NFL Draft Buzz: https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Eric-ONeill-DL-JamesMadison
Rankings:
Video:
2026 Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw8UIpG6Hgk
Articles:
2026 NFL Draft: The best remaining players ahead of Day 3 - PFF (178. ED Eric O'Neill, Rutgers Scarlet Knights - O’Neill is an undersized edge defender at 6-foot-3 and 261 pounds who broke out with a 90.2 PFF grade at James Madison in 2024 before transferring to Rutgers in 2025. His role shifted after the move to the Power Four, as his production leaned more toward run defense than pass rushing. In 2025, he earned a 73.8 run-defense grade and a 71.6 pass-rush grade and generated 41 pressures, including four sacks, 10 hits and 27 hurries on 261 pass-rush snaps) (4-24-26): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-the-best-remaining-players-ahead-of-day-3
2026 NFL Draft: The best remaining players after Round 1 (244. ED Eric O'Neill, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
O’Neill is an undersized edge defender at 6-foot-3 and 261 pounds who broke out with a 90.2 PFF grade at James Madison in 2024 before transferring to Rutgers in 2025. His role shifted after the move to the Power Four, as his production leaned more toward run defense than pass rushing. In 2025, he earned a 73.8 run-defense grade and a 71.6 pass-rush grade and generated 41 pressures, including four sacks, 10 hits and 27 hurries on 261 pass-rush snaps) (4-23-26): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-best-remaining-players-after-round-1
Lions draft: An EDGE for every round (Sixth round: Eric O’Neill, Rutgers - A transfer from JMU, and Long Island before that, O’Neill quietly emerged as one of the nation’s most efficient pass rushers in his one year at Rutgers. The 6-foot-3, 263-pound O’Neill gave Ohio State fits even though he didn’t record a sack in the game. Pros: Productive across three colleges and divergent schemes. Effective in converting power to speed. Excellent leverage against taller blockers, uses his shoulders very well. Can disengage and launch a quick second attack. Works well in concert with linemates. Excellent chase-down speed and effort. Played his best against better competition. Lived on the dean’s list at all his college stops. Cons: Doesn’t always have a defined pass rush plan. Ineffective playing in space, will chase the cheese on screens and cutbacks. Better at creating pressure than finishing plays in the backfield. Has some tightness around the edge. Missed tackle rate over 20 percent in each of his final 3 college seasons) (2-14-26): https://www.detroitlionspodcast.com/jeff-risdon/2026/02/14/detroit-lions-2026-nfl-draft-edge-for-every-round/
Six Scarlet Knights to Compete in All-Star Bowls (PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Six from Rutgers football are set to compete in upcoming all-star bowls to showcase in front of professional personnel. LB Dariel Djabome, DB Jett Elad, QB Athan Kaliakmanis, DB Cam Miller and DL Eric O'Neill will participate in the Hula Bowl, while WR DT Sheffield heads to the American Bowl. ERIC O'NEILL: In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, O'Neill led the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss, contributing 2.5 sacks. The defensive lineman started all 12 games, posting at least one stop in the backfield in each of the last four outings. That included two tackles-for-loss on a career-high 10 tackles in the win over Maryland. He also batted down a pass to lead to an interception at Illinois. Overall, O'Neill, a member of the Lott Impact Trophy watch list, collected 31 career sacks in 50 collegiate games.) (1-9-26): https://247sports.com/college/rutgers/article/rutgers-de-eric-oneill-talks-breakout-game-life-in-the-big-ten-and-more-261001050/
Rutgers DE Eric O'Neill talks breakout game, life in the Big Ten and more (11-11-25): https://247sports.com/college/rutgers/article/rutgers-de-eric-oneill-talks-breakout-game-life-in-the-big-ten-and-more-261001050/
PFSN’s Highest-Graded CFB Players of Week 11: Standouts, Superstars, and Sensational Performers (7. Eric O’Neill, Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 83.9 (B)) (11-10-25): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb/highest-graded-college-football-players-week-11/
College Football Week 11: Team of the Week, Player Awards (Big Ten Team of the Week - EDGE: Eric O'Neill, Rutgers) (11-9-25): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-11-team-of-the-week-player-awards-2025
Football Defeats Maryland, 35-20 (DL Eric O'Neill led the defense with a career-high 10 tackles and two tackles-for-loss.) (11-8-25): https://scarletknights.com/news/2025/11/8/football-defeats-maryland-35-20
Football Loses at Illinois (DL Eric O'Neill picked up a sack and batted down a pass, which was intercepted by DL Farell Gnago.) (11-1-25): https://scarletknights.com/news/2025/11/1/football-at-illinois-recap
PFF releases 2026 NFL Draft big board, featuring several Rutgers players (No. 242 EDGE Eric O’Neill - Arguably Rutgers Football’s top defensive player this season, O’Neill leads the team in pressures (17), hurries (13), and sacks (3). On top of his production this season, O’Neill also has some really good tape from his lone season with James Madison in 2023, where he finished with 18.5 tackles for loss and 13.0 sacks while earning Second Team All-America honors per the College Football Network.) (10-13-25): https://www.on3.com/sites/the-knight-report/news/pff-releases-2026-nfl-draft-big-board-featuring-rutgers-players/
Football Loses to Iowa (DL Eric O'Neill added sacks, with O'Neill finishing the night with two tackles-for-loss. DL Eric O'Neill picked up a sack and now has 30 for his career. DB Cam Miller had his first sack for Rutgers and fifth career.) (9-19-25): https://scarletknights.com/news/2025/9/19/football-loses-to-iowa
2026 NFL Draft Summer Scouting: Edge Rusher Overview (4-3 Edge Rushers - Eric O'Neill, Rutgers. Strengths: Can get very low and powerful onto his quads in a 3-point stance. Good body control for lateral movements and turning the corner. Plenty of experience from a 4i to 7 tech. Shows a good baseline of pass rush IQ. Weaknesses: Below-average size for the position. Seems to have below-average athleticism. Doesn't have imposing strength. Lack of length and strength yield higher missed tackle percentage. Scouting Summary: O'Neill has been on a long journey to becoming an NFL prospect — he was an under-recruited player who went from FCS to James Madison to Rutgers. He'll be one of the older prospects in the 2026 class, but that experience comes with a good baseline of pass-rush IQ and both alignment versatility and comfort. He has good body control and flexibility to get low in his stance, explode off his quads and can move laterally with cross-body pass-rushing as his go-to. Overall, his length, strength and speed appear to be below average for the pros, but he can be a solid depth player in multiple schemes.) (9-16-25): https://www.pff.com/news/2026-nfl-draft-summer-scouting-edge-rusher-overview
Football Defeats Norfolk State, 60-10 (Elad secured his first interception of the season, while DL Eric O'Neill, DL Jordan Thompson and DL Bradley Weaver all contributed sacks. O'Neill led the unit with two tackles-for-loss.) (9-13-25): https://scarletknights.com/news/2025/9/13/football-defeats-norfolk-state-60-10
Big Improvement Needed for Rutgers Defense After Poor Performance (The Knights were thought to have addressed the lack of a pass rush this offseason with the portal additions of Bradley Weaver and Eric O'Neill. Weaver performed well against his old team, assisting on five tackles and being credited with two quarterback hits. Unfortunately for Rutgers, highly touted edge rusher Eric O'Neill had little impact in his first game for the Knights, with one solo tackle and two assists.) (8-29-25): https://www.si.com/college/rutgers/football/big-improvement-needed-rutgers-defense-after-poor-performance
Ranking the top 100 college football players ahead of the 2025 season (84. Eric O'Neill
DE, Rutgers, senior - 2024 stats: 52 solo, 13 sacks, 3 PD. 2024 postseason ranking: NR. One of Rutgers' biggest additions in the offseason, O'Neill comes from James Madison after a standout campaign with the Dukes. The 6-3, 255-pound end was a force to be reckoned with and set the pace for a stingy JMU defense that led the nation in turnover margins last year. -- Uggetti) (8-20-26): https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45798030/2025-season-college-football-ranking-top-100-players-jeremiah-smith-cade-klubnik
Three Scarlet Knights Selected to Senior Bowl Top 300 (The three Rutgers players who were named to the list are all recent transfers into the program. Defensive End Eric O’Neill, Wide Receiver DT Sheffield, and Running Back CJ Campbell Jr. made the list. With the addition of transfers like Eric O’Neill, Rutgers hopes to get the pass rush it lacked last season. During his last season at James Madison University, O’Neill totaled 52 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, and one pick-six. The addition of O’Neill, along with other transfer portal guys like Bradley Weaver, and the continued development of Jordan Walker, are expected to be the catalyst for Rutgers’ pass rush this season.) (8-20-25): https://www.onthebanks.com/rutgers-football/45848/three-scarlet-knights-selected-to-senior-bowl-top-300
Top 25 Returning College Football Edge Rushers: Colin Simmons, T.J. Parker Lead a Dominant Group (15. Eric O’Neill, Rutgers - 2024 PFSN College EDGE+ Grade: 85.09 (B). Eric O’Neill’s journey has been a rewarding one. He started his career with LIU, a team that most FBS teams schedule to get an easy win. When he thrived with the Sharks, he took his talents to James Madison to test himself. All he did with the Dukes was record 52 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, and 13.0 sacks, leading him to the transfer portal once again.) (8-4-25): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb/top-college-football-edge-rushers-2025/
Most talented Rutgers team of Schiano’s 2nd stint to finish near bottom of Big Ten, magazine predicts (Top Newcomer: DE Eric O’Neill: Rutgers is banking on the production of O’Neill to translate to the Big Ten level. He began his career at LIU before spending 2024 at James Madison, where he made 52 tackles, including 18.5 for loss, and 13 sacks in 13 games.) (6-18-25): https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2025/06/preseason-magazine-predicts-rutgers-will-finish-near-bottom-of-big-ten-heres-why.html
O’Neill Named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List (5-28-26): https://scarletknights.com/news/2025/5/28/football-o-neill-named-to-lott-impact-trophy-watch-list
Ranking the best pass rushers in college football in 2025 (Eric O'Neill, Rutgers - Points: 21 (1 of 10 first-place votes). 2024 stats (with James Madison): 52 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks. O'Neill is a success story for the 2020s, having worked his way up from his hometown of Staten Island to the Big Ten. He'll get a chance to prove himself as one of college football's best pass rushers in 2025. The 6-3, 255-pounder began his career at Long Island University, producing 44.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in two seasons with the Sharks before transferring to James Madison and becoming an immediate star in the Sun Belt Conference. At JMU, he ranked fourth nationally with 13 sacks among 18.5 tackles for loss, and he produced an elite pressure rate of 15.1%. He could finish his career with more than 75 TFLs, an incredibly rare feat. Between O'Neill and Ohio's Bradley Weaver, Rutgers landed two of the Group of 5's best defensive ends this offseason and should be rewarded with one of the Big Ten's more fearsome pass rushes. -- Connelly) (4-15-25): https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44670025/ranking-best-pass-rushers-college-football-2025
Rutgers football 2025 transfer preview: Eric O'Neill (4-7-25): https://www.dailytargum.com/article/rutgers-football-2025-transfer-preview-eric-o-neill-20250407
For this highly-touted transfer, playing for ‘dream school’ Rutgers was ‘always my destiny’ (4-6-25): https://www.nj.com/rutgers/2025/04/for-highly-touted-transfer-playing-for-dream-school-rutgers-was-always-my-destiny.html
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