The buzz around Rutgers football is getting louder, and it's all centered on one name: KJ Duff. After a breakout sophomore season that turned heads across the college football landscape, the Scarlet Knights' wide receiver is already being mentioned in early 2027 NFL mock drafts as a potential first-round pick—a rare honor for a player with just two seasons of collegiate experience under his belt.

Duff's numbers from last season speak for themselves: 60 receptions, 1,084 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. But it was his electrifying performance against Purdue that truly put him on the map. In that game, he hauled in six catches for a staggering 241 yards and a touchdown, helping secure a crucial win for Rutgers and giving NFL scouts plenty of film to study.

Pro Football Focus has been the most bullish so far, ranking Duff as the No. 18 overall prospect in the 2027 draft class and projecting him to go 15th overall to the New York Jets. According to nflmockdraftdatabase.com—a site that aggregates every major mock draft in one place—Duff appears as a first-round pick in three of the 55 mock drafts currently tracked. The other two projections come from NFL Trade Rumors and Player Profiler, with some analysts even linking him to the Kansas City Chiefs.

What makes Duff's ascent even more impressive is that he's only been a full-time starter for one season. In a sport where most top prospects need three or four years to develop, Duff's rapid rise signals that he has the kind of rare talent that NFL teams covet early in the draft.

But the road ahead isn't without its hurdles. Duff's close friend and roommate, Ian Strong, transferred to Cal this offseason, leaving Duff as the undisputed No. 1 option in the Rutgers receiving corps. While that likely means more targets, it also means opposing defenses will be game-planning specifically to stop him. Double teams and bracket coverage could become the norm.

There's also the matter of adjusting to a new quarterback. Duff built a strong chemistry with former signal-caller Athan Kaliakmanis, but with Kaliakmanis gone, he'll now need to develop a rapport with either Dylan Longergan or AJ Surcae. The good news? Having a receiver of Duff's caliber is a quarterback's best friend—a reliable target who can turn a routine pass into a highlight-reel play. If the new QB can get him the ball, Duff could be in for an even bigger season.

For Rutgers fans and college football enthusiasts alike, all eyes will be on Duff this fall. If he can handle the added attention and build chemistry with his new quarterback, that first-round projection might just become a lock.