Rutgers Football Preview 2025: Scarlet Knights Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Key Player

Doug Blue-Eli, DT Sr.
The Rutgers run defense got ripped up too easily. The transfers should help the cause in a hurry, at least that’s the hope. It starts with 6-2, 315-pound Doug Blue-Eli on the nose.

He’s a long-time starter who began at TCU before moving to USF, and now it’s his job to clog things up as an anchor for the front four.

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Eric O’Neill, EDGE Sr.
He began at Long Island University, coming up with 131 tackles with 15.5 sacks and 44.5 tackles for loss as one of the best all-around pass rushers in the FCS. He left for James Madison, and he became an instant Sun Belt star with 13 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and 52 tackles.

Top Transfer Out: Mohamed Toure, LB Sr.
A mainstay of the Rutgers defense in 2021 and 2023, when healthy, he’s a tackling machine and disruptive force in the backfield. He missed all of last year with a knee injury, but he’s expected to be back and part of the Miami linebacking corps.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Key Game

Iowa, Sept. 20
It’s not just the Big Ten opener, and it’s not just a shot at 4-0 - Rutgers should open with three straight wins. It’s a chance to finally beat the Hawkeyes. Not only are the Scarlet Knights 0-4 in the series, but they’ve been outscored 93-17.
- 2025 Rutgers Schedule Breakdown

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Top 10 Players

1. Dariel Djabome, LB Jr.
2. Eric O’Neill, EDGE, Sr.
3. Bradley Weaver, EDGE, Sr.
4. Kawbena Asamoah, OG Jr.
5. CJ Campbell, RB Sr.
6. Ian Strong, WR Jr.
7. Jacobie Henderson, S Jr.
8. DT Sheffield, WR Sr.
9. Athan Kaliakmanis, QB Sr.
10. Bo Mascoe, CB Soph.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2024 Fun Stats

- Fumbles: Opponents 14 (lost 5), Rutgers 4 (lost 2)

- Two Point Conversions: Opponents 5-of-9, Rutgers 2-of-4

- Penalties: Opponents 84 for 682 yards, Opponents 42 for 444 yards

Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

Again, the starting 22 should be among the best yet under Schiano. The schedule doesn’t help too much, though.

There’s no Michigan, and missing Indiana matters now, but the Scarlet Knights still have to face Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State. This year, going to Illinois hurts, and the 3,000 mile trip to Seattle will be tough.

But, as always, the non-conference slate is light and breezy, Purdue should be a stress-free road win, and there a few more wins will pop in here and there. But November is brutal, and a road dare at Minnesota won’t help.

As long as there isn’t a home loss to Maryland, it should be a third straight bowl season.

Set The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Win Total At … 5.5

Likely Wins: Miami University, Norfolk State, Ohio, at Purdue

50/50 Games: at Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, at Minnesota, at Washington

Likely Losses: at Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State 

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