As Rutgers travels across the Big Ten in pursuit of a third consecutive bowl bid, it will see plenty of homegrown talent along the way.
The Scarlet Knights are set to face 22 New Jersey natives across 6 of their 12 regular season games during the 2025 season, according to NJ Advance Media analysis. Most of those meetings will come against the two elite programs in the back half of their schedule.
National title contender Penn State (9) and defending national champion Ohio State (5) have the majority of the Garden State natives Rutgers will face this season on their rosters. Three other teams — Illinois (3), Maryland (2) and Purdue (2) — round out the list that includes a former Scarlet Knight.
Conversely, Rutgers has a roster featuring 41 players from New Jersey.
Impact Opponents
Trebor Peña, WR, Penn State
The Ocean Township native had a career year in what would turn to be his final season with Syracuse, leading the ACC with 84 catches and finishing with nine touchdowns and 941 receiving yards. He left the Orange this offseason and transferred to State College for his final season of eligibility, where he hopes to be key piece for a team projected to compete for a national title.
Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
The Union native was a key cog in the Buckeyes’ national championship run last season, playing 810 snaps across 16 starts. A former five-star recruit who began his career at Ole Miss — and the younger brother of former Rutgers safety Desmond Igbinosun — he is projected to be one of the best defensive backs in the Big Ten this fall.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comPennLive
Leon Lowery, OLB, Illinois
The Elizabeth native and North Brunswick high school product will conclude his college career in Champaign after stops at Syracuse (2020-23) and Wisconsin (2024). He established himself as a solid Big Ten player with the Badgers last year, racking up 29 tackles, a sack and four quarterback hurries across 372 snaps.
Isaiah Wright, OL, Maryland
The North Plainfield native and St. Peter’s Prep product began his career at Rutgers, made a name for himself at Buffalo and now looks to conclude his career as a Big Ten starter in College Park. After missing the 2024 season with a lower leg injury sustained in the preseason, Wright will look to be a stable part of the Terrapins’ offensive line.
Promising Prospects
— Quincy Porter, WR, Ohio State
The five-star freshmen was the consensus top-ranked recruit in the state, as well as the fifth-best wide receiver and 23rd-best prospect in the country during the 2025 cycle, per the 247Sports Composite.
After watching Jeremiah Smith dominate as a true freshman last fall, Porter will have a model to follow if he wants to make an immediate impact in Columbus.
— Vaboue Toure, S, Penn State
The younger brother of current Scarlet Knight Famah Toure and former Scarlet Knight Mohamed Toure, he is unlikely to play a major role for the Nittany Lions this fall. But based on his stature out of high school — four-star recruit in the 247Sports Composite — he has the potential to have the best college career in his immediate family.
Full list (by opponent)
vs. Ohio (Thursday, Aug. 28)
— No players.
vs. Miami of Ohio (Saturday, Sept. 6)
— No players.
vs. Norfolk State (Saturday, Sept. 13)
— No players.
vs. Iowa (Friday, Sept. 19)
— No players.
@ Minnesota (Saturday, Sept. 27)
— Naiim Parrish, Freehold, Bergen Catholic, DB, Fr.
@ Washington (Friday, Oct. 10)
— No players.
vs. Oregon (Saturday, Oct. 18)
@ Purdue (Saturday, Oct. 25)
— Miles Mitchell, New Milford, Teaneck HS, DL, Sr.
Note: He started his career at Monmouth, where he played the last three years.
— Chad Brown, Trenton, St. Frances Academy (Md.), DB, Sr.
@ Illinois (Saturday, Nov. 1)
— Leon Lowery, Elizabeth, North Brunswick HS, OLB, Sr.
— Saboor Karriem, West Orange, West Orange HS, DB, Jr.
— John Forster, Montvale, St. Joseph’s, RB, Fr.
Note: A former Rutgers commit in the 2025 class.
vs. Maryland (Saturday, Nov. 8)
— Isaiah Wright, North Plainfield, St. Peter’s Prep, OL, Sr.
— DJ Samuels, Englewood, Bergen Catholic, LB, Jr.
@ Ohio State (Saturday, Nov. 22)
— Davison Igbinosun, Union, Union HS, CB, Sr.
— Tywone Malone, Jamesburg, Bergen Catholic, DT, Sr.
— Jaylen McClain, Rahway, Seton Hall Prep, S, So.
— Deshawn Stewart, Wayne, DePaul, S, Fr.
— Quincy Porter, Oradell, Bergen Catholic, WR, Fr.
vs. Penn State (Saturday, Nov. 29)
— Trebor Peña, Ocean Township, Ocean Township HS, WR, RSr.
— Owen Wafle, Middletown, Hun, DT, RFr..
— Cam Smith, Salem, St. Joseph’s (Pa.), LB, Fr.
— Vaboue Toure, Pleasantville, Irvington HS, S, RFr.
— Braz Thomas, Glassboro, Pleasantville, S, Fr.
— Malachi Goodman, Bloomfield, Paramus Catholic, OL, Fr.
— Michael Troutman III, Trenton, DePaul, OL, Fr.
— Amiel Davis, Voorhees, Eastern, RB, RSr.
— Tyler Holzworth, Milford, Delaware Valley Regional, RB, RSr.
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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.
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