Rutgers Football linebacker Dariel Djabome growing as a leader
Rutgers Football’s defense for the upcoming 2025 season is in a spot of unfamiliarity.
The Scarlet Knights – depending on how the depth chart shakes out – could send out as many as nine new starters after seeing several depart for graduation and the NFL Draft.
One of the key stalwarts remaining, however, is linebacker Dariel Djabome. The senior saw his role steadily increase with injuries to Tyreem Powell, and took one of the biggest jumps in production following the bye week, personifying the team’s defensive turnaround in November.
Now? Djabome is entrenched as Rutgers’ starting linebacker – standing alongside Moses Walker – and took his biggest jump off the field.
“Obviously, I had to take that step as a leader,” he told reporters following training camp. “I do whatever is best for the team. Now I’m more comfortable as a leader, and now we’re just ready to take the field.”
With a boost in production, the Québec native saw more attention and accolades come his way, including a 2024 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and a trip to Las Vegas for the Big Ten Media Days. Still, with a week to go until the season opener against Ohio, Djabome – and the team’s – focus is clear.
“I’m just trying to focus on what’s important. Now it’s the Ohio season. I’m trying to keep the noise away from me,” he said.
Djabome and Walker are not the only faces in the room getting attention, however. Head coach Greg Schiano and staff won multiple recruiting battles in the 2025 class, including highly-regarded prospects DJ McClary and Kamar Archie. Factor in those two, as well as some of the other burgeoning young talent in the room, and the linebacker group has a future stocked with potential after the senior starting duo graduate.
“We have a young room,” Djabome said. “The linebacker room is talented. They learn fast. I believe when they get the opportunity, they’re going to make the most out of it. As far as Moses and I, we’re trying to make sure the room is in sync, and that they live to the standard.”
With a story and background like Djabome’s – piling into a car from Buffalo to Piscataway with his high school coach and teammates to perform at a camp – he has plenty of learning experience and advice to give to those younger teammates on defense.
“They just got to keep working,” he added. “Because you never know when your opportunity is going to present. Once you get it, you just got to make the most out of it.
With both new freshmen and incoming transfers, it is up to the veteran leaders like Djabome to help bring the unit together.
“We have come a long way,” he said. “I feel like this defense, and this team, we have bonded so much. I feel like that’s going to be the difference this year: The bond that we’ve created during training camp, it’s only us. It’s us against the world. We live together. We stay in the same room. There’s three bathrooms for 120 players. We have to bond and stick together. I feel like that’s going to be the difference this year.”
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One of those veterans returning is junior Abram Wright, who suffered a season-ending injury in the November win over Minnesota.
Wright was beginning to hit his stride in development before the injury, but he has attacked his rehab relentlessly, according to Schiano. Djabome called him a fun and explosive linebacker while also noting, “he’s going to be a great asset on this defense.”
While much has changed on defense, one of the many philosophical constants under Schiano remains the need for a deep and versatile defensive line room. As a linebacker, the versatility only helps Djabome.
“Having a defensive line that can actually do their job and do it at a high level is just going to make my job easier,” he said. “I’m grateful for that.”
With the head-spinning defensive changes, Rutgers’ offensive unit has gotten its fair share of attention and praise as one to lean on. In practice and training camp, though, the two units battle daily, and Djabome has high hopes for the team’s offense.
“The offense was great last year,” he said. “We had a couple games where we scored over 40 points. Scoring 40 points in the Big Ten is huge. They have just been working and getting better and better. The defense, we have a great opportunity. During the training camp, we have been playing against a great offense. It’s just an advantage for us.”
For Rutgers’ senior defensive leader, the unit underwent plenty of transition – with the aforementioned nine new potential starters, as well as two new co-coordinators and four new position coaches – but Djabome’s progression into a defensive leader comes at a time the Scarlet Knights need him most.
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