Duff & Raymond Named to Big Ten Preseason Honors List
Jul 28 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football WR KJ Duff and RB Antwan Raymond were both selected to the Big Ten Preseason Honors list released Tuesday. The group of 12 players was voted on by media members across the league, as the Scarlet Knights are one of four programs with multiple honorees (Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon).
Duff and Raymond will both represent RU at today's Big Ten Media Day in Chicago and join Kyle Monangai (2024) as Scarlet Knights to earn preseason recognition in the Big Ten vote.
2026 BIG TEN PRESEASON HONORS
WR Charlie Becker, IND
LB Rolijah Hardy, IND
DL Tyrique Tucker, IND
OL Kade Pieper, IOWA
DL Anthony Smith, MINN
QB Julian Sayin, OSU
WR Jeremiah Smith, OSU
QB Dante Moore, ORE
DB Koi Perich, ORE
QB Jayden Maiava, USC
WR KJ Duff, RU
RB Antwan Raymond, RU
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.
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.
Rutgers opens the season Thursday, Sept. 3 hosting UMass at SHI Stadium. 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, 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.
Duff and Raymond will both represent RU at today's Big Ten Media Day in Chicago and join Kyle Monangai (2024) as Scarlet Knights to earn preseason recognition in the Big Ten vote.
2026 BIG TEN PRESEASON HONORS
WR Charlie Becker, IND
LB Rolijah Hardy, IND
DL Tyrique Tucker, IND
OL Kade Pieper, IOWA
DL Anthony Smith, MINN
QB Julian Sayin, OSU
WR Jeremiah Smith, OSU
QB Dante Moore, ORE
DB Koi Perich, ORE
QB Jayden Maiava, USC
WR KJ Duff, RU
RB Antwan Raymond, RU
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.
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.
Rutgers opens the season Thursday, Sept. 3 hosting UMass at SHI Stadium. 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, 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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