Rutgers Football Names Boston College Transfer QB Dylan Lonergan Starter

It was announced in the morning on August 24th, 2026, first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel on X, that Rutgers has its QB1 for 2026.

After a back-and-forth battle throughout spring ball and training camp, Dylan Lonergan has officially won the job to be the successor to Athan Kaliakmanis after two years as the team’s starter.

Lonergan began his career at Alabama and transferred to Boston College ahead of the 2025 season. He completed 190-of-284 (66.9%) passing attempts, totaled 2,025 Passing yards, with 12 Touchdowns and 5 Interceptions in 2025. Lonergan saw himself benched for a period of 2 games but finished up starting 9 games for the Eagles last season, playing in a total of 10 of them.

After a rocky year up in Chestnut Hill, Lonergan hit the portal again and found himself committing to Rutgers on January 5th, 2026. Immediately indicating there will be a QB competition. After getting word this morning, AJ Surace now finds himself as the QB2 for the second consecutive year after having a number of projections throughout the offseason that he may be the one under center to begin the year for the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers will now shift its focus to game week, as 2026 gets underway in 10 days on September 3rd, hosting the UMass Minutemen at SHI Stadium. Lonergan will make his return to Boston College, when Rutgers takes the trip up to Chestnut Hill for its game on September 11th.

WRSU will have a special pregame show live from the Rutgers Boardwalk on September 3rd from 3PM-5PM. Rutgers Countdown will begin at 5PM, before Will Carmenaty and Sean Newcomb will have the season opening call beginning at 5:45PM. Catch it all on 88.7FM and online at wrsu.org.