Pro Football Focus has positioned Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff at No. 27 in its 2026 college football rankings, a placement that underscores a season in which the senior posted 1,084 receiving yards and showcased a 6‑foot‑6 frame that makes contested catches look routine.
A Frame Built for the Big Play
Duff’s size is more than a physical attribute; it translates into a ability to out‑jump defenders and secure balls in traffic. Last season he tied for the FBS lead with 22 contested catches and ranked second in the Big Ten with an 18.1‑yard average per reception, numbers that set him apart from the typical pass catcher.
The production is not new to Rutgers history. Duff became the first Scarlet Knight to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards since Leonte Carroo in 2014, a milestone that has not been matched in the program for more than a decade.
His statistical line — 60 receptions for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging just over 18 yards per catch — reflects a consistency that helped him earn preseason All‑American honors from Phil Steele, Athlon Sports and the Walter Camp Foundation.
Quarterback Uncertainty Shapes the Outlook
The Scarlet Knights enter the upcoming season with an unsettled quarterback situation. AJ Surace and Dylan Lonergan are locked in a competition that will determine the offensive catalyst for the next chapter. Whichever signal‑caller emerges will inherit Duff as the premier target, a prospect that could accelerate his already rising trajectory.
Adding context, the passing revolution that began under former quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis laid the groundwork for this offensive evolution. The current battle promises to build on that foundation, potentially unlocking even more explosive plays for Duff and the Scarlet Knights.