Roster breakdown

Rutgers built this roster almost entirely through high school recruiting — only 5 transfers, all from non-FBS programs, representing 4% of classifiable players — so this is a homegrown, development-model build with zero P4 or G5 portal activity versus Maryland's 32 transfers at 29%. The roster skews older (60% upperclassmen vs. Maryland's 43%) but carries zero redshirts, and that age comes with a real 2026 cost: 37% of the roster walks out the door after this season. Talent level is a dead heat on paper — 17% blue-chip at 3.17★ against Maryland's 17% at 3.18★ — but the offensive line is lighter (311 lbs vs. Maryland's 314 lbs) and the DL is notably undersized at 275 lbs against Maryland's 314 lbs, which matters against Maryland's run game given Rutgers returns 83% of rush production but only 3% of passing production. On the DMV front, 11 Rutgers rostered players are from the area — Carter, Humes, Allen, Murray, Childress, and Engelberg among the DBs and WRs — giving Schiano a real recruiting footprint in Maryland's backyard despite NJ (40 players) dominating the geographic profile.