL) — 7 starts in 2025 · Blue-Eli (DT) — back from injury that cost him all of 2025 · Wright (LB) · Walker (LB) · Sanders (S)

ADDSDavis (DE, Toledo) — 9.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 3rd-team All-MAC; spring standout · Morris (LB, Rice) — 88 tackles, 9.5 TFL, team captain; spring standout · Porter (DT, Appalachian State) · Dawud (CB, Villanova) — 2nd-team All-CAA · Munn (CB, South Dakota) — late add, missed spring · Allison (LB, Drake) — late add, missed spring

2025 was a collapse: 127th nationally, FBS-worst 7.6 yards per play, co-DCs Smith and Sparber dismissed. Johansen rebuilt the two-deep almost entirely with G5/FCS portal vets and five new position coaches. The floor should rise on competence alone, but this is a near-total restart with limited returning production. No injuries showed on the Covers league report as of Aug 17; Rice transfer LB Ty Morris and two-way freshman Dyzier Carter are the named camp standouts.

Coaching

HCGreg Schiano · 7th year of second stint (18th overall at Rutgers)

OCKirk Ciarrocca (4th year, 2025 Broyles nominee, under contract through Feb 2027)

DCTravis Johansen (1st year, from South Dakota HC; 3-year deal, $1.3M starting salary)

CHANGESCo-DCs Smith and Sparber dismissed after 2025 collapse; Johansen hired from South Dakota · Five new defensive position coaches alongside Johansen

Offensive staff continuity is the program's anchor; the entire defensive operation is new. Widely framed as a pivotal, bowl-or-bust-flavored year for Schiano after missing the postseason in 2025.

Roster Changes

Lonergan (QB, Boston College)
Davis (DE, Toledo)
Morris (LB, Rice)
Dawud (CB, Villanova)
Porter (DT, Appalachian State)

OUT

Strong (WR, California) — 52-742-5 in 10 games in 2025
Mascoe (CB, Texas)
Brown V (RB, Temple)
Walker (DE, Georgia Tech)
DeNgohe (DT, UCLA)

Top-end talent drained upward (Strong, Mascoe, Walker to P4 homes) and was backfilled with high-volume G5/FCS producers aimed almost entirely at the defense. Two-deep gets older and more credentialed at its level, but the ceiling pieces left.

Special Teams

Patel is back for a fourth year — honorable mention All-B1G in 2025, school record 18 straight made FGs across 2024-25, 51-yard long. Real weapon in one-score games. Ourlads projects Anderson at punter with Duff/Black handling returns (unconfirmed by beat coverage).

Vegas

4.5WIN TOTAL · FanDuel

As of Aug 17: BetMGM's 4.5 win total (updated Aug 12) sits under bowl eligibility, and the media poll has them 17th. No line is posted for Oct 17 at our place; their first five announced kick times did not include us.

Key Players

RaymondRB

1,241 yds and 13 TD in 2025 — the offense runs through him, and they will lean on him to protect a rebuilt defense.

DuffWR

60-1,084-7; the lone proven perimeter weapon with Strong gone — coverage priority No. 1.

LonerganQB

BC transfer in a dead-heat battle with Surace; whoever wins inherits a QB-friendly Ciarrocca system.

DavisDE

Toledo transfer (9.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks) — Schiano's named spring standout and the projected edge presence.

MorrisLB

Rice captain with 88 tackles; plugged in as the defensive signal-caller type for Johansen's install.

PatelK

School-record 18 straight FGs, 51-yard range — flips one-score games.

Researched 2026-06-09 · 247Sports, On3/The Knight Report, On the Banks, ESPN, Ourlads, Daily Targum, scarletknights.com, Yahoo Sports · 19 sources on file