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Rutgers does not seem ready to name a starting quarterback quite yet.
AJ Surace and Dylan Lonergan, who are battling to become the successor to Athan Kaliakmanis, “both played well” during the Scarlet Knights’ first scrimmage of training camp on Saturday at SHI Stadium, head coach Greg Schiano said.
With both competitors splitting reps between the first and second team throughout camp — including Saturday’s scrimmage — the competition has “been back-and-forth” thus far, making a decision “harder and harder” to make.
Schiano will review the tape of the scrimmage with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca on Saturday, have “extensive meetings” with his staff on Sunday and go from there.
“If there is enough separation, we’ll make a decision,” Schiano said. “If there isn’t, we’ll just keep going. At some point, it’ll happen.”
Asked if the winner would have a short leash given how close the competition is, Schiano said the winner “deserves a chance to grow in the position,” but he won’t “ever lock myself in,” either. Surace and Lonergan have “both worked really hard,” Schiano said, and he wants the winner of the competition to “feel comfortable that he’s our guy.”
Here is what else Schiano said following the Scarlet Knight’s first scrimmage of training camp:
Young receivers win the day
Along with elite upperclassman KJ Duff, wide receiver coach Dave Brock has a crop of talented young players in his room.
On Saturday, a trio of them — sophomores Jourdin Houston and Vernon Allen III, along with true freshman Dyzier Carter — each had strong showings.
“I was really, really glad to see our young receivers step up and make plays. Not gimmies — make plays,” Schiano said. “That’s going to be critical for us to have a successful offense.”
Other standouts
— Linebacker Sean Allison, who transferred into the program from FCS Drake this summer, stood out among the defensive players.
— Running backs Clay Thevenin and Ja’Shon Benjamins had good scrimmages.
— Working against younger players, true freshman defensive end Rinaldo Calloway made an impression.
New face makes good first impression
After signing with Rutgers on Sunday and joining the program’s camp on Monday, defensive lineman Sekou Kromah has shown Schiano “some good things already” during his first few of practices.
While there are still some questions that need to be sorted out, the Scarlet Knights feel the East Orange native is “a good player” who “could help us” during the 2026 season.
“It’s just a matter of how fast can we get him integrated into what we’re doing and how comfortable we are with his conditioning and everything,” Schiano said. “He hasn’t been in a team setting. He’s been in an individual setting. But that is like pro football. There’s guys that are working out on the side and staying ready, and then boom. He’s a mature guy. That’s one thing I can tell you. In visiting with him and coaching him for a few days, he’s all business. This is important to him.”
Watch "Will Rutgers take major steps in Year 2 under Keli Zinn? Previewing 2026-27 season" on YouTubeWatch
Freed up to coach football
Rutgers has yet to announced a jersey patch sponsor for the 2026 season, but for the first time since his return to Piscataway in 2020, that is not something that falls entirely on Schiano’s plate.
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“It is important, but you know the best part? That’s not my deal anymore,” Schiano said. “It used to be that I had to be involved in everything. Now I get to coach this team and I know that (athletic director Keli Zinn) and (Chief Revenue Officer Todd Knisley) and everybody involved — President (William) Tate — will get a good deal. And we have to. Everything’s important. Revenue is huge because the way college football’s changed. But I’m very confident they’ll find the right fit for us.”
Final word
“Playing defense is 11 as 1. You got to go. It’s 11 guys doing their job, then you’ve got to swam the football. When we’ve had great defenses here, it looks like piranhas. And that’s what we need to have. We need to have defense that looks like that. I always tell them, when you throw the tape on, I want people to say ‘ooh, that’s different.’ That’s effort, that’s just going as hard as you can. Because a lot of times in defense, if you know your job and you go as hard as you can, even if you’re not perfect, it kind of works itself out.” — Schiano on what mile markers he looks at for his defense throughout training camp.
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