Rutgers Football Enters Pivotal Offseason as Greg Schiano Resets the Program
Fifteen days removed from a 40-36 loss to Penn State that put a frustrating cap on Rutgers' 2025 campaign, Greg Schiano is already deep into what might be one of the most critical offseasons of his second stint in Piscataway.
The Scarlet Knights ended the year with a thud, and Schiano wasted no time getting to work. He signed a solid 2026 recruiting class, made sweeping changes to his defensive staff, and is preparing for a transfer portal window that could reshape the roster. With the 2026 season on the horizon, Rutgers is looking to reset, reload, and rebound.
Here’s what stood out from Schiano’s recent conversation with reporters as the Scarlet Knights begin their offseason overhaul:
Defensive Overhaul: Searching for a Leader, Not Just a Playcaller
For the second time in 12 months, Rutgers is in the market for a new defensive coordinator. After a historically poor showing in 2025 - the Scarlet Knights gave up more yards per play (7.6) than any team in the country - Schiano parted ways with co-coordinators Robb Smith and Zach Sparber.
This time around, Schiano is looking for more than just a schematic fix. He wants a leader - someone who can command the room, call plays, and elevate the entire side of the ball, much like offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca has done on the other side.
“What I have here in Coach Ciarrocca is exactly what I’d like to have on defense,” Schiano said. “A guy who leads the room, calls the plays, and really leads the players.”
As for scheme? Schiano made it clear he’s not married to any one system. The focus is on philosophical alignment - a shared vision for how to build and run a defense - rather than a rigid blueprint.
“There are certain techniques that are non-negotiable,” he explained, “but there’s many ways to skin a cat. If you think one technique works better than another, that’s yours - you run the defense.”
It’s a wide-open search, but the goal is clear: Rutgers needs a defensive CEO, someone who can fix a unit that simply couldn’t get stops in 2025.
Keeping the Core Together: Will the Stars Stay?
One of the biggest storylines heading into the offseason is whether Rutgers can retain its top offensive weapons - running back Antwan Raymond and wide receivers Ian Strong and KJ Duff.
All three were key to a Rutgers offense that made real strides this past season, and keeping them in Piscataway is a top priority. Schiano sounded cautiously optimistic about the chances of keeping the trio, but acknowledged that nothing is guaranteed in the NIL and transfer portal era.
“You’re optimistic until you’re not,” Schiano said. “But I feel good. We have really good players that are attached to this program, and I think we have the resources to compete to keep them.”
It’s a wait-and-see situation, but there’s no denying how much hangs in the balance. If Rutgers can hold onto that core, they’ll enter 2026 with a legitimate offensive identity - something the program hasn’t had consistently in years.
Quarterback Competition: AJ Surace Leads, But Door’s Open
With Athan Kaliakmanis out of eligibility, the quarterback job is officially up for grabs. The early favorite is redshirt sophomore AJ Surace, who’s spent the past two seasons learning behind Kaliakmanis and earning praise from the coaching staff.
“I love AJ,” Schiano said. “He’s a very talented, committed player.”
But don’t pencil him in just yet. Schiano made it clear that the job will be earned, not handed out. And while Surace may have the inside track, the Scarlet Knights aren’t ruling out adding a quarterback from the transfer portal to spice up the competition.
“We’re always looking,” Schiano said. “There’ll be a competition.
We have other quarterbacks in the program as well. Around here, everything’s based on competition - and quarterback is no different.”
It’s a familiar approach from Schiano, who values internal battles as a way to raise the floor of the entire roster. Whether Surace wins the job or someone new enters the picture, Rutgers will have a fresh face under center in 2026.
Injury Woes: Can a New Strength Program Turn the Tide?
Injuries have been a persistent - and costly - issue for Rutgers over the past two seasons. According to availability data, no team in the Big Ten lost more games to injury in 2025 than the Scarlet Knights.
Schiano is hoping that a revamped strength and conditioning program, led by newly promoted Director of Sports Performance Spencer Brown, can help reverse that trend.
“I love what he’s done so far,” Schiano said. “He had seven weeks to get the team ready for training camp after he got promoted, and we made some changes during the season that were positive.”
Now, Brown has a full offseason to implement his plan. Schiano emphasized the collaboration between Brown, the medical staff, and sports science personnel as a key part of the new approach.
“We’ve had some issues the last couple years with injuries,” Schiano said. “That’s got to be lessened. Two years in a row of historic injury numbers - we have to cut those.”
If Rutgers can stay healthier in 2026, it could be one of the biggest hidden wins of the offseason.
Looking Ahead
Rutgers enters this offseason with more questions than answers - but also with a clear sense of direction. Schiano is reshaping his staff, fighting to retain top talent, preparing for a quarterback transition, and trying to solve a nagging injury problem that’s derailed back-to-back seasons.
The 2026 campaign will be a pivotal one. And how the next few months unfold - from hiring the right defensive coordinator to winning key roster battles - will go a long way in determining whether Rutgers can take a step forward or risks falling further behind in a deepening Big Ten.
One thing’s for sure: Schiano isn’t wasting any time.