Rutgers Football Adds Transfer RB to Bolster Depth

Scarlet Knights bring in Clay Thevenin from Louisiana Tech to compete for carries behind star Antwan Raymond.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:04am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a Rutgers football running play, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of scarlet red and white, conveying the physicality and energy of the sport.Rutgers' backfield depth gets a boost with the addition of transfer running back Clay Thevenin.Philadelphia Today

Rutgers football has added running back Clay Thevenin as a transfer from Louisiana Tech to bolster the depth at the position. The Scarlet Knights already had one of the top running backs in the Big Ten in Antwan Raymond, as well as other talented options like Ja'shon Benjamin. But the coaching staff felt they needed to add more competition and insurance at the physically demanding running back spot.

Why it matters

Running back depth is crucial in the Big Ten, where the physical toll of the conference schedule can quickly deplete a team's options. Rutgers has made the position a strength in recent seasons, and the addition of Thevenin gives them another capable back to rotate in and compete for carries.

The details

The 5-foot-8, 195-pound Thevenin had 634 rushing yards on 131 carries (4.8 yards per attempt) with eight touchdowns at Louisiana Tech in 2025. Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca said the coaching staff felt they 'needed to add some depth at that position and competition,' and that Thevenin was the 'right fit from a skill standpoint and a work ethic standpoint.' In addition to Raymond and Thevenin, Rutgers also has Ja'shon Benjamin and Edd Guerrier as experienced options in the backfield.

  • Thevenin transferred to Rutgers in April 2026.

The players

Antwan Raymond

Rutgers' star running back and one of the elite backs in the Big Ten.

Clay Thevenin

A 5-foot-8, 195-pound running back who transferred from Louisiana Tech to Rutgers in 2026.

Ja'shon Benjamin

A talented Rutgers running back who rushed for 328 yards on 68 carries in 2025.

Edd Guerrier

An experienced running back on the Rutgers roster.

Kirk Ciarrocca

Rutgers' offensive coordinator who discussed the decision to add Thevenin to the backfield.

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What they’re saying

“'I never feel like you have enough running backs.'”

— Kirk Ciarrocca, Offensive Coordinator

“'I think we felt like we needed to add some depth at that position and competition. I don't think it was 100 percent certainty that we had to do that, but we thought Clay was the right fit from a skill standpoint and a work ethic standpoint. We're excited to work with him.'”

— Kirk Ciarrocca, Offensive Coordinator

What’s next

Thevenin will compete for carries in Rutgers' backfield during spring and fall practices, with the goal of earning a role in the rotation alongside Antwan Raymond and the other experienced running backs.

The takeaway

Rutgers has made running back a position of strength in recent seasons, and the addition of transfer Clay Thevenin gives them another talented option to compete for carries and provide depth at a physically demanding position. The Scarlet Knights are committed to maintaining a deep and competitive backfield in the Big Ten.