This article is part two of a three-part series where we discuss the additions Rutgers football has made in the transfer portal so far, and what they still need to add. Part one, where we discuss the offensive additions the Scarlet Knights have made, is available here. In this part, we will go over the additions Rutgers has made on the defensive side of the ball.
The Knights have gone into the portal with a desperate need to rebuild their defense. While they have gotten some players who seem like
they can be capable starters, there are still a lot of question marks surrounding the defense as a whole.
LB: TY Morris- Rice
Morris seems to be one of the players who is more capable of adjusting to the Power Five level. During his time at Rice, he earned several all-AAC selections. 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 a jump in 2025, as he totaled 88 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups, and one fumble recovery.
His 6-foot-2, 229-pound frame likely means that he will have to put on a little more weight, which should come naturally in a Power Five strength and conditioning program. With the addition of Morris and the return of players such as Abram Wright and Moses Walker, plus the up-and-coming talents of Dj McClary and Kamar Archie, and the fact that Rutgers only typically runs two linebackers at one time, it appears that linebacker is the most complete position so far in Rutgers defensive rebuild.
DT: Jaedin Lee- Maine
Lee comes to Rutgers from FCS Maine, where he played two seasons. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound interior defensive lineman played mostly on special teams his first 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 system to develop before he can become a starting Big Ten calibur defensive lineman. He has the size for it, but has not shown much else, as he was relatively average at the FCS level. The Knights should still be looking to add a true defensive line starter in the transfer portal, as Lee is currently a rotational piece at best.
CB: Zahmir Dawud- Villanova
Rutgers is replacing every single starter that they had at cornerback last season, and Dawud will likely play a pivotal role in that. Dawud was part of a very stout Villanova defense that made it far in the FCS playoffs last season. In 2025, Dawud recorded 44 total tackles, 11 passes defended, and two interceptions. Two of those tackles came in the team’s loss to Penn State.
The 6-foot, 185-pound cornerback had received interest from other power schools such as Cincinnati, Minnesota, and UCLA. His development hinges heavily on who the Knights bring in to be the cornerbacks coach for 2026.
EDGE: Malachi Davis- Toledo
Rutgers’ pass rush last season was nearly non-existant and on top of that, they graduated their best pass rusher in Eric O’Niell, so they have a lot of work to do in the portal to get that area up to par. Davis likely won’t solve the issue, but he will be a really good addition coming off the bench if Rutgers can find one or two more solid additions in the portal.
Last season, Davis recorded 36 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble while earning all-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 is likely the most power-five-ready out of all the players on this list, as he spent one year at South Carolina, where he actually got some playing time, before he transferred to Appalachian State to be their starter at defensive tackle. During his time with the Gamecocks, the 6-foot and 295-pounder recorded seven total tackles and one forced fumble. Last season with the Mountaineers, Porter recorded 43 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and was an All-Sun Belt Conference honorable mention.
In his film at Appalachian State, Porter showed a real mean streak, which, coupled with his Power Five experience, could make him the Knights’ best addition of the portal so far.
CB: Bradlee Jones- The Citadel
Jones fits the mold of what head coach Greg Schiano and Co have been looking for in their corners the past few years. Track stars with decent length to them. Jones won several SoCon track championships during his time at the Citadel, in addition to playing football.
Jones, who played 11 games during his freshman season in 2023, has been the starting cornerback for the Citadel 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 coverage this season, Jones allowed 29 receptions on 45 targets for 382 yards and three touchdowns.
His speed will allow him to keep pace with the faster receivers in the Big Ten and will likely make him one of the most impactful transfers from this portal haul so far.
