Rutgers football continues to cement its reputation as a talent incubator, landing ten players on the 2027 Shriners Children’s 1000 Watch List, a distinction announced on Wednesday.
Rutgers’ Ten Spot on the Watch List
The list, which spans FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA, highlights the top all‑star game‑eligible prospects nationwide. This marks the second time in three years that the Scarlet Knights have placed at least ten athletes on the roster, underscoring a sustained pipeline of NFL‑ready talent.
The ten selections span every major position group, featuring offensive linemen Kwabena Asamoah and Tyler Needham, defensive linemen J’Dan Burnett, Malachi Davis and Rondo Porter, wide receiver KJ Duff, quarterback Dylan Lonergan, linebacker Ty Morris, running back Antwan Raymond and defensive back Kaj Sanders.
KJ Duff Jr. earned second‑team All‑Big Ten honors after a breakout season that saw him amass 1,084 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, ranking seventh nationally in yards per game at 90.3. He became the first Rutgers wideout to reach the 1,000‑yard milestone since 2014.
Antwan Raymond powered the ground game with 1,241 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, adding two receiving scores. His 13 rushing TDs helped him finish third in the Big Ten and earn second‑team all‑conference honors, while he also captured the Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian player in college football.
Kwabena Asamoah started every game at right guard last season, extending his streak to 25 consecutive starts and earning a second‑team All‑American nod from ESPN.
Quarterback Dylan Lonergan, who transferred from Boston College, posted a 66.9% completion rate, 2,025 passing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025, including three games with at least 300 yards through the air.
Defensive standouts such as J’Dan Burnett (9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks at Tulsa) and Malachi Davis (9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks at Toledo) garnered All‑American Athletic Conference and All‑MAC recognitions respectively, while Rondo Porter contributed 50 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks across stops at Appalachian State and South Carolina.
Linebacker Ty Morris brings 153 career tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks from his time at Rice, and Kaj Sanders has appeared in all 25 games of his first two seasons, accumulating 108 tackles, five passes defended and three blocked punts.
Rutgers’ history of producing NFL talent is evident in its five‑year streak of draft selections, most recently quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis drafted by the Washington Commanders, and the recent signing of Kenny Fletcher Jr., Cam Miller, Eric O’Neill and DT Sheffield.
While placement on the Shriners Children’s 1000 Watch List does not guarantee an all‑star invitation or a draft slot, the players will enter an early evaluation pool and remain eligible to move forward throughout the 2026 scouting season.