Rutgers football added a record number of transfers this offseason, and for the second straight season, the most impactful of the group will come from the same position.
That is Tom Fornelli’s opinion, anyway.
The CBS analyst recently predicted an impact transfer for each Big Ten team, and for the Scarlet Knights, he chose North Texas wide receiver DT Sheffield.
Rutgers will hope Fornelli’s crystal ball is right once again.
Last offseason, he predicted Monmouth wide receiver Dymere Miller for the honor — and he was right.
Miller was the most productive wide receiver in Piscataway in a decade, finishing with a team-high 757 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 59 catches across 798 snaps in 13 appearances (12 starts). That is the most receiving yards by a Rutgers player in a season since program great Leonte Carroo had 809 yards in the 2015 campaign.
On BetMGM, Rutgers’ team total wins line is set at 5.5 for the upcoming college football season. Our BetMGM Sportsbook review shows you how to sign up and use their app.
Sheffield was highly productive for the Mean Green last season, catching 66 passes for 822 yards and 11 touchdowns. Fornelli believes the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder can have a similarly strong season for the Scarlet Knights.
Here is his explanation:
My impact transfer for Rutgers last season was WR Dymere Miller, and he led the team with 59 receptions for 757 yards and four touchdowns. Miller is gone, and in his place is my new impact transfer, DT Sheffield! Sheffield began his career at Washington State but played for North Texas last season. Rest assured, Rutgers will not throw the ball as often as either of those teams, but he should be the No. 1 option after grabbing 66 passes for 822 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Mean Green in 2024.
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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.