The Athletic went in a different direction than plenty of Rutgers fans probably would have when it picked the Scarlet Knights’ most intriguing newcomer.
Rather than new defensive coordinator Travis Johansen, The Athletic named former Tulsa EDGE J’Dan Burnett as Rutgers’ top newcomer in a recent look at the most intriguing additions across the Power Four. In that piece, newcomer was defined broadly, covering players from high school or the transfer portal as well as coaches brought in on the carousel.
The case for Burnett centered on what he did in the backfield. Antonio Morales wrote, “This is Burnett’s third stop in as many seasons after he played at Louisiana Tech in 2024 and Tulsa in 2025. He earned second-team All-American Conference honors last year after recording 6.5 sacks and 9.5 TFLs,”
Burnett gives Rutgers a possible answer to a problem that has lingered for a while: finding a pass rusher who can consistently affect games. His production at the lower level doesn’t exactly leap off the page, but the Scarlet Knights did bring in multiple defensive line pieces through the portal, and there’s at least a path where that added help up front boosts Burnett’s impact.
Still, the omission of Johansen is the part that stands out. He takes over a defense that set records for poor performance last season, and he arrives with a track record of building defenses at the lower level.
Rutgers isn’t being asked to flip the whole thing overnight, but even a meaningful step forward would matter. That improvement - and how much of it comes in year one under Johansen - remains one of the most intriguing storylines around the team next season.
In Other News...
Former Rutgers QB Just Got A Real Chance To Stick In Washington
Athan Kaliakmanis got his first NFL preseason work in Washington and handled the moment like a quarterback trying to make a case for more than just a cameo. The former Rutgers signal-caller, a seventh-round pick by the Commanders, completed 6 of 10 passes for 87 yards in his debut, giving the staff a cleaner look at where he stands as camp moves along.
Kaliakmanis is now set to share the rest of the preseason snaps with Sam Hartman, which gives Washington a more meaningful evaluation period at quarterback behind the established names. For a young passer fighting to stick, every series matters, and Dan Quinn came away encouraged by the way Kaliakmanis handled the game operation, from how he communicated to how he managed the clock. [Read more 🡒]
Greg Schiano Weighs Rutgers' Late D-Line Addition's Immediate Role
Rutgers added another experienced piece to its defensive line late in the process with Sekou Kromah, a senior transfer who comes in after stops at Monroe College and Temple. Kromah has produced along the front before, and Greg Schiano made it clear the staff views him as someone who can help the Scarlet Knights right away, even with the calendar already closing in on the start of the season.
The timing still makes this one worth watching. Kromah missed the rest of 2025 because of an injury, and his arrival gives Rutgers a veteran body at a position where depth and readiness matter every week. Schianos confidence suggests the staff believes Kromah can handle the transition quickly, but how much of a role he carves out in such a short runway will be one of the more interesting roster stories to follow. [Read more 🡒]