With spring football right around the corner, two Rutgers Football players were named to the College Sports Network Top 100 Returning College Football Players for the 2025 season.

Defensive lineman Eric O’Neill was ranked 41st following a season at James Madison where he was named College Football Network Second Team All-American and HERO Sports Group of Five First Team All-American. He was also named First Team All-Sun Belt defensive lineman, VaSID First Team All-State, and First Team All-ECAC.

The Staten Island native started all 13 games at defensive line and led the Dukes with 18.5 tackles for a loss and 13 sacks. He also recorded 52 tackles (24 solo), one interception, 16 quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups.

O’Neill ranked fourth in program history in single-season sacks, fifth in the FBS and second in the Sun Belt in sacks per game (1.0), and sixth in the FBS and second in the Sun Belt in tackles for loss per game (1.4).

Wide receiver DT Sheffield is another player set to make his debut as a Scarlet Knights and was ranked 79th after a season at North Texas where was named an Honorable Mention All-American selection by College Football Network and earned DCTF First Team All-Texas honors. He was also named a First Team All-AAC selection.

Sheffield appeared in all 12 games for the Mean Green with 11 starts and led the team with 66 receptions for 822 yards and 11 touchdowns. He finished the regular season tied for fifth in FBS in receiving touchdowns.

Sheffield also got it done on special teams as he was named All-AAC Third Team as a returner.