Rutgers Football 2026 Defensive Preview

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 10: Raiden Vines-Bright #7 of the Washington Huskies runs after making a catch as Kaj Sanders #5 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during the third quarter at Husky Stadium on October 10, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Blake Dahlin/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

The Rutgers football season is about a week away from kicking off, meaning that we have a good idea of who is going to be starting this season. This article will provide a bio for every projected Rutgers defensive starter by Ourlads.com. Note: this list may not be entirely accurate, as we cannot be completely sure who Rutgers’ starters will be at every position until the season kicks off. With all of the transfers brought in and out on defense, the odds of each of these players definitely starting are more up in the air than on the offensive side of the ball,

Defensive Tackle- Doug Blue-Eli, Keshon Griffin

Like Ryder Langsdale, Doug Blue-Eli was another player who was slated to start for Rutgers last year who never played a snap dude to a season-ending injury he suffered in the off-season. Schiano has said multiple times this offseason that his recovery is going well, so it will be interesting to see what he can do this season, and his presence already gives Rutgers more depth on the defensive line.

Griffin was one player we decided to put ahead of who Ourlads named the starter, which was Zaire Angoy. Both Griffin and Angoy have one season of eligibility left, but Griffin started over Angoy last season, and there is no reason to think that’s going to change. Rutgers’ interior defensive line last year left much to be desired, but Griffin was the best of a bad situation, recording 8 total tackles last season.

Defensive End/ EDGE- J’Dan Burnett, Malachi Davis

Last season, Bradley Weaver and Eric O’Neill were highly touted Group of Five transfers from Ohio and James Madison, and neither truly lived up to their billing, combining for just 61 total tackles and five sacks. Part of that was likely due to the defensive scheme inhibiting all three levels, as O’Neill recorded a sack against Joe Burrow against the Cincinnati Bengals’ first-team offensive line this preseason for the Detroit Lions.

In any case, the Scarlet Knights will look to have better luck this year at the primary pass-rushing positions. Similar to last year, two transfers will look to start in Toledo’s Malachi Davis and Tulsa’s J’Dan Burnett. Davis was named Third Team All-MAC after placing second on the Rockets with 9.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks, while Burnett posted 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss for the Golden Hurricane.

Both of these numbers would be significant improvements for the Knights, as the team combined for just 11 sacks for 66 yards lost. While the back end of the defense may have been even worse, having a productive pass rush would make life easier for the coverage units and bring some extra life to SHI Stadium during third downs.

Linebackers- Sean Allison, Ty Morris

Schiano has spoken highly of his linebacking corps, and two newcomers are expected to start in Johansen’s defense, with multiple up-and-coming Rutgers recruits expected to be in the rotation behind them. Sean Allison comes in from Drake in the FCS and was selected as the Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Year. He is a productive interior linebacker, ranking inside the top 20 in the FCS in tackles per game and tallied over 100 tackles in back-to-back seasons. His former head coach, Joe Woodley, is now the rush ends coach at Rutgers.

One of the more highly touted transfers for Rutgers is the other expected starting linebacker, Ty Morris. Morris totaled 153 tackles with 17.5 for loss and seven sacks, having started 17 games and played in 37 games over three seasons for Rice. He was selected fourth team all-conference by Phil Steele and honorable mention all-conference by the American Conference coaches in 2025 and was a team captain for the Owls.

Both Allison and Morris bring a blend of extensive playing experience and leadership that put themselves in the driver’s seat as they look to anchor the middle of the defense. In Rutgers’ 4-2-5, the two linebackers play a pivotal role, as former star inside linebacker Dariel Djabome racked up over 100 tackles a few seasons ago. After the Knights failed to defend the gaps in the run game and allowed 7.6 yards per play last season, Allison and Morris will be tasked with preventing that from happening again this year.

STUD- DK Gilley

The STUD position is a hybrid between a linebacker and defensive back, and requires a phenomenal athlete who can both chase down running backs in the open field and cover pass-catchers in the secondary. Listed to start in this role is redshirt sophomore DK Gilley, who did not see game action last season but played five games in his true freshman year and picked up a tackle in each of Rutgers’ final two games of 2024 against Michigan State and Kansas State (Rate Bowl).

Prior to Rutgers, Gilley played his high school football at University Christian (FL), and finished senior season with 61 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss, 10 sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups and four fumble recoveries. This display of versatility makes him an ideal candidate for the STUD position, as he can be a jack-of-all trades in creating turnovers, making open-field-tackles, and even coming up to rush the quarterback on a blitz.

Cornerback- Mikey Munn, Kevin Levy

Mikey Munn had a breakout season last season at FCS South Dakota, recording five interceptions, a team-high 10 pass breakups, 59 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. He was named second-team All-American by FCS Football Central and earned all-conference honors during his time at South Dakota. Every one of Rutgers’ starters at cornerback left last season, so there is a gap an exciting newcomer like Munn can fill.

Kevin Levy is another player who has been doing well in the off-season, according to Schiano, who could take advantage of the power gap at the position. Last season, he saw limited playing time, recording 5 tackles. Under the new rules, Levy would be on his third season of eligibility, meaning that he should be at the point where he is ready to unlock his potential.

Safety- Kaj Sanders, Chris Joines

Kaj Sanders was one of the lowest-rated starters last season after a freshman season in 2024 where he showed flashes of potential. This season, Sanders will be looking to return to form. In 2025, he recorded 64 total tackles and one pass defended. Hopefully, Sanders will rebound under a new coaching staff.

Joines came to Rutgers from Mercer last season and recorded six tackles for the Knights in 2025. However, the season before that, Joines recorded 70 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception and one forced fumble. Although he comes to Rutgers from a much lower level, he has had two full off-seasons to adjust to the Power Four level, making him one of the most experienced players at the position.

Key ReservesLinebacking by Committee? Moses Walker, Abram Wright, Kamar Archie, DJ McClary

Both Moses Walker and Abram Wright showed flashes of talent last season but dealt with injuries the entire year. Kamar Archie and DJ McClary are two of the best prospects that have committed to Rutgers in years. It is not a far-fetched idea to think that Rutgers has six total linebackers who could see significant playing time. Walker was expected to be a starter, but got injured after recording 17 total tackles. Wright filled in his spot, but dealt with injuries all season and recorded a total of 53 tackles. McClary and Archie recorded 6 tackles and 3 tackles during their limited playing time.

Defensive tackle by Committee? Zaire Angoy, Rondo Porter, Jaedin Lee

Angoy was on the rotation last year, seeing significant playing time and recording 6 tackles. With the return of Blue-Eli, Angoy will be a capable player that Rutgers will have in reserve, bolstering the depth of their defensive line. After him, the Knights have picked up transfers Rondo Porter and Jaedin Lee. Porter, despite coming to Rutgers from Appalachian State, has Power Four experience at South Carolina, where he played in 2024. In 2025, he recorded 43 tackles and two sacks for the Mountaineers. For the Gamecocks in 2024, he recorded 7 total tackles and one sack. His experience will prove useful if Rutgers wants a deep rotation on the interior defensive line. Lee recorded 32 tackles and 3.5 tackles last season at Maine and provides another experienced big body on the defensive line should he be needed. In addition, unlike the other defensive tackles on this list, he has three seasons of eligibility, so he has the most opportunity to grow.