PISCATAWAY – It’s been a little more than two years since Dariel Djabome slept in a car the night before going through workouts in front of Rutgers football coaches with the hope of earning an offer.

Now the Quebec native is on the cusp of what could be a big season, his third in a Scarlet Knights uniform.

“I feel really prepared for this season,” Djabome said Tuesday.

That’s good news for Rutgers’ defense as the linebacker could be stepping into an expanded role following the news that Mohamed Toure is out for the season with a torn ACL, a brutal blow for the Scarlet Knights with the opener against Howard at SHI Stadium (6 p.m., Big Ten Network) a week away.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Djabome has shown steady improvement each season and made the most of his opportunities. Last season he played in 10 games and registered 15 tackles, 10 of which came against Maryland and two more in the Pinstripe Bowl win over Miami.

“I think he’s made a big move,” coach Greg Schiano said. “Defensively as a linebacker he’s done great, I think he’s had a really, really fine camp. And special teams he’s been a real standout on all our special teams. You’re talking about a valuable member of our team. He’s big, he’s strong and he’s fast. He’s a violent hitter. Those are pretty good traits for a linebacker to have.”

It’s unclear what role Djabome will be in this season.

Not only is Toure out, but Tyreem Powell’s status for the opener is also uncertain as he recovers from the Achilles tear he suffered in the winter.

Schiano said Tuesday that he wasn’t going to rush Powell back if he’s not ready.

Regardless, Rutgers has some depth at linebacker. It’s going to need it.

Dariel Djabome a key piece of Rutgers football's linebacker depth

Djabome is a big part of it.

“This is my third year so I really feel like I’ve gained so much knowledge from all these past years and then from the veterans like Tyreem, Mo and the linebacker group as a whole,” Djabome said. “I’m ready for this season. Whatever comes to me I feel like I’m ready to attack it.”

Still, Djabome said he was disappointed when he heard the news that Toure would be out for the season.

“It hurt me personally because my first year as a freshman, Mo was hurt that year and he was such a mentor for me,” Djabome said. “He just always pushed me. He’d say, ‘I can see myself in you’ and all that, just encouraging me. Especially last year he was my captain, this year, too, he’s going to be my captain. He’s just pushing everybody, especially the linebacker group as a whole. He’s just always pushing us, making sure we’re good, making sure we know our plays and all that. It was hard to hear about that.”

Now Djabome has a chance to step up.

Adjusting to Big Ten competition and the speed of college football in general isn’t easy for any linebacker, a position where eye discipline is paramount.

Djabome said that’s an area where he feels much more comfortable – the more experience he’s gained, the more the game has slowed down.

“The game speed goes fast,” Djabome said. “Eye discipline is the main thing for a linebacker. But I feel like with reps and some getting some experience from the game, practice, practicing every day, the game is going to slow down for you. It’s going to be easier. I feel like that’s the case for me. The game has slowed down.”

Dariel Djabome's journey to Rutgers football

Djabome had a unique road to Rutgers.

Former Scarlet Knights linebackers coach Corey Hetherman initially saw Djabome at a camp at Buffalo in June 2022.

“The Rutgers staff was there, they were really impressed by my performance,” Djabome said. “They said ‘We want to see you at our camp.’ I was on a camp tour with a lot of my teammates so I couldn’t go by myself. I was like, ‘No, I can’t, I’m sorry.”

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Rutgers continued to express interest. Later after a camp at UMass, Djabome, who played high school football at Canada Prep Academy in Ontario, Djabome and his coach took the Scarlet Knights up on their invitation and headed to Piscataway.

Unable to get a hotel room, they wound up sleeping in the car the night before the camp at Rutgers.

Not exactly the way ideal way to prepare.

“My entire body was just sore,” Djabome said.

Djabome still impressed and ultimately earned an offer from Schiano.

Since then he’s gone from an under-the-radar recruit to a key piece of the Scarlet Knights’ defense – this season especially.

Whatever happens, Djabome is confident he’s ready.

“I’m really excited,” Djabome said. “I’ve prepared for this. I know what I could do now, I just have to show it to the outside world.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football: LB Dariel Djabome ready to step up for Mohamed Toure