In K.J. Duff, Rutgers football is landing an impressive athlete who understands the program
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.
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.”
Duff is a four-star and the top-ranked recruit in New York’s 2024 class according to Rivals.
