Rutgers Football 2026 Early Position Breakdown: Who Are WR2 and WR3?

TL;DR

Rutgers football is evaluating candidates for the WR2 and WR3 positions for the 2026 season. Ben Black is favored for WR2, while several players, including Jourdin Houston and Vernon Allen III, are in contention for WR3.

Key points

Rutgers is assessing new wide receiver roles for 2026
Ben Black is favored for WR2 position
Famah Toure's injury affects his WR2 candidacy
Jourdin Houston and others are competing for WR3
Coaching staff praises multiple young receivers

Mentioned in this story

Greg Schiano

Rutgers Scarlet KnightsBen BlackFamah ToureJourdin Houston

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 29: Kj Duff #8 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts against the Penn State Nittany Lions at SHI Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 40-36. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images With Rutgers spring football 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 in starting roles next season, and who those new faces might be. While the quarterback room will likely get most of the attention during the off-season, several other positions of interest on the team will be undergoing position battles worth discussing. One such position is the wide receiver room, as they will be looking to find their No. 2 and No. 3 options behind assumed No. 1, KJ Duff. Regarding the No.2 wide receiver spot, Ben Black seems to be the most likely to fill this role, as he has the most on-field experience of all the other receivers. Rutgers did not pick up a receiver in the portal, making Black the second most experienced member of the group, as he has been plugged in as a reserve guy several times throughout his three years with the program. So far in his college career, he has appeared in 25 games, making 20 catches for 276 yards and 2 touchdowns, including hauling in four catches for 56 yards last season against Purdue. Another name who could be the lead guy in the No.2 spot is Famah Toure, but his lack of in-game experience makes this a longer shot. Toure is a senior, while Black is still a junior, and it was said multiple times this offseason that Toure would’ve seen a decent amount of playing time if he had not gotten knocked out for the season during the spring game, making it likely that he could rotate in to the No.2 spot, with Black being at the top of the rotation. However, that doesn’t mean that it is just these two in the mix for this role, as any of those who are likely competing for the No.3 spot can do the same here if they have a good enough off-season. As for the No.3 spot, several names could find themselves taking a majority of the snaps in this role. Jourdin Houston, Vernon Allen III, Michael Thomas III, and Sah’nye Degraffenreidt are some names that stand out among this competition, as all were praised by the coaching staff at one point or another, and all are sophomores who had a little playing time last season, with Houston and Degraffenreidt being the only two of the four to see playing time against Big Ten opponents. Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano loves competition in practice, and the Knights certainly have a lot of talented players who can compete to fill these roles. With the departure of Ian Strong and DT Sheffield, the position has lost some valuable experience, but with the amount of talent coming up the pipeline, it is hard to see this room not being one of the most talented on the team for years to come.

Q&A

Who is likely to be the WR2 for Rutgers football in 2026?

Ben Black is the most likely candidate for WR2 due to his experience and performance in previous seasons.

What happened to Famah Toure that affects his chances for WR2?

Famah Toure missed significant playing time last season due to an injury sustained during the spring game, impacting his experience level.

Who are the top contenders for the WR3 position on Rutgers football?

Jourdin Houston, Vernon Allen III, Michael Thomas III, and Sah’nye Degraffenreidt are the primary contenders for the WR3 position.

What impact did the departure of Ian Strong and DT Sheffield have on Rutgers' wide receiver group?

The departure of Ian Strong and DT Sheffield has left the wide receiver group with less experience, but it opens opportunities for emerging talent.

Rutgers Football 2026 Early Position Breakdown: Who Are WR2 and WR3?

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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