The 2026 transfer portal is officially set to close today, January 16th. This is the last day that players can enter the portal. However, once they are in the portal, they can still commit to a school at any time, even if it is outside of the transfer portal window. With the portal closing, it is a perfect opportunity to break down what Rutgers has gotten so far in the portal and what they still need to get. This article will serve as part one of a three-part series, as this article will talk about
what the Scarlet Knights have gotten so far in the transfer portal on offense, and the other two will talk about what they have already gotten on defense and what they still need to get in the portal overall.
Rutgers has not grabbed a lot of game-changing talent on offense in the portal so far, but has picked up what is likely to be a few depth pieces instead.
OT: Everett Small -Eastern Michigan
With this pickup, Rutgers added some depth at offensive tackle, as Small does have one year of starting experience at Eastern Michigan. He currently has one year of eligibility remaining.
Injuries hit the Knights’ offensive tackle room hard last season, highlighting their need to grab quality depth in the transfer portal in case something like that happens again. Since Rutgers already has four tackles on the roster with Big Ten playing experience, Small will likely come in and compete for a rotational position, relieving players on the field, and serve as a quality depth piece if necessary. He is rated as a three-star transfer by 247sports.
IOL: Isaiah Cook- Delaware State
The multiple-time all-MEAC selection is coming to Rutgers to compete for the starting center role, according to his own words. He also talked about how you can’t pass up the opportunity to play Big Ten football if it ever presents itself. During his time at Delaware State, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Cook was plugged in at every position along their offensive line, having started at every position.
With the graduation of former starting center Gus Zilinskas, there will be a competition for his open spot. His younger brother, Hank, seems the most likely to fill the role, as he has power four experience at Colorado; however, Cook is being brought in so that whoever gets the nod has to earn their spot.
RB: Clay Thevenin- Louisiana Tech
The 5-foot-10, 202-pound Clay Thevenin is likely being brought in as a depth piece, as Rutgers has had two running backs leave in the transfer portal, CJ Campbell and Samuel Brown V. During his last season in the bayou, Thevenin totaled 131 carries for 634 yards and eight touchdowns. He also caught 33 passes for 269 yards.
With Antwan Raymond breaking out last season, Thevenin is likely going to compete with backup Ja’Shon Benjamin for reps. However, he does add a pass-catching ability to his game that we have not seen out of Rutgers running backs in recent years.
QB: Dylan Lonergan- Boston College
This was the biggest headline addition of the offseason, as AJ Surace, who was always seen as the next in line and the heir to Athan Kaliakmanis’ throne, will now have someone coming in to compete for the starting job against him. Surace is still believed to be the favorite, considering the praise he got from the Big Ten Network during their visit, and the praise he gets from the coaching staff as well, but that doesn’t mean his spot will be just given to him, as Lonergan does have more on-field experience.
“I love AJ, I think he is a very talented, committed player,” Schiano said in December. “I don’t rule out anything as far as ‘is there going to be something that we do in the portal with a quarterback?’ Maybe. I don’t know. We are always looking, but I am confident. AJ has worked really hard. But there will be a competition.”
During his last season at Boston College, Lonergan totaled 2,025 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions. However, during the course of the season, he was benched several times due to poor performance. He still has room to grow, as he comes to Rutgers with two years of eligibility remaining.
TE: Kam Anthony- Ball State
The last addition the Knights have made so far on offense is tight end Kam Anthony from Ball State. Despite tight end being a position of need for Rutgers in the transfer portal, Anthony is more likely a rotational tight end rather than a starter for next season. His stats did not jump off the page in the receiving game, as the 6-foot-4, and 251 pounder totaled seven catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. He also suffered an Achilles injury last month and will likely miss most of training camp because of it, but he should be good to go for the season if everything stays on schedule. On top of that, he does have a lot of time to develop to be the tight end of the future, as he has three years of eligibility remaining.
