Rutgers lands commitment from 2026 RB Michael Dukes

Greg Schiano and the Rutgers football staff remain red-hot on the recruiting trail. On Wednesday, Detroit Martin Luther King three-star running back Michael Dukes announced that he’s committed to the Scarlet Knights.

Previously pledged to Toledo since February, Dukes is now the latest pledge in the boat for the Big Ten program in Piscataway. He was offered on May 10 and is now committed less than a month later.

The 6-foot, 190-pound burner is the No. 85 RB and No. 27 player in Michigan in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He becomes the first RB in Rutgers’ 2026 class.

As a junior for the MLK Crusaders, Dukes turned 123 carries into 1,343 yards and 20 touchdowns. He helped lead his team to a 10-win season in 2024. The Crusaders finished as the No. 40 team in the state, per the On3 Composite Rankings.

In addition to Toledo and five other MAC programs, Dukes also landed an offer from Michigan State this spring. He now brings Rutgers up to 19 commitments this cycle.

Official visits leading to commitments for Rutgers

Since May 31, Rutgers has now landed nine pledges, helping it charge up the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Now checking in at No. 27 nationally, the Scarlet Knights have caught some serious momentum following a successful weekend of official visits.

Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley three-star tight end DJ Howerton committed on Tuesday following his OV. West Chester (Pa.) East three-star offensive tackle Tyler Duell, Leland (N.C.) North Brunswick three-star OT Tyrell Simpson, Macon (Ga.) Southwest three-star EDGE Rinaldo Callaway and Hillsdale (N.J.) Pascack Valley three-star linebacker Adam Shaw are among the other recent commitments.

Four blue-chip prospects are in the class to date. Louisa County (Va.) four-star wide receiver Dyzier Carter committed last July and now ranks as the No. 215 recruit and No. 34 wideout overall. January brought pledges from Philadelphia Neumann Goretti four-star athlete Wydeek Collier and Towson (Md.) Calvert Hall four-star safety Chris Hewitt.

Stockbridge (Ga.) Woodland four-star interior offensive lineman Jared Smith announced his pledge on May 23. Smith is the No. 26 IOL in the cycle and one of six O-linemen in the class. Harrisburg (Pa.) three-star WR Elias Coke, Fleming Island (Fla.) three-star safety Sebastian Cruz and Haymarket (Va.) Battlefield three-star cornerback Brandon Murray are other top pledges currently in the class.