Tag: K.J. Duff

Rutgers football: What class of 2024 commit was just named top 10 at his position in the national rankings?

K.J. Duff finishes as one of the nation’s top recruits in the 2024 class.

Rutgers football certainly landed a premier athlete in their 2024 recruiting class according to the recent On3 national rankings.

A member of the 2024 recruiting class, K.J. Duff signed during December’s early period and already is on the Rutgers campus,

A four-star athlete who has positional flexibility, he is ranked the No. 10 tight end in the nation according to On3. Duff has a very high ceiling given his size and strength and could end up at wide receiver as well as tight end.

This past fall as a senior at St. Anthony’s (Melville, New York), Duff had 55 catches for 912 receiving yards with nine touchdowns.

He had offers that included Miami, North Carolina, Syracuse and  Tennessee among others.

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On3 ranked him among the very best tight ends in the nation:

 

Rivals ranked Duff as a four-star and the No. 1 player in New York. On3 ranks him a four-star as well and has him as the state’s second-best recruit (behind Georgia offensive lineman Marcus Harrison).

In K.J. Duff, Rutgers football is landing an impressive athlete who understands the program

K.J. Duff is a fascinating recruit for Rutgers football.

As part of this recruiting class, one of the most fascinating recruits is K.J. Duff. The Long Island prospect could project as a wide receiver or a tight end.

In nine games for St. Anthony’s (Melville, New York), Duff had 55 catches for 912 receiving yards with nine touchdowns.The 6-foot-5, 210-pound target has a big catch radius and good hands. He has some intriguing components to his skillset.

With room to still improve as a route runner and in getting separation, Duff still has a very high ceiling.

Duff is no stranger in and around the program. He was offered by Rutgers two years ago. That helped Rutgers fend off some pretty big offers that came in during his recruitment, including Miami and Tennessee.

It also means he comes to Rutgers in January fully aware of the program’s mentality.

“I know K.J. Duff understands what it is to be a Rutgers player. His teammates, Ian Strong, the year before came here, and he had an inside view of who we are through his teammate, and he came,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano told reporters last week following the first day of the early signing period.

“So No. 1 that, tells me Ian Strong is doing well, and No. 2 it tells me K.J. Duff knows exactly what he’s getting into. And those two will be fun to watch in the years ahead together.”

Duff will first get a look at wide receiver where his frame is certainly going to be a handful for defensive backs.

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He might be the biggest wide receiver since Rutgers fielded Brandon Coleman, who like Duff is a former four-star recruit. Coleman had a very strong career at Rutgers and spent three solid years in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.

This recruiting class boasts a lot of speed and size for Rutgers at the wide receiver position.

“You look at Ben Black, another guy who can fly; Isaiah Crumpler,” Schiano said.

“I don’t want to leave anybody out. But we really do have a good group coming in that can run, that can catch, that can do all those things. So we need more numbers at the position, and I think we are getting it, so that’s good.”

Rutgers football commit K.J. Duff wins Catholic League Award

K.J. Duff gets a Long Island award.

Four-star wide receiver K.J. Duff, a Rutgers football commit, received an impressive honor on Wednesday.

Duff was honored with the Rich Reichert Award, given to the top player in the Catholic High School Football League (CHSFL). The award is given out annually by Newsday.

A 6-foot-5, 200-pound athlete from St. Anthony’s (Melville, New York), Duff  In nine games played, he had 55 catches for 929 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He projects as either a receiving tight end or a wide receiver.

Duff committed to Rutgers over the summer, picking from a final three that also included  North Carolina and Miami.

 

He is part of a very solid haul from New York for Rutgers that also includes defensive lineman Aaris Bethea. A three-star recruit, Bethea had a very strong senior season for Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, New York).

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Reichert is a celebrated local coach who fittingly was from St. Anthony’s. He led the program to 14 CHSFL titles during his storied coaching tenure.

Rutgers football is trending towards a strong turnout for early enrollees in the 2024 recruiting class

A number of top commits are expected to join the Rutgers football team in January.

It looks like the Rutgers football class of 2024 will have a very healthy number of early enrollees. Over half the class is currently trending towards being on campus in January.

That’s good news for Rutgers as they continue to try and fill their pipeline of talent and replace key players this offseason.

Rutgers currently has the No. 35 recruiting class in the nation according to 247Sports.

Rutgers Wire las learned that the following 14 names can be confirmed as trending toward early enrollment in January:

Enrolling early is an obvious advantage for a freshman, allowing them to start taking classes, getting in workouts as well as participating in spring practices.

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One member originally a part of the 2024 class, Sage Clawges, enrolled at Rutgers over the summer and is practicing with the team.

Watch: Rutgers football commit K.J. Duff is the PIX 11 Athlete of the Week

Rutgers football commit K.J. Duff is having a strong senior season for St. Anthony’s/

K.J. Duff has been having a very strong senior season, this as the Rutgers football commit is beginning to ready himself for Big Ten football next year.

A class of 2024 commit to Rutgers, Duff projects as a wide receiver or even a tight end at St. Anthony’s (Melville, New York). He committed to Rutgers over the summer and is one of the top players in New York this season.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound athlete is versatile and strong. He is a four-star according to On3 and Rivals.

Last month, Duff was recently offered by  Tennessee, a sign of his continued growth and development. On the season, even while often being double-teamed, Duff has 40 catches for 706 yards with six touchdowns.

Check out this feature from PIX 11 on Duff and the impact he has had his senior season:

He holds a strong offer list that includes Miami, North Carolina and Syracuse among others.

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On Saturday, Rutgers (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) will host No. 1 Ohio State (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten). Kickoff is 12:00 PM ET and the game will be broadcast nationally on CBS.

This week, Ohio State was named the top team in the nation in the College Football Playoff Rankings.

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Duff is expected to be a part of a star-studded group of recruits for the game.

Who are the top recruits coming to Saturday’s Big Ten game between No. 1 Ohio State at Rutgers?

Rutgers football is set to host a number of top recruits and commits on Saturday.

There are going to be so many stars at the Rutgers football game on Saturday than there will be in the sky that night.

OK, that was pretty corny. And also pretty inaccurate as there should be a clear sky at night, meaning good visibility for the stars. But what is true is that Rutgers football is hosting a number of top commits and recruits this weekend for what is a massive weekend for the program.

And there will be a lot of four-star and highly-ranked three-star recruits in attendance.

The guest list is strong and includes several of the four-star players committed to the program in the 2024 class as well as a number of players in the 2025 and 2026 classes.

There will also be a few top targets for the 2027 class as well.

Also, a number of players are expected to be in attendance from St. John’s Vianney (Holmdel, New Jersey), Winslow Township  High School(Atco, New Jersey) and St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

Here are the players expected to be on-campus this weekend from No. 1 Ohio State at Rutgers:

  • Aaris Bethea: class of 2024 three-star defensive lineman from Erasmus Hall  (Brooklyn, New York) * (Rutgers football commit)
  • Kory Brown: class of 2027 running back from Tottenville (Staten Island, New York) *
  • Renick Dorilas: class of 2025 athlete from Union (Union, New Jersey) *
  • K.J. Duff: class of 2024 four-star athlete from St. Anthony’s (Melville, New York) * (Rutgers football commit)
  • Jayden Elijah: class of 2025 three-star offensive lineman from Matawan Regional (Mataway, New Jersey) *
  • John Forster: class of 2025 four-star running back from St. Joseph’s Regional (Montvale, New Jersey) *
  • Dominic Funke: class of 2025 defensive lineman from St. Sebastian’s (Needham, Massachusetts) *
  • Jonathan Galette: class of 2027 athlete from St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, New Jersey) *
  • Darren Ikinnagbon: class of 2025 edge from Hillside (Hillside, New Jersey)
  • Kenny Jones: class of 2024 offensive lineman from Delran (Delran, New Jersey) * (Rutgers football commit)
  • Justin Kaye: class of 2024 offensive lineman from Toms River North (Toms River, New Jersey)
  • Jermaine Kinsler: class of 2026 defensive linesman from Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey)
  • Kevin Levy: class of 2024 three-star athlete from Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach, Florida) * (Rutgers football commit)
  • Cam Miller: class of 2025 four-star defensive back from Winslow (Atco, New Jersey) *
  • Larry Moon III: class of 2027 defensive back from Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
  • Kaj Sanders: class of 2024 four-star defensive back from Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey) * (Rutgers football commit)
  • Cameron Smith: class of 2025 four-star linebacker from St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) *
  • A.J. Surace: class of 2024 three-star quarterback from Notre Dame Prep (Lawrenceville, New Jersey) * (Rutgers football commit)
  • Khalil Taylor: class of 2027 athlete from Seton – La Salle (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
  • Antonio White: class of 2024 four-star defensive back from Parkview (Lilburn, New Jersey) * (Rutgers football commit)
  • Gabriel Winowich: class of 2024 four-star running back from Notre Dame Prep (Lawrenceville, New Jersey) * (Rutgers football commit)

*denotes Rutgers football has offered

Watch: Rutgers football commit K.J. Duff shows why he is a four-star with this one-handed catch

K.J. Duff is having a very strong senior season.

K.J. Duff is having a tremendous season, the Rutgers football commit’s performances backing up why two recruiting services rank him as a four-star.

(And why he should be a consensus four-star across all recruiting services)

Duff, who committed to Rutgers this summer, projects as either a wide receiver or a tight end in college. His senior season at St. Anthony’s (Melville, N.Y.) is off to a very strong start.

Through the first three games of the season (which doesn’t include this weekend), Duff has 19 receptions for 242 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

But check out this one-handed catch he made on Friday night:

 

Tremendous athleticism and agility for sure. It is easy to see why programs like Miami, North Carolina and Syracuse among others had offered.

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On Friday,  Tennessee offered Duff.

He is a four-star recruit according to Rivals and On3. ESPN and 247Sports rank him as a three-star. He is, however, a consensus top three player in New York in the class of 2024.

 

Rutgers football commit K.J. Duff is offered by Tennessee

K.J. Duff, a Rutgers football commit, was offered by Tennessee on Friday.

K.J. Duff, who committed to Rutgers football this summer, recently received an offer from Tennessee.

A four-star talent who projects as a wide receiver or a tight end at the next level, Duff is having a monster senior season for St. Anthony’s (Melville, N.Y.). Through the first three games of the season, Duff has 19 receptions for 242 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

He is 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds with an enticing combination of size and strength. Rivals ranks him as a four-star and the top player in New York in the 2024 recruiting class.

At the time of his commitment, Duff had narrowed down his recruitment to Miami, North Carolina and Rutgers.

Getting an offer from Tennessee, however, is another sign of his talent and big play ability. The Long Island product has the potential to be a dominant force whether at wide receiver or tight end given his size and length.

Duff tweeted about the Tennessee offer on Friday afternoon.

 

St. Anthony’s is 2-1, having won two straight games following a season-opening loss to Delbarton. They’ve beaten Cardinal Hayes and St. Jospeh’s (Montvale) in the past two weeks.

Rutgers football: A pair of four-star commits visit for game against Temple

Rutgers football hosted several prominent recruits on Saturday night.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — There was a healthy turnout of recruits for Saturday night’s game against Temple, this despite massive and violent thunderstorms that struck the area two hours before the game.

Rutgers football currently has the No. 34 recruiting class in the nation. It features several four-star recruits, including defensive back Kaj Sanders and tight end K.J. Duff.

Sanders and Duff were in attendance on Saturday night.

Bold denotes a player committed to Rutgers. Below are the recruits who were att Rutgers football for the game:

Kory Brown

Eidan Buchanan

Renick Dorilas

[autotag]K.J. Duff[/autotag]

[autotag]Kaj Sanders[/autotag]

[autotag]A.J. Surace[/autotag]

[autotag]Gabriel Winowich[/autotag]

Last week, a huge contingent of players were at SHI Stadium for Rutgers to see the win over Northwestern. Miss the list last week? Here it is.

Interesting that Duff, Sanders, Surace and Winowich have been att both games this year.

Bold denotes a Rutgers football commit:

 

Following nearly 17 months of recruitment, why did K.J. Duff pick Rutgers football?

K.J. Duff believes in the direction of Rutgers football.

Last January, Rutgers football was the first Power Five offer for K.J. Duff, putting the Scarlet Knights in early for a recruitment that would blow up a year later. Some of the biggest programs in college football would offer Duff, but his relationship with Rutgers proved a strong component in his committing to the Big Ten program.

Duff, a tight end/wide receiver prospect,  had an impressive 42 catches for 995 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last season for St. Anthony’s (Melville, N.Y.). He became a national recruit; during his commitment ceremony last week, he had a final three of  Rutgers, Miami and North Carolina.

But his offer list as a four-star and the highest-ranked recruit in New stretched much further and included Arizona State, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Texas A&M among others.

Despite this national recruitment, Duff ended up choosing to stay home and committed to Rutgers.

“I really felt like Rutgers was the best place for me. All the coaches, everyone there I just feel like I really can develop there,” Duff told Varsity Media following his commitment ceremony. “And yeah, I can see myself there.”

Varsity Media provided the live web stream for Duff’s event last Thursday.

The question now for Duff is a matter of position. Recently made a four-star at Rivals (and also receiving a bump up to the top player in the state), Duff is an intriguing prospect. At 6-foot-5 and 207 pounds, he has the size to play tight end or at wide receiver.

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Showing some considerable maturity, Duff said that all he wants to do is make an impact on the field when asking a question about what position he will play at the Power Five level.

“You know, all through my recruitment people asked me what I wanted to be and all this stuff,” Duff said.

“Well, I’m a ballplayer and I’m gonna go out there and get the ball. I’m gonna score those touchdowns.”

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