Photo by: Ariel Fox
Five Scarlet Knights Named Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten
Jun 19 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Five from Rutgers football were recognized as Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten selections in the recently released listing. LB Dariel Djabome (second team), OL Kwabena Asamoah (fourth team), RB CJ Campbell Jr. (fourth team), WR DT Sheffield (fourth team) and DL Eric O'Neill (fourth team) all represent the Scarlet Knights.
DARIEL DJABOME
An All-Big Ten Third Team selection in his first season as a starter, Djabome ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 8.1 tackles per game in 2024. He totaled 105 stops overall, the first Scarlet Knight to reach triple figures since Olakunle Fatukasi in 2020, the fifth-most in a season under head coach Greg Schiano and second-most among returning Big Ten players. Djabome paced Rutgers in tackles in 7-of-13 games and had five outings with 10 or more. That included a high of 14 stops in the wins over Howard and Minnesota. The Longueuil, Québec, Canada, native owned a team-high 7.5 tackles-for-loss, posting sacks versus Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan State and Kansas State. He added forced fumbles versus Virginia Tech and Wisconsin. Djabome was a finalist for the Cornish Trophy, which honors the top Canadian in college football, and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
KWABENA ASAMOAH
Voted honorable mention All-Big Ten last season, Asamoah enters 2025 with 28 collegiate games of experience and 21 starts. That included starting all 13 games at right guard last year in helping the Scarlet Knights to 28.9 points per game, the best mark since 2008, and 4,975 yards of total offense, fourth-most in a season in program history. The team rushed for 175.3 yards per game to place third in the Big Ten for the program's best placement since joining the league. In addition, the offense permitted two or less sacks in 9-of-13 games with none allowed five times and converted on third down at a clip of 44 percent, the team's best mark in the Big Ten era. Asamoah was part of an offensive line that earned a spot on the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll.
CJ CAMPBELL JR.
Campbell is in his first season with the Scarlet Knights. He was named Third Team All-American Athletic Conference at FAU last year, rushing for 844 yards and 11 touchdowns. The running back added 40 receptions for 466 yards on the way to a team-high 1,310 all-purpose yards to rank fifth in the league with 109.2 per game. In 28 career games, Campbell has totaled 1,025 rushing yards, 476 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns.
DT SHEFFIELD
Selected honorable mention All-America and First Team All-American Athletic Conference at North Texas in 2024, Sheffield totaled 66 receptions for 822 yards and 11 touchdowns. The touchdowns number led the conference and ranked seventh nationally, as the wide receiver posted four games with at least 100 receiving yards. Sheffield also contributed as a returner in totaling 20 plays gaining at least 25 yards (11 receptions, five kick returns, three punt returns, one rush). For his career, he has combined for 190 receptions for 2,670 yards and 35 receiving touchdowns during his career at the FBS and junior college levels over 41 games.
ERIC O'NEILL
O'Neill is set for his first season with the Scarlet Knights after appearing previously in 38 career games with 35 starts. He has totaled 185 tackles with 63 for loss and 28.5 sacks during so far in earning first team all-conference honors each of the past three seasons. Last year, O'Neill earned All-America laurels at James Madison, producing 52 tackles with 18.5 for loss and 13 sacks in 13 starts. Recently named to the Lott IMPACT® Trophy watch list, he finished fifth nationally in sacks per game (1.0) and sixth in tackles-for-loss per game (1.4) in 2024.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a second straight winning season, posting a program-high points per game in the Big Ten era. The 2025 campaign opens with four consecutive games at SHI Stadium for the first time since hosting five in a row to open 2007.
Season tickets are on sale. To purchase, visit ScarletKnights.com/tickets or call 866-445-GORU (4678). Benefits of being a season ticket holder include an exclusive opportunity to purchase season parking on Busch campus within walking distance to SHI Stadium, special pricing, a payment plan option, early access to season tickets and other Rutgers ticket offers throughout the year. Purchasing season tickets directly supports student-athletes. Visit Rutgers Football Ticket Central for more information.
Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
DARIEL DJABOME
An All-Big Ten Third Team selection in his first season as a starter, Djabome ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 8.1 tackles per game in 2024. He totaled 105 stops overall, the first Scarlet Knight to reach triple figures since Olakunle Fatukasi in 2020, the fifth-most in a season under head coach Greg Schiano and second-most among returning Big Ten players. Djabome paced Rutgers in tackles in 7-of-13 games and had five outings with 10 or more. That included a high of 14 stops in the wins over Howard and Minnesota. The Longueuil, Québec, Canada, native owned a team-high 7.5 tackles-for-loss, posting sacks versus Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan State and Kansas State. He added forced fumbles versus Virginia Tech and Wisconsin. Djabome was a finalist for the Cornish Trophy, which honors the top Canadian in college football, and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
KWABENA ASAMOAH
Voted honorable mention All-Big Ten last season, Asamoah enters 2025 with 28 collegiate games of experience and 21 starts. That included starting all 13 games at right guard last year in helping the Scarlet Knights to 28.9 points per game, the best mark since 2008, and 4,975 yards of total offense, fourth-most in a season in program history. The team rushed for 175.3 yards per game to place third in the Big Ten for the program's best placement since joining the league. In addition, the offense permitted two or less sacks in 9-of-13 games with none allowed five times and converted on third down at a clip of 44 percent, the team's best mark in the Big Ten era. Asamoah was part of an offensive line that earned a spot on the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll.
CJ CAMPBELL JR.
Campbell is in his first season with the Scarlet Knights. He was named Third Team All-American Athletic Conference at FAU last year, rushing for 844 yards and 11 touchdowns. The running back added 40 receptions for 466 yards on the way to a team-high 1,310 all-purpose yards to rank fifth in the league with 109.2 per game. In 28 career games, Campbell has totaled 1,025 rushing yards, 476 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns.
DT SHEFFIELD
Selected honorable mention All-America and First Team All-American Athletic Conference at North Texas in 2024, Sheffield totaled 66 receptions for 822 yards and 11 touchdowns. The touchdowns number led the conference and ranked seventh nationally, as the wide receiver posted four games with at least 100 receiving yards. Sheffield also contributed as a returner in totaling 20 plays gaining at least 25 yards (11 receptions, five kick returns, three punt returns, one rush). For his career, he has combined for 190 receptions for 2,670 yards and 35 receiving touchdowns during his career at the FBS and junior college levels over 41 games.
ERIC O'NEILL
O'Neill is set for his first season with the Scarlet Knights after appearing previously in 38 career games with 35 starts. He has totaled 185 tackles with 63 for loss and 28.5 sacks during so far in earning first team all-conference honors each of the past three seasons. Last year, O'Neill earned All-America laurels at James Madison, producing 52 tackles with 18.5 for loss and 13 sacks in 13 starts. Recently named to the Lott IMPACT® Trophy watch list, he finished fifth nationally in sacks per game (1.0) and sixth in tackles-for-loss per game (1.4) in 2024.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a second straight winning season, posting a program-high points per game in the Big Ten era. The 2025 campaign opens with four consecutive games at SHI Stadium for the first time since hosting five in a row to open 2007.
Season tickets are on sale. To purchase, visit ScarletKnights.com/tickets or call 866-445-GORU (4678). Benefits of being a season ticket holder include an exclusive opportunity to purchase season parking on Busch campus within walking distance to SHI Stadium, special pricing, a payment plan option, early access to season tickets and other Rutgers ticket offers throughout the year. Purchasing season tickets directly supports student-athletes. Visit Rutgers Football Ticket Central for more information.
Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
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