Rutgers CB Bo Mascoe Set to Enter Transfer Portal After Breakout Season
Rutgers cornerback Bo Mascoe, who started all 12 games in 2025 and emerged as a consistent bright spot on an otherwise struggling defense, is planning to enter the transfer portal when it opens on January 2. The move marks a significant development for the Scarlet Knights, as Mascoe is the most impactful player so far to signal his departure.
Mascoe’s decision comes amid a growing list of Rutgers players eyeing the portal. Running backs CJ Campbell and Samuel Brown, defensive end Jordan Walker, and offensive lineman John Stone have also announced their intentions to explore new opportunities. But Mascoe stands apart - not just in terms of production, but in how vital he was to the Scarlet Knights’ defense this past season.
Let’s break it down: Mascoe logged 590 snaps in 2025, the most of any defensive back on the team. In that time, he racked up 48 tackles, forced two fumbles, and picked off a pass.
According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out as the top performer on a defense that, to put it bluntly, had a tough year. Rutgers finished 5-7 overall and just 2-7 in Big Ten play, but Mascoe’s consistency in coverage and willingness to get physical in run support didn’t go unnoticed.
He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media - a nod to his impact even in a challenging season.
This isn’t a one-year flash, either. Mascoe has been steadily building toward this kind of breakout.
After arriving in Piscataway as a three-star recruit in the 2023 class, the Florida native made his college debut in the Pinstripe Bowl against Miami - a game Rutgers won. That performance helped springboard him into a bigger role, and by his redshirt freshman year in 2024, he was already a key part of the rotation.
That season, he played 561 snaps over 13 games (including four starts), posted 49 tackles, and added an interception to his stat line.
Now, with two seasons of high-level experience under his belt and a resume that includes over 1,100 career snaps, Mascoe is poised to be one of the more intriguing defensive backs in the portal. He brings size, physicality, and versatility - traits that should draw interest from programs looking to shore up their secondary with a proven Big Ten-caliber starter.
The transfer portal officially opens on January 2 and will remain open for 15 days. Expect Mascoe’s name to generate attention early. He’s not just a player looking for a new home - he’s a plug-and-play corner with upside and experience, the kind of addition that could change the complexion of a defensive backfield overnight.