Photo by: AJ Mast
Ten Scarlet Knights Named to 2027 Shriners Children's 1000 Watch List
Jul 22 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football has 10 representatives on the 2027 Shriners Children's 1000 watch list released online today. The list is a collection of the top 1,000 all-star game eligible players at the FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA levels, and serves as an early look into the scouting process ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft.
Scarlet Knights listed include OL Kwabena Asamoah, DL J'Dan Burnett, DL Malachi Davis, WR KJ Duff, QB Dylan Lonergan, LB Ty Morris, OL Tyler Needham, DL Rondo Porter, RB Antwan Raymond and DB Kaj Sanders. RU has double-figure representation for the second time in three years, with 14 listed in 2024.
Rutgers has produced an NFL Draft pick each of the last five years as Athan Kaliakmanis was selected by the Commanders this past spring. TE Kenny Fletcher Jr. (Buccaneers), DB Cam Miller (Panthers), DL Eric O'Neill (Lions) and WR DT Sheffield (Jets) also signed contracts to make it 118 Scarlet Knights to join the NFL after playing for head coach Greg Schiano.
KWABENA ASAMOAH
Asamoah started all 12 games at right guard in 2025 and each of the past 25 at the position dating back to the previous season. A Second Team All-America by ESPN, he blocked for an offense that averaged 389.1 yards of total offense in Big Ten play, the team's best mark in a season since joining the league. The unit had a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver for the second time in program history and first time since 2007. In addition, Rutgers ranked 14th nationally in time of possession (32:31), 15th in yards per completion (13.7) and 20th in first downs gained (279) following the regular season. The Pickerington, Ohio, native is a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten pick.
J'DAN BURNETT
Burnett brings 42 games of collegiate experience to Rutgers, owning 82 tackles with 19 for loss and 11.5 sacks. Named Second Team All-American Athletic Conference at Tulsa in 2025, the defensive lineman posted 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks. The Fort Worth, Texas, native spent his first four years at Louisiana Tech, which included a performance with two tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a 30-yard fumble return touchdown. He is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team honoree, four-time member of the CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll and a CUSA Academic Medalist.
MALACHI DAVIS
Davis brings 28 games of experience to Rutgers, owning 57 tackles with 14 for loss and eight sacks. The defensive lineman earned Third Team All-MAC last season at Toledo after placing second on the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks, also ranking ninth in the conference with 0.46 sacks per game. The Holt, Michigan, native posted a career-high eight tackles versus Western Kentucky and was an Academic All-MAC selection.
KJ DUFF
Duff, an Academic All-Big Ten honoree, ranked third in the Big Ten, fourth among Power 4 players and seventh nationally with 90.3 receiving yards per game in 2025. One of three players in the Big Ten to total 1,000 receiving yards, he became the seventh Scarlet Knight to reach 1,000 in a season, the second in the Big Ten era and first since 2014. The 1,084 receiving yards included three games in triple figures with a high of 241 on six receptions in the win at Purdue, the fourth most in a 2025 game nationally, most by a Big Ten player and the second highest by a Scarlet Knight in program history. Duff led the nation with 22 contested catches according to Pro Football Focus, earned honorable mention All-America by Phil Steele and was voted Second Team All-Big Ten. The Riverhead, New York, native had at least five catches in eight games on the way to totaling 60 overall, ninth most in a season in program history, and placed second in the league with 18.1 yards per reception. Fifty of his receptions picked up a first down or scored a touchdown, as he reached the end zone seven times.
DYLAN LONERGAN
Lonergan enters his first season at Rutgers after completing 190-of-284 passes (66.9 percent) for 2,025 yards and 12 touchdowns last year for Boston College. That included five games with over 200 passing yards and three over 300 passing yards with a high of 390 at Michigan State. A native of Snellville, Georgia, he earned a spot on the All-ACC Academic Team.
TY MORRIS
Morris is in his first season with the Scarlet Knights after having played the three previous years at Rice. Bringing 37 games of collegiate experience, he has totaled 153 tackles with 17.5 for loss and seven sacks. That includes recording multiple stops in 26 games with a high of 15. The Houston, Texas, native was selected fourth team all-conference by Phil Steele and honorable mention all-conference by the coaches in 2025 after totaling 88 tackles with 9.5 for loss, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. The 9.5 tackles-for-loss ranked sixth in the American Athletic Conference.
TYLER NEEDHAM
Needham enters his sixth season in the program after seeing action in all 12 games with 10 starts in 2025. The versatile offensive lineman has taken snaps at both tackle spots, also contributing at tight end, during his 32 collegiate games for the Scarlet Knights. A Newtown, Pennsylvania, native, he blocked for an offense that averaged 389.1 yards of total offense in Big Ten play last season, the team's best mark in a season since joining the league. The unit had a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver for the second time in program history and first time since 2007. In addition, Rutgers ranked 14th nationally in time of possession (32:31), 15th in yards per completion (13.7) and 20th in first downs gained (279) following the regular season. Needham is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and member of the Hampshire Honor Society.
RONDO PORTER
Porter enters 2026 after playing in 21 games with 12 starts on the defensive line over the previous two seasons at Appalachian State (2025) and South Carolina (2024). He owns 50 tackles with six for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble at the FBS level, earning second team (Phil Steele) and honorable mention All-Sun Belt (coaches/media) in 2025. The Columbia, South Carolina, native is a former nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which honors the most outstanding football player who began career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.
ANTWAN RAYMOND
Raymond, one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker National Running Back Award, winner of the Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian in college football and a Fourth Team All-America pick by Phil Steele, finished 2025 with 244 carries for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns (13 rushing, two receiving). The rushing total ranked third in the Big Ten, 14th nationally and eighth most in a season in program history. He had four games with at least 100 rushing yards, topped by a 240-yard performance on a school-record-tying 41 attempts in the win over Maryland. The running back scored at least one touchdown in 10 games in ranking third in the league in trips to the end zone, second with 122.2 all-purpose yards per game and eighth nationally with 244 rushing attempts. The performance merited Second Team All-Big Ten honors in both the media and coaches vote, while also earning Academic All-Big Ten and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team® status.
KAJ SANDERS
Sanders played in all 25 games his first two seasons with the Scarlet Knights, which included becoming the second true freshman to start the season opener on defense under head coach Greg Schiano. The defensive back owns 108 tackles with five pass breakups. In 2025, the Newark, New Jersey, native added two blocked punts and a blocked punt return touchdown, posting a season-high 10 tackles in the win at Purdue.
Season and single game tickets for all seven home games are on sale. To purchase, visit 2026 Ticket Central or call 866-445-GORU (4678). Benefits of being a season ticket holder include an exclusive opportunity to purchase season parking on Busch campus within walking distance to SHI Stadium, exclusive access to Movie Knight presented by PNC Bank on Thursday, July 23 featuring an autograph session on the field with members of the 2026 football team, a payment plan option and other Rutgers ticket offers throughout the year.
Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
Scarlet Knights listed include OL Kwabena Asamoah, DL J'Dan Burnett, DL Malachi Davis, WR KJ Duff, QB Dylan Lonergan, LB Ty Morris, OL Tyler Needham, DL Rondo Porter, RB Antwan Raymond and DB Kaj Sanders. RU has double-figure representation for the second time in three years, with 14 listed in 2024.
Rutgers has produced an NFL Draft pick each of the last five years as Athan Kaliakmanis was selected by the Commanders this past spring. TE Kenny Fletcher Jr. (Buccaneers), DB Cam Miller (Panthers), DL Eric O'Neill (Lions) and WR DT Sheffield (Jets) also signed contracts to make it 118 Scarlet Knights to join the NFL after playing for head coach Greg Schiano.
KWABENA ASAMOAH
Asamoah started all 12 games at right guard in 2025 and each of the past 25 at the position dating back to the previous season. A Second Team All-America by ESPN, he blocked for an offense that averaged 389.1 yards of total offense in Big Ten play, the team's best mark in a season since joining the league. The unit had a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver for the second time in program history and first time since 2007. In addition, Rutgers ranked 14th nationally in time of possession (32:31), 15th in yards per completion (13.7) and 20th in first downs gained (279) following the regular season. The Pickerington, Ohio, native is a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten pick.
J'DAN BURNETT
Burnett brings 42 games of collegiate experience to Rutgers, owning 82 tackles with 19 for loss and 11.5 sacks. Named Second Team All-American Athletic Conference at Tulsa in 2025, the defensive lineman posted 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks. The Fort Worth, Texas, native spent his first four years at Louisiana Tech, which included a performance with two tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a 30-yard fumble return touchdown. He is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team honoree, four-time member of the CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll and a CUSA Academic Medalist.
MALACHI DAVIS
Davis brings 28 games of experience to Rutgers, owning 57 tackles with 14 for loss and eight sacks. The defensive lineman earned Third Team All-MAC last season at Toledo after placing second on the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks, also ranking ninth in the conference with 0.46 sacks per game. The Holt, Michigan, native posted a career-high eight tackles versus Western Kentucky and was an Academic All-MAC selection.
KJ DUFF
Duff, an Academic All-Big Ten honoree, ranked third in the Big Ten, fourth among Power 4 players and seventh nationally with 90.3 receiving yards per game in 2025. One of three players in the Big Ten to total 1,000 receiving yards, he became the seventh Scarlet Knight to reach 1,000 in a season, the second in the Big Ten era and first since 2014. The 1,084 receiving yards included three games in triple figures with a high of 241 on six receptions in the win at Purdue, the fourth most in a 2025 game nationally, most by a Big Ten player and the second highest by a Scarlet Knight in program history. Duff led the nation with 22 contested catches according to Pro Football Focus, earned honorable mention All-America by Phil Steele and was voted Second Team All-Big Ten. The Riverhead, New York, native had at least five catches in eight games on the way to totaling 60 overall, ninth most in a season in program history, and placed second in the league with 18.1 yards per reception. Fifty of his receptions picked up a first down or scored a touchdown, as he reached the end zone seven times.
DYLAN LONERGAN
Lonergan enters his first season at Rutgers after completing 190-of-284 passes (66.9 percent) for 2,025 yards and 12 touchdowns last year for Boston College. That included five games with over 200 passing yards and three over 300 passing yards with a high of 390 at Michigan State. A native of Snellville, Georgia, he earned a spot on the All-ACC Academic Team.
TY MORRIS
Morris is in his first season with the Scarlet Knights after having played the three previous years at Rice. Bringing 37 games of collegiate experience, he has totaled 153 tackles with 17.5 for loss and seven sacks. That includes recording multiple stops in 26 games with a high of 15. The Houston, Texas, native was selected fourth team all-conference by Phil Steele and honorable mention all-conference by the coaches in 2025 after totaling 88 tackles with 9.5 for loss, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. The 9.5 tackles-for-loss ranked sixth in the American Athletic Conference.
TYLER NEEDHAM
Needham enters his sixth season in the program after seeing action in all 12 games with 10 starts in 2025. The versatile offensive lineman has taken snaps at both tackle spots, also contributing at tight end, during his 32 collegiate games for the Scarlet Knights. A Newtown, Pennsylvania, native, he blocked for an offense that averaged 389.1 yards of total offense in Big Ten play last season, the team's best mark in a season since joining the league. The unit had a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver for the second time in program history and first time since 2007. In addition, Rutgers ranked 14th nationally in time of possession (32:31), 15th in yards per completion (13.7) and 20th in first downs gained (279) following the regular season. Needham is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and member of the Hampshire Honor Society.
RONDO PORTER
Porter enters 2026 after playing in 21 games with 12 starts on the defensive line over the previous two seasons at Appalachian State (2025) and South Carolina (2024). He owns 50 tackles with six for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble at the FBS level, earning second team (Phil Steele) and honorable mention All-Sun Belt (coaches/media) in 2025. The Columbia, South Carolina, native is a former nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which honors the most outstanding football player who began career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.
ANTWAN RAYMOND
Raymond, one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker National Running Back Award, winner of the Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian in college football and a Fourth Team All-America pick by Phil Steele, finished 2025 with 244 carries for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns (13 rushing, two receiving). The rushing total ranked third in the Big Ten, 14th nationally and eighth most in a season in program history. He had four games with at least 100 rushing yards, topped by a 240-yard performance on a school-record-tying 41 attempts in the win over Maryland. The running back scored at least one touchdown in 10 games in ranking third in the league in trips to the end zone, second with 122.2 all-purpose yards per game and eighth nationally with 244 rushing attempts. The performance merited Second Team All-Big Ten honors in both the media and coaches vote, while also earning Academic All-Big Ten and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team® status.
KAJ SANDERS
Sanders played in all 25 games his first two seasons with the Scarlet Knights, which included becoming the second true freshman to start the season opener on defense under head coach Greg Schiano. The defensive back owns 108 tackles with five pass breakups. In 2025, the Newark, New Jersey, native added two blocked punts and a blocked punt return touchdown, posting a season-high 10 tackles in the win at Purdue.
Season and single game tickets for all seven home games are on sale. To purchase, visit 2026 Ticket Central or call 866-445-GORU (4678). Benefits of being a season ticket holder include an exclusive opportunity to purchase season parking on Busch campus within walking distance to SHI Stadium, exclusive access to Movie Knight presented by PNC Bank on Thursday, July 23 featuring an autograph session on the field with members of the 2026 football team, a payment plan option and other Rutgers ticket offers throughout the year.
Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
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