Rutgers Football 2026 Early Position Breakdown: Linebackers

TL;DR

Rutgers football's linebacker position is set to feature experienced players like Moses Walker and Abram Wright, alongside promising sophomores Kamar Archie and DJ McClary. The team is looking to integrate new talent while maintaining a competitive rotation.

Key points

Rutgers has experienced linebackers Moses Walker and Abram Wright.
Ty Morris joins Rutgers after a successful stint at Rice.
Younger players like Kamar Archie and DJ McClary are expected to step up.
Rutgers typically uses a 4-2-5 defensive formation.
Injuries impacted the performance of key linebackers last season.

Rutgers Scarlet KnightsRiceIllinois Fighting IlliniNCAA Football

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 01: Rutgers Scarlet Knights LB Kamar Archie (36) warms up prior to a college football game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Illinois Fighting Illini on November 1, 2025 at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images With the Rutgers football spring practices now in the books, it is time to start looking at the positions on the team that are going to see a lot of new faces on the field next season. While the linebackers are returning two experienced starting-caliber talents and added one more in the transfer portal, several of the positions’ younger players look ready to make the jump into a rotational role at the very least. Rutgers almost always runs some variant of the 4-2-5, meaning that they only have two linebackers on the field at a time. Senior linebackers Moses Walker, Abram Wright, and Ty Morris are the three most experienced linebackers on the roster, with Walker and Wright showing some promise last season despite dealing with injuries. Walker had 17 tackles and 2 tackles for loss in less than four full games, as he was knocked out for the season due to an injury he sustained during the Iowa game. Wright appeared in 11 games and recorded 58 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 fumble recovery, despite dealing with nagging injuries all season. These two will likely be the starters at the start of the season due to their experience at the college level. During three years at , Morris appeared in 37 games, recording 153 tackles with 17.5 for loss and seven sacks over that time. He was also an all-AAC honorable mention by the coaches last season. With these three being the likely starters for the start of the season, that provides an opportunity for the younger talents on the roster to compete for a spot in the rotation. DJ McClary, Kamar Archie, John Insinga, and Isaiah Deloatch are some of the promising names that have been coming up through the pipeline for Rutgers. All four of them are sophomores, with Deloatch, Archie, and McClary seeing some amount of playing time their freshman year. Both Archie and McClary are some of the most hyped prospects to come out of the last few recruiting classes, and already have a college-ready build according to multiple reports. Archie played in six games last season and made three tackles, while McClary played in five games and recorded 6 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. These two will likely be at the top of the rotation next season, with the possibility of earning the starting job depending on their performance. As for the other two, they will see an increase in playing time as they move up the depth chart as well, but they will likely be used more in a reserve role rather than a rotational one. Rutgers does have three junior linebackers, Liam Gilmore, Joe Nwachukwu, and MJ Johnson, but none of them have seen any playing time during their first two years, being passed over for younger players on the roster. It is unlikely that they will see the field this season despite having one more year of college experience.

Q&A

Who are the starting linebackers for Rutgers football in 2026?

The likely starting linebackers for Rutgers in 2026 are Moses Walker and Abram Wright, both of whom have significant experience.

What impact did injuries have on Rutgers linebackers last season?

Injuries affected Moses Walker and Abram Wright, with Walker missing the season after four games and Wright dealing with nagging injuries throughout the season.

Which younger linebackers are expected to contribute for Rutgers in 2026?

Sophomores Kamar Archie, DJ McClary, John Insinga, and Isaiah Deloatch are expected to compete for rotational roles in 2026.

How did Ty Morris perform during his time at Rice before joining Rutgers?

Ty Morris recorded 153 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks over three years at Rice, earning all-AAC honorable mention recognition.