From An Overnight in a Car to Team Captain

Dariel Djabome spent a night in his car to attend a Rutgers camp. Now, he’s on full scholarship. The Quebec native’s relentless belief in himself and determination to overcome the odds have made him a standout both on and off the field.  

In this exclusive interview, we dive into his incredible story, his rise to success, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. 

Andrew McDevitt (Host): A hot start to the season for you guys. You're 2-0, about to get a third straight home game. What's the vibe like around the squad?  

Dariel Djabome (DJ): Everybody is just fired up, you know? It's hard winning in college football, especially FBS. So we're not taking anything for granted and we're going to keep chopping.

You have a very interesting backstory growing up in Quebec. What was it like getting involved in football in Canada, and how do you think that impacted your journey to this point?  

Football in Canada is not much different from the US. I would say the major difference would be how wide the field is. And then it's 12 on 12 instead of 11 on 11. I would say, the speed, too. The speed and the talent in America is much different.  

Growing up in Canada, we don't have much exposure. So, it's hard to get that exposure from coaches, D1 coaches. 

How frustrating was that for you? You're a guy that the raw talent just shows right away, but it seems like your recruiting process took time. 

Yeah, it was really slow. Coming out of high school, I went to CEGEP first, which is another institution in Quebec that we've got to go through after high school because we don't get middle school. Then from there, it was COVID year. I decided to go to prep in Toronto. It was strictly an American schedule, so I was playing like all the other preps: St. Thomas Moore, St. Francis, all of them. But it was a short season because of COVID. 

The summer camp tour comes in, and then I went to a couple camps with some of my former teammates, ended up going to Buffalo. That's where I got my first offer from Maine and Buffalo the same day. And then there was some Rutgers staff over there, Coach Fraser and Coach Hetherman. They were like, "Oh, you're talented, we want to see you at the Rutgers camp." But it's not my decision because I was going from camp to camp with a group of people. And then they kept harassing me. I'm like, "Coach, we really got to go. They really want to see me."  

But I didn't know what Rutgers was, you know, where it was at. So, that same day, I have a UMass camp. That same night, we drive down to Jersey, but I don't have anywhere to sleep. So I slept in the car with three of my teammates and my coach in a small Kia Sport. I remember it was a grey Kia Sport. It was hot. Had to fight it through.  

And then the next day, I had a private camp, did pretty good, performed in front of them, and then he [Coach Schiano] offered me a full scholarship on the spot.  

From there, I was expecting to get back home to Canada that day, but he was like, "You're on an official visit, we're going to fly your brother and your dad." We went to New York City, it was a great time, and the very next day I committed to Rutgers. 

Was this a relief to sign as an under-recruited guy? Like, "Man, finally, I have a home, I don't need to worry about this anymore?" 

Yes, yes, it was. When they told me, it was Big Ten and all that, I was like, "Yeah, this is perfect for me." It was a tough battle, but all blessings. And I'm grateful to be here.  

You still talk to any of those guys that were sleeping in the car?  

Not really. But I still talk to my former coach, though.  

How much faith and betting on yourself does it take to show up and sleep in a car? 

I guess unbelievable belief in yourself, you know? It's not easy. It's not easy knowing that you gotta compete against, you know, the world, the rest of the world to get that scholarship. It's not even 1% that get to play college football, so it takes a lot.  

Good for you, man. Last year, an unbelievable season for you. You were a finalist for the Cornish Trophy, given to the top Canadian football player in the country. What would it mean to you to be the first defensive player to get that award?  

Last year I wasn't aware of that award. But it would be amazing, not only for me, but for my family, for my friends that supported me back home and for my community.  

You're obviously in New Jersey. How does the kid from Quebec make a home in Piscataway, New Jersey?  

I mean, Jersey's fine. There's cool people out here. It's not much different from home because I'm still on the east coast, so it wasn't too big of an adjustment. 

You guys have a ton of Canadian players on the roster. What is it like to have people come from a similar background?  

It's amazing to see, others that basically did the same thing that I had to. We went through the same stuff. It's just a feeling of reassurance. Like okay, there's other people that were fighting for the same [thing]. I wasn't alone and all that, so it's always a good feeling.  

Coach Schiano. What does he mean to Rutgers football, and how much fun is it to play for a guy that you know has the same intensity as most of the guys on the field?  

I believe that Coach Schiano does it the best at Rutgers University. He knows how to win. His biggest strength is holding everybody accountable, and I'm grateful for that. I'm just grateful to have a coach like that, that keeps pushing his players, his coaches, his staff every day.  

What's your message to the young kid that's up there in Canada, grinding, working hard, and can't get through in the recruiting circuit, and is just looking for his one opportunity, just like you were a handful of years ago?  

You've got to bet on yourself. That's the first step. Believe in yourself. Because if you don't, there's nobody else that's going to do it for you.  

Alright, I've got some rapid fire for you. Who was your favorite athlete when you were growing up?  

De'Athony Thomas.  

Sideline to sideline. Could you run him down?  

He's pretty quick, but for sure.  

Who are you listening to pregame? 

I would say Rod Wave.  

What's your favorite post-game meal?  

I would say African food, but we don't get that here. So steak. Rice and steak. 

What's the favorite African food you get back home?  

I love all my mom's food. 

Let's say something goes wrong at your apartment. What teammate are you most likely to call to try and help you fix it? 

Jett Elad. He's lived a little bit. I know if I need anything he's always going to show up. 

Now, that’s a good teammate. What's your favorite Big Ten away stadium that you've played in?  

Well, I would say they're all difficult, you know. All good atmosphere. Yeah, that's a hard one. I would say they're all pretty much the same.  

What is one thing that most people don't know about DJ?  

I speak multiple languages.  

What's your favorite place to go on campus?  

25 burger, it's a nice spot. 

Is there anyone on the team that could take you one-on-one? 

Nuh-uh. They wouldn't even try me. 

Dariel Djabome’s journey is a testament to resilience, self-belief, and the power of betting on yourself. From humble beginnings in Quebec to leading Rutgers’ defense, his story inspires anyone chasing a dream against the odds. We'll have our eyes on him this season. 

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