#21

Al-Shadee Salaam

DB · Rutgers · Sr. · #21

Returning to Rutgers for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Al-Shadee Salaam

DB · Rutgers · Sr · #21

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#881 national
CFB
College
Rutgers
2022–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025

1 coach
2022
2023
2024
2025

Played his entire career under Greg Schiano.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2022Rutgers4-8HC: Greg Schiano · Run-leaning
2023Rutgers7-6HC: Greg Schiano · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2024Rutgers7-6HC: Greg Schiano · Run-leaning, fast tempo
2025Rutgers5-7HC: Greg Schiano · Run-leaning

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Rutgers960.00.01----
2024Rutgers16110.00.02----
2023Rutgers540.00.0------
2022Rutgers--------------
Career30210.00.03----

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2025

W 60–10

vs Norfolk State

1 TOT  ·  1 SOLO  ·  1 PD

Dominant 50-point win at home against Norfolk State.

How he plays

Play style

Erases the deep middle of the field.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Rutgers

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive back · Rutgers

Returning around him

  • 67% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • 1 Rutgers player drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: +0 net (15 in / 15 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Rutgers · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #53 · 2026 recruiting class #36

DNA match

Player DNA

Centerfielder

Single-high range who erases the deep middle of the field.

S

His 2024 production profile sits closest to Stan Cross’s 2021 season.

Stan Cross

91%match

UConn · 2021

#2

Khian'Dre Harris

Old Dominion · 2024

88%
#3

Stan Cross

UConn · 2023

86%
#4

Al-Ma'Hi Ali

Charlotte · 2023

85%
#5

Khian'Dre Harris

Old Dominion · 2023

84%

Matches Stan on

Tackle volume
TFL rate
Weight
Based on 6 features · 3 seasons in pool · Opponent-adjusted weighted z-score distance

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Stan Cross's junior season at UConn (2023).

Stan Cross

92%match

UConn · 2023

#2

D'Jordan Strong

Coastal Carolina · 2022

All-Sun Belt
88%
#3

Greedy Vance

Florida State · 2022

85%
#4

Donavon Platt

Army · 2024

85%
#5

Joshua Harris Sr.

NC State · 2022

85%

Matches Stan on

Class year
Height
Weight
Opponent-adjusted stats · junior cohort across all seasons

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #13237

Final rank
#13237
Avg #13603.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #13237 this season.