2024 Rutgers Football Preview: Wide Receivers

The Rutgers Scarlett Knights’ football team will have multiple wide receivers set to play pivotal roles in 2024.

Ahead of a pivotal 2024 season, the Rutgers Scarlett Knights football team are looking to be a much more balanced offense, especially with their wide receivers.

With a strong running game led by standout Kyle Monangai, Rutgers needs to have their passing attack pick up the slack. New starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis will look to elevate the offense in his first year with the team.

For that to happen, though, the weapons must be explosive and productive. Luckily for Rutgers, multiple players are ready to step up and help the Scarlett Knights compete in the Big Ten.

Key Contributors: Naseim Brantley, Dymere Miller, Christian Dremel

When looking at the likely starting wide receivers for Rutgers in 2024, most are new faces.

The only returning starter is Christian Dremel, who was the team’s primary slot receiver in 2023. Dremel had 446 yards and three touchdowns, marks that both led the team. He also had 155 yards after the catch and five contested catches. Even with a new quarterback, Dremel should still serve as a reliable underneath threat for the Scarlett Knights.

Outside of Dremel, Naseim Brantley and Dymere Miller should add some more explosiveness to the offense on the outside.

Missing all of 2023 due to an NCAA eligibility issue, Brantley adds a deep threat to the team’s offense that has not been there in recent years. In 2022, Brantley had 17.1 yards per reception. He had an ADOT of 16.9 and six touchdowns on passes more than 20 yards down the field.

Miller, a transfer from Monmouth, is another speed threat who lit up the FCS. In 2023, Miller had 1,298 yards to lead the entire league. He also had nine touchdowns while lining up both on the outside and in the slot.

These three wideouts should help Kaliakmanis and the Scarlett Knights attack every part of the field. If they all translate to the Big Ten’s level of play, Rutgers should be able to have one of its most balanced offenses in years.

Potential Breakouts

Outside of the three projected starters at wide receiver, a few players could break out onto the scene for Rutgers in 2024.

One such player is senior Chris Long. Missing all of 2023, Long is another potential deep threat that posted an ADOT of 12 in 2022. Another option is second-year wide receiver Ian Strong. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, Strong is a contested catch threat that could help out the team heavily in the red zone.

Lastly, Thomas Amankwaa offers an interesting skillset that many at the position group do not. As a former cornerback, Amankwaa brings high-level ball skills and quick change of direction ability. As a result, he could immediately impact the team’s offense in 2024.

Sleeper Candidate: KJ Duff

Out of the entire position group, a freshman stands out as a possible sleeper for 2024.

KJ Duff was a four-star recruit from St. Anthony’s in New York, the same high school as Ian Strong. Duff had 132 catches for 2,606 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career, all marks that made him the school’s all-time leader in all three categories. He also won the 2023 Rich Reichert Award, which recognizes the best player in the Catholic Football League, and was the top-ranked player in New York for his recruiting class.

Duff has a unique opportunity to make an impact in a room full of unestablished players. With his outlier size at 6-feet-5-inches and good athleticism, Duff could vault above other players at his position. How the Scarlett Knights will deploy their weapons and have a more balanced attack in 2024 is unknown. But it is always good to bet on size and raw athletic ability, meaning that Duff is a great player to watch for Rutgers this season.