KJ Duff news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff opened 2026 with 9 catches, 196 yards and 3 touchdowns in.
His size and contested-catch ability make him the focal point of Rutgers' Week 2.
Background
Duff, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound senior, was a 2025 Second-Team All-Big Ten pick with 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns on 60 catches, and led the nation with 22 contested catches last season. In Rutgers' 2026 opener he accounted for all three Scarlet Knights touchdowns, including a 78-yard score, but the team lost 37-21 at home as a 29.5-point favorite. That result snapped the nation's longest active losing streak and put coach Greg Schiano's job in question, so Duff's form is central to Rutgers' response at Boston College.
How it unfolded
- Nov 29, 2025Duff catches a first-down pass in Rutgers' 40-36 loss to Penn State at SHI Stadium.
- Sep 3, 2026Duff has 9 receptions for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 78-yarder, in Rutgers' 37-21 home loss to UMass.
- Sep 9, 2026 -10, 2026Duff is ranked among the nation's leading receivers after Week 1 and spotlighted as Rutgers' top player to watch against Boston College.
- Sep 11, 2026Rutgers visits Boston College, with previews and predictions expecting Duff to be the key matchup for the BC secondary.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Duff is a matchup nightmare for almost any secondary because of his size and contested-catch ability, and looks like an NFL wide receiver.
- Caution
- One preview argues Duff will shine again with a touchdown and 100-plus yards but it won't be enough, predicting Rutgers falls to 0-2.
- Support
- Other Rutgers writers predict a bounce-back win at Boston College with Duff catching another touchdown.