Photo by: Jordan Bank
Joe Juengerkes Signs With PLL’s Whipsnakes
May 04 | Men's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's lacrosse short-stick defensive midfielder Joe Juengerkes became the newest Scarlet Knight to enter the Premier Lacrosse League. A First Team All-Big Ten selection this season, Juengerkes was signed by the Maryland Whipsnakes ahead of the 2026 PLL season starting this weekend.
The Islip, N.Y. native has spent the past two seasons at RU as a team captain. In that time, over 31 games, he has 12 goals, six assists, 99 ground balls and 29 caused turnovers. Juengerkes has 13 caused turnovers this season, tied for sixth among short-stick defensive midfielders nationally. He is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and was an All-American in 2025.
A number of RU players have had success in pro lacrosse after joining the league as undrafted free agents. Rutgers had 10 alumns play in the PLL last season, with 13 former RU players in preseason training camps, placing top-five in the NCAA and top-two in the Big Ten in representation for colleges in the PLL.
Rutgers boasts a total of 47 alumni all-time between Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and the National Lacrosse League (NLL). This success placing players in the pros has been accelerated recently, with 35 alumni coached at RU by current head coach Brian Brecht to go on to the professional level.
Juengerkes will be the sixth RU player all-time to join the Whipsnakes franchise. He was preceded in a Whipsnakes uniform by Joe Nardella, Jules Heningburg, Connor Kirst, Brennan Kammish and Matt Paolatto. That matches the most for any one PLL franchise from RU, with six players also suiting up for the Cannons.
The Islip, N.Y. native has spent the past two seasons at RU as a team captain. In that time, over 31 games, he has 12 goals, six assists, 99 ground balls and 29 caused turnovers. Juengerkes has 13 caused turnovers this season, tied for sixth among short-stick defensive midfielders nationally. He is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and was an All-American in 2025.
A number of RU players have had success in pro lacrosse after joining the league as undrafted free agents. Rutgers had 10 alumns play in the PLL last season, with 13 former RU players in preseason training camps, placing top-five in the NCAA and top-two in the Big Ten in representation for colleges in the PLL.
Rutgers boasts a total of 47 alumni all-time between Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and the National Lacrosse League (NLL). This success placing players in the pros has been accelerated recently, with 35 alumni coached at RU by current head coach Brian Brecht to go on to the professional level.
Juengerkes will be the sixth RU player all-time to join the Whipsnakes franchise. He was preceded in a Whipsnakes uniform by Joe Nardella, Jules Heningburg, Connor Kirst, Brennan Kammish and Matt Paolatto. That matches the most for any one PLL franchise from RU, with six players also suiting up for the Cannons.
Players Mentioned
Midfield
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