Rutgers Reloads on Defense with 2026 Class Headlined by Speed, Length, and Upside
National Signing Day has arrived, and Rutgers is making serious moves on the defensive side of the ball. The Scarlet Knights have stacked their 2026 class with a mix of length off the edge, speed in the secondary, and raw athleticism across the board. Let’s break down the newest additions to the Rutgers defense-and why this group could help reshape the unit in the coming years.
Edge Presence: Rinaldo Callaway III Brings Size and Upside
The headliner of the defensive class is edge rusher Rinaldo Callaway III, a four-star prospect out of Georgia who flipped his commitment from USF to Rutgers after just one visit. At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Callaway has the kind of frame that college coaches dream about on the edge-long, rangy, and built to develop.
He’s not just a measurables guy, either. Callaway held offers from Kentucky, Wake Forest, and Virginia Tech, and his quick decision to shut down the rest of his visits after seeing Rutgers speaks volumes about the program’s pitch-and his fit within the scheme. Expect him to be a foundational piece of the pass rush in the coming years, especially as he adds weight and refines his technique.
Beef in the Trenches: Jermaine Polk and Reece Beck Add Power Inside
Rutgers needed help at defensive tackle, and they may have found a strong answer in Jermaine Polk. Listed at 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Polk is a three-star prospect who committed just days after receiving his offer. Defensive tackle coach Charlie Noonan played a key role in sealing the deal, and Polk’s size and frame give him a solid foundation to build on as an interior disruptor.
Joining him in the trenches is Reece Beck, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman who brings serious strength to the table. His weight room numbers-495-pound squat, 280-pound clean, and 255-pound bench-are eye-popping for a high school athlete. That raw power could translate into a strong rotational role early in his college career, especially if he can maintain that strength while adding more explosion off the line.
Linebacker Corps Adds Versatility and Athleticism
Two new linebackers bring very different skill sets to the table, but both could carve out roles in a modern defense that demands versatility.
Tanner Raymond committed just one day after receiving his offer during an official visit in June. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he brings a solid build and multi-sport athleticism-he also played basketball at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. That kind of lateral movement and footwork can translate well to coverage responsibilities and space tackling.
Joey Kopec, on the other hand, is all about speed. The first commitment under new linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Zach Sparber, Kopec clocks in at a blazing 4.43 in the 40-yard dash.
At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, he profiles more as a coverage linebacker-someone who can track tight ends, chase down running backs, and close passing lanes in a hurry. He may not be a thumper in the run game just yet, but his speed gives him a clear role in today’s spread-heavy offenses.
Speed and Length in the Secondary
Rutgers clearly had a type when it came to recruiting defensive backs in this class: long, athletic, and fast.
Brandon Murray, nicknamed “blurrr” in high school, lives up to the moniker. A 4.55 forty and a 10.89 in the 100-meter dash show off his top-end speed. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, he’s a high three-star corner with the kind of athletic profile that fits perfectly in press coverage or as a boundary corner who can turn and run with receivers.
Devonte Anderson is the latest addition to the class, flipping from Louisville to Rutgers late in the cycle. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, he brings a physical presence to the position, and his late switch suggests Rutgers made a strong final push to land him.
Jamareis “JJ” Conyers was the second corner to commit in this cycle, and he checks all the boxes Rutgers seems to look for: 6-foot-2, long arms, and plus speed. He’s got the frame and tools to develop into a strong outside corner, especially in a system that values length and recovery speed.
Safety Help: Sebastian Cruz Brings Closing Speed
At safety, Sebastian Cruz adds more speed to the back end. His 4.4 forty is impressive, and it shows up on film-he’s able to make up ground even when caught out of position.
At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, he’s not the biggest safety, but his range and burst allow him to play fast and aggressive. Cruz chose Rutgers over Iowa State, SMU, and West Virginia, and his ability to erase mistakes with speed makes him a valuable addition to the secondary.
Final Thoughts
This 2026 defensive class for Rutgers checks a lot of important boxes: edge length, interior strength, linebacker speed, and secondary athleticism. It’s not just about star ratings-it’s about fit, upside, and building a unit that can match up with the increasingly fast and dynamic offenses in college football. If these players develop as expected, this could be the foundation of a much tougher, more versatile Rutgers defense in the years ahead.