Rutgers football has received an unexpected addition to the roster entering training camp. Edge rusher Wydeek Collier has reclassified to the Class of 2025 and signed with the Scarlet Knights football program just days before training camp. Collier was the highest-rated recruit in the Class of 2026 and was ranked 92nd nationally in the latest Rivals300 edition. He boasts a numeric ranking of 93 as per Rivals and a 91 ranking on 247Sports, a strong four-star recruit across multiple recruiting websites.
Collier committed to Rutgers as an athlete, playing both sides of the football for Neumann Goretti High School in Philadelphia, although he particularly excelled on defense. Although Collier had 13 catches for 270 yards and two touchdowns as a wide receiver, he particularly excelled on defense, with 34 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 8 sacks.
Wydeek’s biggest attributes are his speed and wingspan. He ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the UA Next Camp in Ramsey en route to winning Defensive Line MVP at the camp. Collier measures at 6’6” and 215 pounds, on the lighter side for an edge rusher, but is expected to put on muscle, especially when he becomes part of the Rutgers strength and conditioning program. He also boasts a wingspan of 83 inches, which combined with his explosiveness off the line, could create a problem for offensive linemen trying to contain him.
247Sports national recruiting analyst Hudson Standish offered this analysis of Wydeek Collier as a prospect and player.
“One of the more intriguing athletes nationwide early in the 2026 recruiting cycle, verified a shade over 6-foot-6 with a sub seven second mark in the 3 cone drill. Designated as an athlete currently but made significant strides as a junior working at his likely long-term home as an edge rusher. ...Will need plenty of time in the weight room before contributing at the next level as Collier is likely hovering around 210 pounds but owns the frame space to rapidly stack mass. Should be viewed as an immensely physically gifted pass-rusher with the developmental ceiling to bake into an impact player for a College Football Playoff contender.”
Although highly touted transfers Eric O’Neill and Bradley Weaver are expected to start and have a big impact at defensive end for the Scarlet Knights, college football teams can never have enough depth, especially in the trenches. After improving his strength to go along with his speed, Collier looks to accelerate his development at the collegiate level. With Rutgers football on the rise and the 12-team College Football Playoff era underway, perhaps having a talent like Collier on the defensive line could indeed make Rutgers a contender for the CFP within a few seasons.
