2025 Football Roster
Roster
DL
/ FootballWR
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDL
/ FootballLB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballLB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDB
/ FootballTE
/ FootballDB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballTE
/ FootballWR
/ FootballLB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDL
/ FootballQB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballDL
/ FootballTE
/ FootballDB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballPK
/ FootballLB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballTE
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballPK
/ FootballDL
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballDL
/ FootballLB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballLB
/ FootballDL
/ FootballDL
/ FootballDB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballLS
/ FootballLB
/ FootballDL
/ FootballLB
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballDL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballDL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballLB
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballLS
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDL
/ FootballWR
/ FootballTE
/ FootballWR
/ FootballTE
/ FootballWR
/ FootballTE
/ FootballDL
/ FootballTE
/ FootballDL
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDL
/ FootballDL
/ FootballDL
/ FootballPK
/ FootballP
/ FootballDL
/ FootballDL
/ FootballDL
/ FootballDL
/ FootballDL
/ FootballLS
/ FootballDL
/ Football
Jersey Number 99
Eric O'Neill
- Position:
- DL
- Class:
- Senior
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-3 / 261
- Hometown:
- Staten Island, N.Y.
- High School:
- Tottenville
- Major:
- Labor and Employment Relations
2025 Lott IMPACT® Trophy Watch List
2024 First Team All-Sun Belt
2024 Second Team All-America (College Football Network)
2024 First Team Group of Five All-America (HERO Sports)
2024 All-ECAC Defense
2024 VaSID First Team All-State
2023 Buck Buchanan Award Finalist
2023 Second Team FCS All-America (FCS Football Central, Stats Perform)
2023 Third Team FCS All-America (Associated Press)
2023 NEC Defensive Player of Year
2023 First Team All-NEC
2022 Jerry Rice Award Finalist
2022 FCS Freshman All-America (HERO Sports, Stats Perform)
2022 NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year
2022 NEC First Team All-NEC
Career: Played in 50 games with 47 starts on the defensive line … ended collegiate career starting 47 consecutive games ... totaled 222 career tackles with 72.5 for loss and 31 sacks …added nine pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two interceptions (one pick-six) … led the FBS with 1.12 tackles-for-loss per game and fourth with 0.62 sacks per game over the past two seasons ... named first team all-conference three times … led Rutgers with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks in 2025 ... played at James Madison in 2024 … earned All-America and First Team All-Sun Belt honors … ranked fifth nationally in sacks per game (1.0) and sixth in tackles-for-loss per game (1.4) … started career at LIU (2021-23) … earned multiple All-America honors at the FCS level … a finalist for both the Buck Buchanan and Jerry Rice Awards … a two-time First Team All-NEC performer … picked up NEC Defensive Player of the Year and NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year … a four-time winner of NEC Defensive Player of the Week … also picked up FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman of the Week … totaled 44.5 tackles-for-loss and 15.5 sacks for the Sharks.
2025 (Senior): Started all 12 games at defensive end ... totaled 37 tackles ... led the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks ... added two pass breakups ... had 10 games with multiple stops with a high of 10 ... in on a tackle-for-loss in seven contests ... had three stops with one for loss against Penn State (11/29) ... added a tackle-for-loss at No. 1 Ohio State (11/22) ... compiled a career-high 10 tackles with two for loss in win over Maryland (11/8) ... picked up a sack and batted down a pass to lead to an interception at Illinois (11/1) ... in on three stops in win at Purdue (10/25) ... added three tackles versus No. 8 Oregon (10/18) ... recorded four stops with two in the backfield and a sack against Iowa (9/19) ... collected two tackles-for-loss with an assisted sack versus Norfolk State (9/13) ... broke up a pass and assisted on a tackle-for-loss against Miami (Ohio) (9/6) ... started and posted three tackles in Rutgers debut versus Ohio (8/28) ... selected to the Senior Bowl Top 300 (8/20) ... picked to the Shrine Bowl 1000 (7/28) ... named Preseason All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports (third team) (7/2) and Phil Steele (fourth team) (6/19) ... selected to the Lott IMPACT® Trophy watch list (5/28).
2024 (Senior at James Madison): Started all 13 games at defensive end … named Second Team All-America by College Football Network and First Team Group of Five All-America by HERO Sports … voted First Team All-Sun Belt, All-ECAC Defense and VaSID First Team All-State … totaled 52 tackles with 18.5 for loss and 13 sacks … ranked fifth nationally in sacks per game (1.0) and sixth in tackles-for-loss per game (1.4) … had a tackle-for-loss in each of the last 11 games of the season and a sack in eight games with multiple in five contests … added three pass breakups and a pick-six … had a sack in the Boca Raton Bowl win over Western Kentucky (12/18) … picked up a career-high 2.5 sacks and a pass breakup versus Marshall (11/30) … collected a season-high nine tackles with two sacks in games at Appalachian State (11/23) and at Old Dominion (11/16) … notched a career-high three tackles-for-loss with two sacks against Georgia State (11/9) … in on 1.5 sacks with a pass breakup versus Southern Miss (10/26) … broke up a pass and brought down the quarterback at Georgia Southern (10/19) … recorded a 27-yard pick-six and two sacks against Ball State (9/28) … posted two tackles-for-loss with a sack at North Carolina (9/21) … named Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team.
2023 (Junior at LIU): Started all 11 games on the defensive line … named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the FCS Defensive Player of the Year … earned FCS All-America honors by FCS Football Central (second team), Stats Perform (second team) and Associated Press (third team) … selected NEC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-NEC … garnered team’s defensive MVP and Captains Award … totaled 80 tackles with 23.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks … ranked second nationally with 2.1 tackles-for-loss per game and second in the conference with 0.5 sacks per game … posted at least one stop in the backfield in 10-of-11 games … added a forced fumble, an interception and three pass breakups … collected eight tackles with 2.5 for loss at Stonehill (11/18) … broke up a pass and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss against Wagner (11/11) … forced a fumble and had a sack on seven tackles at Saint Francis (Pa.) (11/4) … broke up two passes and notched three tackles-for-loss on 12 stops at Central Connecticut (10/26) to claim NEC Defensive Player of the Week … picked up a season-high 4.5 tackles-for-loss versus Merrimack (10/21) … in on three stops in the backfield at Maine (10/14) … added sacks versus Sacred Heart (10/7) and Duquesne (9/30) … registered two tackles-for-loss at Baylor (9/16) … recorded 13 tackles with 3.5 for loss, a sack and an interception at Ohio (9/2) to win NEC Defensive Player of the Week … named Preseason All-NEC.
2022 (Sophomore at LIU): Started all 11 games at defensive end … named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which recognizes the most outstanding freshman player at the FCS level … selected FCS All-America by Hero Sports and Stats Perform … voted NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year and First Team All-NEC … garnered the team’s defensive MVP … totaled 51 tackles with 21 for loss and 10 sacks … ranked fourth nationally with 1.9 tackles-for-loss per game … had at least one stop in the backfield in 10-of-11 games … led the NEC in sacks and ranked sixth nationally with 0.91 per game … added two forced fumbles and a pass breakup … racked up season highs with 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks and 14 tackles, plus a forced fumble, at Sacred Heart (11/19) … named National FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman of Week and NEC Defensive Player of the Week following the performance … recorded seven tackles with 2.5 for loss against Central Connecticut (11/5) … collected five tackles-for-loss with 2.5 sacks and a pass breakup at Duquesne (10/29) to win NEC Defensive Player of the Week … posted five stops with two for loss versus Villanova (9/10) … contributed a sack at Toledo (9/1).
2021 (Freshman at LIU): Played in three games … recorded two tackles … had two stops versus Merrimack (10/16) … made collegiate debut at Saint Francis (Pa.) (10/9).
Prior to College: Played three seasons of varsity football at Tottenville on Staten Island … earned all-state and all-city honors … a dean’s list student … also played varsity basketball.
Major: Labor and Employment Relations
2024 First Team All-Sun Belt
2024 Second Team All-America (College Football Network)
2024 First Team Group of Five All-America (HERO Sports)
2024 All-ECAC Defense
2024 VaSID First Team All-State
2023 Buck Buchanan Award Finalist
2023 Second Team FCS All-America (FCS Football Central, Stats Perform)
2023 Third Team FCS All-America (Associated Press)
2023 NEC Defensive Player of Year
2023 First Team All-NEC
2022 Jerry Rice Award Finalist
2022 FCS Freshman All-America (HERO Sports, Stats Perform)
2022 NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year
2022 NEC First Team All-NEC
Career: Played in 50 games with 47 starts on the defensive line … ended collegiate career starting 47 consecutive games ... totaled 222 career tackles with 72.5 for loss and 31 sacks …added nine pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two interceptions (one pick-six) … led the FBS with 1.12 tackles-for-loss per game and fourth with 0.62 sacks per game over the past two seasons ... named first team all-conference three times … led Rutgers with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks in 2025 ... played at James Madison in 2024 … earned All-America and First Team All-Sun Belt honors … ranked fifth nationally in sacks per game (1.0) and sixth in tackles-for-loss per game (1.4) … started career at LIU (2021-23) … earned multiple All-America honors at the FCS level … a finalist for both the Buck Buchanan and Jerry Rice Awards … a two-time First Team All-NEC performer … picked up NEC Defensive Player of the Year and NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year … a four-time winner of NEC Defensive Player of the Week … also picked up FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman of the Week … totaled 44.5 tackles-for-loss and 15.5 sacks for the Sharks.
2025 (Senior): Started all 12 games at defensive end ... totaled 37 tackles ... led the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks ... added two pass breakups ... had 10 games with multiple stops with a high of 10 ... in on a tackle-for-loss in seven contests ... had three stops with one for loss against Penn State (11/29) ... added a tackle-for-loss at No. 1 Ohio State (11/22) ... compiled a career-high 10 tackles with two for loss in win over Maryland (11/8) ... picked up a sack and batted down a pass to lead to an interception at Illinois (11/1) ... in on three stops in win at Purdue (10/25) ... added three tackles versus No. 8 Oregon (10/18) ... recorded four stops with two in the backfield and a sack against Iowa (9/19) ... collected two tackles-for-loss with an assisted sack versus Norfolk State (9/13) ... broke up a pass and assisted on a tackle-for-loss against Miami (Ohio) (9/6) ... started and posted three tackles in Rutgers debut versus Ohio (8/28) ... selected to the Senior Bowl Top 300 (8/20) ... picked to the Shrine Bowl 1000 (7/28) ... named Preseason All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports (third team) (7/2) and Phil Steele (fourth team) (6/19) ... selected to the Lott IMPACT® Trophy watch list (5/28).
2024 (Senior at James Madison): Started all 13 games at defensive end … named Second Team All-America by College Football Network and First Team Group of Five All-America by HERO Sports … voted First Team All-Sun Belt, All-ECAC Defense and VaSID First Team All-State … totaled 52 tackles with 18.5 for loss and 13 sacks … ranked fifth nationally in sacks per game (1.0) and sixth in tackles-for-loss per game (1.4) … had a tackle-for-loss in each of the last 11 games of the season and a sack in eight games with multiple in five contests … added three pass breakups and a pick-six … had a sack in the Boca Raton Bowl win over Western Kentucky (12/18) … picked up a career-high 2.5 sacks and a pass breakup versus Marshall (11/30) … collected a season-high nine tackles with two sacks in games at Appalachian State (11/23) and at Old Dominion (11/16) … notched a career-high three tackles-for-loss with two sacks against Georgia State (11/9) … in on 1.5 sacks with a pass breakup versus Southern Miss (10/26) … broke up a pass and brought down the quarterback at Georgia Southern (10/19) … recorded a 27-yard pick-six and two sacks against Ball State (9/28) … posted two tackles-for-loss with a sack at North Carolina (9/21) … named Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team.
2023 (Junior at LIU): Started all 11 games on the defensive line … named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the FCS Defensive Player of the Year … earned FCS All-America honors by FCS Football Central (second team), Stats Perform (second team) and Associated Press (third team) … selected NEC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-NEC … garnered team’s defensive MVP and Captains Award … totaled 80 tackles with 23.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks … ranked second nationally with 2.1 tackles-for-loss per game and second in the conference with 0.5 sacks per game … posted at least one stop in the backfield in 10-of-11 games … added a forced fumble, an interception and three pass breakups … collected eight tackles with 2.5 for loss at Stonehill (11/18) … broke up a pass and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss against Wagner (11/11) … forced a fumble and had a sack on seven tackles at Saint Francis (Pa.) (11/4) … broke up two passes and notched three tackles-for-loss on 12 stops at Central Connecticut (10/26) to claim NEC Defensive Player of the Week … picked up a season-high 4.5 tackles-for-loss versus Merrimack (10/21) … in on three stops in the backfield at Maine (10/14) … added sacks versus Sacred Heart (10/7) and Duquesne (9/30) … registered two tackles-for-loss at Baylor (9/16) … recorded 13 tackles with 3.5 for loss, a sack and an interception at Ohio (9/2) to win NEC Defensive Player of the Week … named Preseason All-NEC.
2022 (Sophomore at LIU): Started all 11 games at defensive end … named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which recognizes the most outstanding freshman player at the FCS level … selected FCS All-America by Hero Sports and Stats Perform … voted NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year and First Team All-NEC … garnered the team’s defensive MVP … totaled 51 tackles with 21 for loss and 10 sacks … ranked fourth nationally with 1.9 tackles-for-loss per game … had at least one stop in the backfield in 10-of-11 games … led the NEC in sacks and ranked sixth nationally with 0.91 per game … added two forced fumbles and a pass breakup … racked up season highs with 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks and 14 tackles, plus a forced fumble, at Sacred Heart (11/19) … named National FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman of Week and NEC Defensive Player of the Week following the performance … recorded seven tackles with 2.5 for loss against Central Connecticut (11/5) … collected five tackles-for-loss with 2.5 sacks and a pass breakup at Duquesne (10/29) to win NEC Defensive Player of the Week … posted five stops with two for loss versus Villanova (9/10) … contributed a sack at Toledo (9/1).
2021 (Freshman at LIU): Played in three games … recorded two tackles … had two stops versus Merrimack (10/16) … made collegiate debut at Saint Francis (Pa.) (10/9).
Prior to College: Played three seasons of varsity football at Tottenville on Staten Island … earned all-state and all-city honors … a dean’s list student … also played varsity basketball.
Major: Labor and Employment Relations
Defensive Coordinator Travis Johansen Press Conference - 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Head Coach Greg Schiano Press Conference - 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Rutgers Football Defensive Coordinator Press Conference
Thursday, February 12
KEEP CHOPPIN' 2026
Monday, January 26
