Shaquan Loyal

Loyal joined the Bengals as a college free agent in May, coming off a four-year career at Rutgers University (2021-24) that culminated in honorable mention All-Big Ten status last season ... He played in 43 career games with 28 starts at safety for the Scarlet Knights and amassed 176 total tackles, eight TFLs, two sacks, 16 PDs, four INTs, one FF, one FR and one blocked punt ... Played in three bowl games for Rutgers ... Named to Academic All-Big Ten Team in each of his final three seasons.

Career transactions:

Signed with Cincinnati as college free agent on 5-12-25.

College highlights:

Spent four seasons (2021-24) at Rutgers ... Played in 43 games with 28 starts.

2024—Honorable mention All-Big Ten ... Started all 13 games ... Named to Academic All-Big Ten Team for third consecutive year ... Ranked second on team with 77 tackles (46 solos) ... Had four TFLs and one sack ... Added nine PDs, two INTs and one FR ... Logged 10 stops and an INT on Oct. 12 vs. Wisconsin ... Recorded career-high 13 tackles and broke up a pass that led to an INT on Nov. 16 at Maryland.

2023—Started all 13 games ... Named to Academic All-Big Ten Team ... Posted 66 tackles (fourth on team), with 2.5 TFLs and one sack ... Had three PDs, one INT, one FF and one blocked punt ... Notched five tackles and an INT on Sept. 9 vs. Temple ... Blocked a punt that was recovered by Rutgers and returned for a TD on Oct. 21 at Indiana.

2022—Played in 11 games with two starts ... Named to Academic All-Big Ten Team ... Totaled 27 tackles, with 1.5 TFLs, and added three PDs and one INT ... Returned first career INT 43 yards for a TD on Sept. 17 at Temple ... Logged season-high six tackles in first career start on Sept. 24 vs. Iowa.

2021—Played in six games as a true freshman ... Registered six tackles and a PD ... Broke up a pass and had three tackles in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 31 vs. Wake Forest.

High school:

Attended West Side High School in Newark, N.J. ... Played cornerback and wide receiver ... In 2020 senior season that was shortened due to COVID-19 pandemic, he logged 29 tackles, two INTs and a FR defensively, and had 18 catches for 393 yards and four TDs offensively ... Also rushed 18 times for 109 yards and a TD, and returned a kickoff for a TD in senior campaign ... Senior season accolades included second-team all-state (USA Today) and first-team all-county (The Star-Ledger) honors ... Averaged 25.1 yards per reception and had eight receiving TDs as a junior in 2019.

Personal:

Hometown is Newark, N.J. ... Majored in labor and employment relations at Rutgers.

Last Updated July 2025