Rutgers football made some serious moves in the transfer portal this offseason, and according to head coach Greg Schiano, a couple of key additions are already turning heads. After a spring practice season that had the coaching staff buzzing, two defensive transfers—Malachi Davis and Ty Morris—are stepping up in a big way.

Davis, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end, comes to Rutgers after four seasons at Toledo, where he earned third-team All-MAC honors. Last season alone, he recorded 36 tackles (9.5 for loss) and 5.5 sacks—numbers that immediately caught Schiano's attention. “He showed us that we made a great decision in going after him,” Schiano said during an interview with Big Ten Network. That’s exactly the kind of boost the Scarlet Knights need after losing defensive ends Bradley Weaver and Eric O’Neill to graduation, plus Jordan Walker’s transfer to Georgia Tech. With the defense managing just 11 sacks last season—second-to-last in the Big Ten—Davis brings a much-needed spark to the pass rush.

Then there’s Ty Morris, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker who spent the last three seasons at Rice. Morris started all 13 games last year, finishing with 88 tackles (9.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks as a team captain. “I thought he established himself as a really fine player for us, as well,” Schiano added. Morris steps into a linebacker room that saw Dariel Djabome depart, but with returning talent like Kamar Archie, Moses Walker, Abram Wright, Isaiah Deloatch, and DJ McClary, the competition is heating up. Morris’s experience and spring performance suggest he’s ready for the jump to Big Ten play.

Under new defensive coordinator Travis Johansen, the defense is aiming for a major rebound. Schiano came away encouraged by the new-look unit’s progress this spring, but he knows the real test comes when training camp starts and September games loom. For now, the early returns on these transfers are promising—and fans should keep an eye on Davis and Morris as Rutgers builds toward the season.