Six Scarlet Knights to Compete in All-Star Bowls
Jan 09 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Six from Rutgers football are set to compete in upcoming all-star bowls to showcase in front of professional personnel. LB Dariel Djabome, DB Jett Elad, QB Athan Kaliakmanis, DB Cam Miller and DL Eric O'Neill will participate in the Hula Bowl, while WR DT Sheffield heads to the American Bowl.
RU saw three draft picks plus six signings in 2025, making it 113 Scarlet Knights to join the NFL after playing for head coach Greg Schiano.
Hula Bowl
Saturday, Jan. 10 (DeLand, Fla.), Noon
CBS Sports Network
American Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 22 (Lakeland, Fla.), 8 p.m.
NFL Network
DARIEL DJABOME
Djabome posted 71 tackles with 4.5 for loss and two sacks this past season, adding two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Starting all 12 games, the team captain had a season-high 10 stops at No. 1 Ohio State, while contributing eight tackles in games versus Iowa and Minnesota. The Canadian forced two fumbles at Washington and had a sack for a loss of 11 yards against Penn State. Djabome, a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy which honors the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation, earned recognized in the All-Big Ten voting for the second straight year and finishes his collegiate career with 192 tackles. He was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
JETT ELAD
Starting all 12 games in the secondary, Elad led the Scarlet Knights with 80 tackles and two interceptions this past season, adding three tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and blocked punt. The Canadian had at least five tackles in nine games with a season-high 11 tackles versus Penn State, bringing in interceptions versus Maryland and Norfolk State. He recovered a fumble late at Purdue to help set up the winning field goal, while blocking a punt that was returned for a score versus Norfolk State. The performance earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and finalist status for the Cornish Trophy.
ATHAN KALIAKMANIS
A two-time team captain, Kaliakmanis ranks seventh in program history with 5,820 career passing yards, 442 completions and 38 touchdown passes in starting the past 25 games for RU. That included throwing for 3,124 yards in 2025, fourth most in a season in program history and the first Scarlet Knight to reach 3,000 yards in the Big Ten era and first since Mike Teel in 2008. The 260.3 passing yards per game placed second in the league, while finishing fifth with 19.1 completions per game. He posted five games with over 300 passing yards, six contests with multiple touchdown passes and 3,098 yards of total offense, tied for second most in a season in the school record book. Overall, Kaliakmanis collected 8,804 career passing yards, 658 completions and 55 touchdown passes in 48 collegiate games, adding Academic All-Big Ten status.
CAM MILLER
Miller started all 12 games at cornerback this past season for the Scarlet Knights, leading the team with seven passes defended (six breakups, one interception). That included two pass breakups in the win over Maryland, a pick versus Oregon and a sack against Iowa. The Florida native posted a career-high nine tackles versus Penn State to finish the year with 47 stops altogether. He added a touchdown on a blocked punt recovery against Ohio. In 52 career games, Miller collected 103 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 16 passes defended (14 breakups, two interceptions).
ERIC O'NEILL
In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, O'Neill led the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss, contributing 2.5 sacks. The defensive lineman started all 12 games, posting at least one stop in the backfield in each of the last four outings. That included two tackles-for-loss on a career-high 10 tackles in the win over Maryland. He also batted down a pass to lead to an interception at Illinois. Overall, O'Neill, a member of the Lott Impact Trophy watch list, collected 31 career sacks in 50 collegiate games.
DT SHEFFIELD
Sheffield totaled 44 receptions for 577 yards and five touchdowns this past season for the Scarlet Knights. That included four catches of at least 40 yards and multiple receptions in all 12 games. He reached the end zone versus Penn State, Maryland, Minnesota, Miami (Ohio) and Ohio, bringing in a season-high six receptions at Washington. Overall, Sheffield, a member of the watch lists for the Biletnikoff Award and Hornung Award, collected 115 career catches for 1,486 yards and 16 touchdowns at the FBS level.
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.
RU saw three draft picks plus six signings in 2025, making it 113 Scarlet Knights to join the NFL after playing for head coach Greg Schiano.
Hula Bowl
Saturday, Jan. 10 (DeLand, Fla.), Noon
CBS Sports Network
American Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 22 (Lakeland, Fla.), 8 p.m.
NFL Network
DARIEL DJABOME
Djabome posted 71 tackles with 4.5 for loss and two sacks this past season, adding two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Starting all 12 games, the team captain had a season-high 10 stops at No. 1 Ohio State, while contributing eight tackles in games versus Iowa and Minnesota. The Canadian forced two fumbles at Washington and had a sack for a loss of 11 yards against Penn State. Djabome, a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy which honors the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation, earned recognized in the All-Big Ten voting for the second straight year and finishes his collegiate career with 192 tackles. He was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
JETT ELAD
Starting all 12 games in the secondary, Elad led the Scarlet Knights with 80 tackles and two interceptions this past season, adding three tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and blocked punt. The Canadian had at least five tackles in nine games with a season-high 11 tackles versus Penn State, bringing in interceptions versus Maryland and Norfolk State. He recovered a fumble late at Purdue to help set up the winning field goal, while blocking a punt that was returned for a score versus Norfolk State. The performance earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and finalist status for the Cornish Trophy.
ATHAN KALIAKMANIS
A two-time team captain, Kaliakmanis ranks seventh in program history with 5,820 career passing yards, 442 completions and 38 touchdown passes in starting the past 25 games for RU. That included throwing for 3,124 yards in 2025, fourth most in a season in program history and the first Scarlet Knight to reach 3,000 yards in the Big Ten era and first since Mike Teel in 2008. The 260.3 passing yards per game placed second in the league, while finishing fifth with 19.1 completions per game. He posted five games with over 300 passing yards, six contests with multiple touchdown passes and 3,098 yards of total offense, tied for second most in a season in the school record book. Overall, Kaliakmanis collected 8,804 career passing yards, 658 completions and 55 touchdown passes in 48 collegiate games, adding Academic All-Big Ten status.
CAM MILLER
Miller started all 12 games at cornerback this past season for the Scarlet Knights, leading the team with seven passes defended (six breakups, one interception). That included two pass breakups in the win over Maryland, a pick versus Oregon and a sack against Iowa. The Florida native posted a career-high nine tackles versus Penn State to finish the year with 47 stops altogether. He added a touchdown on a blocked punt recovery against Ohio. In 52 career games, Miller collected 103 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 16 passes defended (14 breakups, two interceptions).
ERIC O'NEILL
In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, O'Neill led the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss, contributing 2.5 sacks. The defensive lineman started all 12 games, posting at least one stop in the backfield in each of the last four outings. That included two tackles-for-loss on a career-high 10 tackles in the win over Maryland. He also batted down a pass to lead to an interception at Illinois. Overall, O'Neill, a member of the Lott Impact Trophy watch list, collected 31 career sacks in 50 collegiate games.
DT SHEFFIELD
Sheffield totaled 44 receptions for 577 yards and five touchdowns this past season for the Scarlet Knights. That included four catches of at least 40 yards and multiple receptions in all 12 games. He reached the end zone versus Penn State, Maryland, Minnesota, Miami (Ohio) and Ohio, bringing in a season-high six receptions at Washington. Overall, Sheffield, a member of the watch lists for the Biletnikoff Award and Hornung Award, collected 115 career catches for 1,486 yards and 16 touchdowns at the FBS level.
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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