High-upside Rutgers linebacker whose promise was derailed by health
Sam Pilof entered Rutgers as a 2024 three-star linebacker with legit pop: at Middleton in 2023, he posted 100 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pick-six, while ESPN and 247Sports both ranked him as Wisconsin’s No. 8 overall prospect. He flashed burst and pass-rush juice, but durability became the story, and he medically retired in July 2025 after not seeing game action in 2024. For a team, the fit is now off the field—he’s more a developmental and leadership asset than a playing-depth answer.
