RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. After a close battle between redshirt sophomore AJ Surace and Boston College senior transfer Dylan Lonergan for the starting quarterback role, Rutgers has officially named its starting quarterback for the 2026 season.
Lonergan will be the starting quarterback for the Scarlet Knights to start the season. Meanwhile, Surace will serve as the backup quarterback for the third consecutive season after backing up Athan Kaliakmanis for the past two seasons.
Rutgers coaches told reporters the battle for starting spot remained close all offseason, as both Longergan and Surace are similar quarterbacks.
Lonergan spent two seasons with Alabama but did not play in many games with the Crimson Tide. Across two seasons, he completed seven of his eight passes for 35 yards. Then, he transferred to Boston College last season, where he was the regular starting quarterback.
Lonergan completed 190 of 284 passes for 2,025 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions last season.
"We looked at a lot of quarterbacks that were out there and I just thought his skill set was a good fit for our offense," offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca said of Longergan in the spring. "I thought he had a lot of growth potential behind it and I liked him as a person."
Kaliakmanis transferred to Rutgers on a similar note after spending his first two seasons with Minnesota . When he transferred to Rutgers ahead of the 2024 season, Kaliakmanis became the team's primary starter and had a career-best year during his senior season in 2025.
Rutgers will open the 2026 season against UMass on Sept. 3 at SHI Stadium.
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