PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) 鈥� KJ Duff was the most prolific wide receiver in the nation for catching contested, 50-50 balls in 2025. When it came to deciding if he would stay at Rutgers after another disappointing season, he was up in the air.
鈥淚t was tough for me,鈥� Duff said as the season approached. 鈥淭here were obviously other opportunities on the table with the way college football is now. I went back and forth for weeks. One day I鈥檓 leaving, one day I鈥檓 not. But ultimately it came down to what was important to me, staying at Rutgers to finish what I started with coach (Greg) Schiano.鈥�
The 6-foot-6 Duff, who claimed 22 of those passes up for grabs, returns for his junior year as the face of the Scarlet Knights, who were 5-7 last season. He is a projected first-round draft pick after a breakout season when he caught 60 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named to the
鈥淐ertainly his athletic ability, his gifts, his height, his catch radius make him a dynamic receiver,鈥� Schiano said. 鈥淏ut I think what makes him special is how hard he works. He is a consummate pro in the way he approaches football. He鈥檚 constantly working on getting better physically and mentally as well as emotionally. He鈥檚 the complete athlete.鈥�
Schiano was understandably concerned he would lose his top receiver to another Power Four school.
鈥淭he amount of money that was being thrown at him (Duff) had me very concerned,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I respect him for listening. Whether he decided to stay or not, he was open-minded to listening and I think there is a relationship of trust there.鈥�
Potential first-round NFL pick
Rutgers was able to retain Duff by reportedly paying him seven figures, a lot of money considering it is among the lowest programs in NIL funds in the Big Ten conference.
鈥淎s far as the money goes it wasn鈥檛 a big difference,鈥� Duff said of the other offers he received. 鈥淚t was the opportunity to maybe play at a bigger stage, plus coming off that season I was very frustrated how it went, going 5-7. So the opportunity to start fresh somewhere else was on the table for me.鈥�
Duff did his research on former Scarlet Knights鈥� wide receivers and figures he could vault into the program’s top five in receiving yards if he has another standout year. He also noted his relationship with Schiano and wide receivers coach Dave Brock.
鈥淭he relationship with coach Schiano and the relationship with coach Brock are very important to me,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淲hat both of them have done to get me to this point. Ultimately, I wanted to finish what I started with them.鈥�
Schiano admits that Duff is still learning how to use his frame to his advantage as he eyes this season and beyond.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not a lot of 6-6 DBs (defensive backs),鈥� said Schiano. 鈥淪o as he (Duff) learns to use his body better and better, those balls should go from 50-50 to 80-20.鈥�
The focus of the offense
Antwan Raymond, who became just the sixth running back in Rutgers history to gain more than 1,200 yards in a season, returns to help alleviate some of the attention from Duff.
鈥淚 joke around with him (Raymond),鈥� Duff said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 get to see him run the ball too much because I鈥檓 always blocking for him. 鈥�
Dylan Lonergan, a transfer from Boston College, beat out redshirt sophomore AJ Sorace in summer camp for the starting quarterback role. Lonergan threw for 2,025 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Eagles last season.
Duff will be without fellow wide receiver Ian Strong for the first time since they were teammates at St. Anthony鈥檚 High School in Long Island, New York. Strong transferred to Cal for his senior year. The pair finished as Rutgers鈥� two leading receivers last season.
Duff hears the buzz surrounding his status as a potential first round NFL pick next spring if he decides to declare for the draft. He鈥檚 also aware of the attention he will be drawing.
鈥淐oach Brock knows what it takes to play in that league (NFL), so just continuing to be around him and to be coached by him ultimately puts me in a perfect position to make much larger money in that league,鈥� he said. 鈥淗aving the production I had last year definitely puts a target on my back. But that has driven me to bring the guys around me to do more, especially the younger receivers.鈥�
___
. Visit and see AP鈥檚 full
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
