The Athletic Names J’Dan Burnett as Rutgers Most Intriguing Newcomer
Can Burnett be the pass rusher that Rutgers has lacked?
In a recent article by The Athletic, J'Dan Burnett, a former Tulsa EDGE, has been named Rutgers' most intriguing newcomer. While defensive coordinator Travis Johansen is often mentioned as the team's most intriguing addition, The Athletic chose to highlight Burnett instead. Burnett has played for Louisiana Tech and Tulsa, earning second-team All-American Conference honors in 2024 and recording 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2025.
While his stats at the lower level may not be impressive, the addition of several defensive line pieces through the portal could provide Burnett with the support he needs to excel at Rutgers. However, given the defense's poor performance last season, it is unlikely that Burnett will be able to make a complete turnaround in one season.
Nevertheless, a significant improvement from their previous season is still a possibility, and Johansen's track record of building defenses at the lower level adds to the intrigue surrounding his leadership of Rutgers' defense.
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