Greg Schiano Weighs Rutgers' Late D-Line Addition's Immediate Role

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano shares his optimistic outlook on how transfer Sekou Kromah could strengthen their defense in the upcoming season.

Rutgers has a new face in the defensive line room, and Greg Schiano is already making it clear why the Scarlet Knights wanted him.

Senior transfer Sekou Kromah is still getting settled with kickoff two weeks away, but Schiano said after the team’s first scrimmage of training camp that the staff believes Kromah can make a real impact in 2026.

"We wouldn't have brought him here if we didn't think he was a good player," Schiano said on Saturday. "We wouldn't have brought him at this stage unless we believed he could help us in '26.

So, he's definitely going to do that. It's just a matter of how fast can we get him integrated into what we're doing and how fast and how comfortable we are with his conditioning and everything."

Kromah’s path to Rutgers has been anything but ordinary. He spent two seasons at JUCO Monroe College, then played 19 games over two years at Temple. On July 31, he was granted a preliminary injunction against the NCAA to play a fifth season of college football, and he committed to Rutgers on August 9.

His 2025 season at Temple was cut short by injury, but not before he put together some production. In seven games, Kromah logged three sacks and four and a half tackles for loss.

One of his best outings came against No. 18 Oklahoma, when he had a sack and seven tackles early in the year.

The East Orange, New Jersey, native is the 11th defensive transfer in Rutgers’ 2026 class, which means he’s stepping into a crowded fight for snaps up front. He also arrives with less than three weeks before the first game, a clear timing disadvantage. Schiano, though, said that won’t keep him from competing.

"He's been in an individual setting," Schiano said. "There's guys that are working out on the side and staying ready and then boom, they hit it.

So, he's a mature guy. That's one thing I can tell you.

Like just in visiting with him and coaching him a few days, he's all business. This is important to him."

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