KJ Duff has been one of the few steady lights in Rutgers’ rough opening stretch, and the wide receiver believes the offense can take something real from what it showed in the second half against Boston College.
Rutgers is still winless through two games, but Duff pointed to that second-half push as evidence that the group can start stacking better football on both sides of the ball. The key, in his eyes, is simple: everybody doing his job.
"I think we talk about doing our 1/11th, and you know when all the 11 guys are doing their 1/11th, we see what it can look like on both sides of the ball," Duff said Tuesday following practice.
He added, "Even the defense played pretty good in the second half as well. Just trying to be consistent with that."
Duff’s production has been loud enough to cut through the noise. Through two games, he has 17 catches for 333 yards and five touchdowns, numbers that put him firmly among the top wideouts in college football.
He’s also made a point of showing more than just receiving ability. This offseason, Duff focused on improving as a blocker, and he said that work was on display Friday night at Boston College.
"Just putting the best out there. I definitely wanted to take the next step as a blocker," Duff said.
He knows opponents notice that kind of detail when they study Rutgers on film.
"When the other team puts the film on, they can see the type of receiver I am, but just how physical it's going to be all day out there on the field. So definitely want that to jump off the film."
Rutgers’ quarterback situation could still shape what the offense looks like this weekend against No. 12 USC. Dylan Lonergan, who won the starting quarterback competition in training camp, was injured in the season opener and did not play Friday at Boston College, where AJ Surace filled in.
Duff said the offense has been prepared for either option.
"I don't think it has too much of (an) effect on us. We worked with both of those guys all off season out in practice," Duff said.
"Everyone's throwing to us. So, I don't think that has much of (an) effect. Whoever's out there, we all trust them to go out and do it."
He called the matchup with USC "a big opportunity for the whole team."
The Trojans have had some defensive issues early, but Duff still sees plenty of high-end talent across that side of the ball.
"I think off rip you got to say, up front defensive wise, they got a great d-line, big, all across the board," Duff said.
"So, it'll be a good challenge for us."
In Other News...
Rutgers Faces An SHI Stadium Warning Fans Cant Ignore
Week 2 offered a familiar snapshot of Big Ten football, with six schools either away from home or idle and the average crowd for the others landing at 64,114, or about 65% of capacity. Indiana, Iowa and Michigan were the only programs to draw full houses, while UCLAs showing at the Rose Bowl stood out for all the wrong reasons, a reminder that attendance remains a real measure of health across the league. For Rutgers, the broader numbers only sharpen an issue the program has been watching closely: interest at SHI Stadium has been slipping, and that matters well beyond the optics on a fall Saturday.
The financial side is part of the concern, since lower attendance can filter directly into revenue and leave the program trying to keep pace in a league where fan engagement is part of the baseline. TV exposure offers some cushion, but it does not erase the need for a stronger in-person draw, and Rutgers place near the bottom of Week 1 viewership only adds to the unease. As the season moves on, the Scarlet Knights will be measured not just by what happens on the field, but by whether SHI Stadium can become a tougher place to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Faces A Massive USC Swing Factor Before Kickoff
Dylan Lonergans status gives Rutgers a much-needed bit of optimism heading into kickoff against No. 12 USC. The Scarlet Knights starting quarterback is listed as probable after missing the previous game with an injury, and that alone changes the feel of a matchup that already carries plenty of weight against a ranked opponent. Rutgers can at least prepare with the expectation that its offense will have its usual leader back in the mix.
USC, meanwhile, will have to navigate the game without its leading wide receiver, Trent Mosley, who has been ruled out. Several other players on both sides are also listed with varying availability statuses, which leaves both staffs sorting through late-week uncertainty. For Rutgers, the bigger question is not just whether Lonergan suits up, but how close he is to full strength if he does. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Faces A Big Ten Reality Fans Cant Ignore
The Athletics latest look at estimated 2026 roster budgets offered a blunt reminder of where Rutgers stands financially in the Big Ten. Among 18 league programs, the Scarlet Knights were pegged in the fourth-lowest range, at $20-23 million, a figure that underscores just how wide the spending gap remains inside a conference where roster investment is increasingly tied to competitive ambition.
Rutgers sits 14th in the Big Ten in roster spending, well behind the leagues heavyweights and even more established rivals in the money race. The report also pointed back to the athletic departments current deficit, adding another layer to the challenge as the Scarlet Knights try to keep pace in a conference where the cost of staying relevant keeps climbing. [Read more 🡒]