National Signing Day is here, which means we at On The Banks are following every signing in the Class of 2026! First up is the offense, which brings in talented players at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, and throughout the offensive line!
The first signing of the day was four-star Virginia wide receiver Dyzier Carter, who had committed to the Scarlet Knights back in July 2024. He is the top receiver in the class and is a Rivals Top 300 recruit. Carter is a versatile playmaker, recording 20 receptions for 273 yards and four touchdowns during his sophomore season. As a running back, he had 36 carries for 298 yards and five touchdowns. Carter had offers from other Power Four programs, including Penn State and Michigan, so his dedication to Rutgers early on was well-received.
Virginia tight end Brady Owens was the next player on offense to sign, a 5.5 three-star recruit and one of the top tight ends in the state. He measures at 6’5” and 230 pounds, bringing size, athleticism, and strong blocking ability, an important characteristic for the Rutgers offense. As a junior, he was second on his team with 36 receptions for 336 yards and five touchdowns, as well as five carries for 67 yards and a score.
Four-star interior offensive lineman Jared Smith was a huge get for the Scarlet Knights out of Georgia. Smith is listed as the 52nd-best prospect overall in the 2026 class and 30th at his position. His top four included Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Rutgers, but he decided to forego the South and head up to New Jersey to play his college football. Smith expressed that Rutgers supported him the most during his recruitment and that he was excited to play under offensive line coach Pat Flaherty.
Michigan running back Michael Dukes became the latest to join the legacy of Scarlet Knights running backs. Originally committed to Toledo, Dukes flipped to Rutgers after seeing the camps and visiting the school on an official visit. Despite Michigan State also offering him, Dukes decided to stay at Rutgers, and the tailback had some impressive stats in high school. During his junior year, he ran for 1,343 yards and 20 touchdowns on 123 carries, averaging over 10 yards per carry.
Pennsylvania offensive tackle Tyler Duell was next to sign with Rutgers, adding big-time size to the offense. At 6’6” and 280 pounds, Duell’s measurables were elite, and he ranked as the 34th-best offensive tackle and sixth-best prospect in the state. He ranks as a four-star and signed with the Scarlet Knights over several other schools, including being heavily recruited by Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Kentucky.
Interior offensive lineman Donovan Johnson was next to commit, as he was originally the first offensive lineman of the 2026 class. Although he played tackle at Pine Forest High School (NC), he is expected to move to the interior in college. He had eleven offers, including Pittsburgh, Kentucky, Wake Forest, Duke, and West Virginia. The three-star offensive lineman was the sixth commit from North Carolina in the past few recruiting cycles, which can largely be attributed to Scott Vallone’s efforts in the area
Colonia ATH RJ Wortman has officially signed with the Scarlet Knights, adding a local flavor to the 2026 class. Ranked as a three-star on 247Sports, Wortman committed to Rutgers in late November after reopening his recruitment in October due to receiving FBS attention. He was originally committed to FCS Maine, but decided to stay in his home state and made the jump to compete at the Big Ten level. He stood out most as a wide receiver, registered 101 catches for 1306 yards and 15 touchdowns in 11 games, but also played defensive back and was a punt returner, scoring in every phase of the ball last season.
Quarterback Xavier Stearn officially signed with the Scarlet Knights and is their only high school quarterback addition of the class so far. The Fort Washington, PA, native had received scholarship offers from 15 different schools, such as UConn, Tulsa, and Delaware. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound prospect plays for Germantown Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He threw for 2290 yards and 31 touchdowns during his senior season, according to 247sports.
Wide Receiver Elias Coke signed his letter of intent, as the high three-star is preparing to enter a very talented wide receiver room, where he will have the opportunity to learn from some very talented upperclassmen. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound prospect from Harrisburg, PA originally committed to Rutgers back in January and stayed with the Scarlet Knights despite a heavy push from Penn State to flip his commitment.
Tight End DJ Howerton was heavily recruited by Scott Vallone before he committed to the Scarlet Knights in June. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound prospect is rated as a three-star according to 247sports. He received four power offers from schools like Florida, Louisville, and West Virginia, but ultimately decided to stay with Rutgers. The North Carolina pipeline continues to grow.
Offensive tackle Cameron Greene was Rutgers’ first New Jersey commit of the 2026 class. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound prospect is rated as a three-star according to 247. He chose Rutgers over Boston College, Duke, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and five more lower-level programs. He was personally recruited by Rutgers offensive line coach Pat Flaherty.
Interior Offensive Lineman Logan Anthony signed with Rutgers after initially committing on June 1st. When he committed, he gave a lot of credit to current Rutgers player John Stone, who was his host player on his official visit. The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder is a high three-star according to 247 Sports. Anthony chose Rutgers over Virginia Tech and West Virginia, along with a long list of G5 schools.
