Analyzing Rutgers Football’s 2026 Transfer Additions So Far: Defense

ballervisions 2026年1月17日

This article is the second part of a three-part series where we discuss the additions Rutgers football has made to the transfer portal so far, and what they still need to add. Part one, where we discuss the offensive additions made by the Scarlet Knights, is available here. In this section, we will go over the additions that Rutgers has made on the defensive side of the ball.

The Knights entered the portal with a dire need to revamp their defense. While they have found some players who look like they could be capable starters, there are still plenty of question marks surrounding the defense as a whole.

LB: TY Morris- Rice

Morris seems to be one of the players who can adapt to the Power Five level. During his time at Rice, he received many AAC options. In 2024, he was named to the All-AAC second team while posting 56 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks. His production took off in 2025, as he totaled 88 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two forced sacks, three pass breakups, and one fumble recovery.

His 6-foot-2, 229-pound frame likely means he’ll have to carry more weight, which should come naturally to a Power Five strength and conditioning program. With the addition of Morris and the return of players like Abram Wright and Moses Walker, as well as the upcoming talents of Dj McClary and Kamar Archie, and the fact that Rutgers often uses two defenders at the same time, it seems that linebacker is the most complete position so far for the Rutgers defense to rebuild.

DT: Jaedin Lee-Maine

Lee comes to Rutgers from FCS Maine, where he played for two seasons. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound interior defensive lineman played mostly on special teams his freshman year, but played every game on defense in 2025, where he posted 32 tackles, 11 solo, and 3.5 tackles for loss. He comes to Rutgers with two years of eligibility remaining.

Lee will likely need a year in the Rutgers program to develop before he can become a Big Ten caliber starting defensive lineman. He’s got the size, but he hasn’t shown much, as he’s averaged at the FCS level. The Knights should still look to add a true defensive line starter in the transfer window, as Lee is currently an excellent piece.

CB: Zahmir Dawud-Villanova

Rutgers is replacing every single starter they had at cornerback last season, and Dawud is likely to play a key role in that. Dawud was part of a strong Villanova defense that made it all the way to the FCS playoffs last season. In 2025, Dawud recorded 44 tackles, 11 passes defensed, and two interceptions. Two of those hits came during the team’s loss to Penn State.

The 6-foot, 185-pound cornerback had received interest from other elite schools such as Cincinnati, Minnesota, and UCLA. His development largely depends on who the Knights bring in to be their 2026 cornerback coach.

EDGE: Malachi Davis-Toledo

Rutgers’ pass rush last season was almost non-existent and on top of that, they graduated their leading rusher in Eric O’Niell, so they have a lot of work to do in the backfield to get this place up to par. Davis probably won’t solve this issue, but he’ll be a really nice addition off the bench if Rutgers can get one or two solid additions in the portal.

Last season, Davis recorded 36 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble while earning MAC third-team honors. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder comes to the Knights with one season of eligibility remaining.

DT: Rondo Porter- Appalachian State

Porter may be the fittest player on this list, as he spent a year at South Carolina, where he got some playing time, before transferring to Appalachian State to become their starting defensive tackle. During his time with the Gamecocks, the 6-foot and 295-pounder recorded seven tackles and one forced fumble. Last season with the Mountaineers, Porter recorded 43 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and was an honorable mention All-Sun Belt conference.

In his film at Appalachian State, Porter has shown real resilience, coupled with his Power Five experience, which could make him the Knights’ best portal player to date.

CB: Bradley Jones- The Citadel

Jones fits the mold of what head coach Greg Schiano and Co. have been looking for in their cornerbacks for the past few years. Track stars that have a decent height to them. Jones won multiple SoCon track championships during his time at the Citadel, in addition to playing football.

Jones, who played 11 games during his first season in 2023, has been the Citadel’s starter since the start of 2024. In 2025, Jones recorded 53 tackles, 8 pass breakups, and 1 fumble recovery, which he returned for a touchdown. In this season’s broadcast, Jones has allowed 29 receptions on 45 targets for 382 yards and three touchdowns.

His speed will allow him to keep up with the fastest receivers in the Big Ten and will likely make him one of the most impactful transfers from this portal pull so far.