Four Named All-ECAC

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – LB Dariel Djabome, DB Shaquan Loyal, RB Kyle Monangai and OL Hollin Pierce all represent Rutgers football as All-ECAC selections. The team compromises the top players in the region.

The Scarlet Knights are set to travel to Phoenix to take on Kansas State in the 2024 Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. local) on Thursday, Dec. 26 on ESPN.

DARIEL DJABOME
In his first season as a starter, Djabome is fifth in the Big Ten with 8.5 tackles per game. He has totaled 102 stops overall, the first Scarlet Knight to reach triple figures since Olakunle Fatukasi in 2020. Djabome paced Rutgers in tackles in 7-of-12 games and has five outings with 10 or more. That includes a high of 14 stops in the wins over Howard and Minnesota. The Longueuil, Québec, Canada, native also owns a team-high seven tackles-for-loss so far, posting sacks versus Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan State. He added forced fumbles versus Virginia Tech and Wisconsin. Djabome is a finalist for the Cornish Trophy, which honors the top Canadian in college football, and was voted Third Team All-Big Ten by the media.

SHAQUAN LOYAL
Loyal has started all 12 games at defensive back in various roles, totaling 70 tackles to rank second on the team. The Newark, New Jersey, native had a career-high 13 stops at Maryland, while posting 10 versus Wisconsin and Illinois. He also brought in interceptions versus Akron and Wisconsin, adding seven pass breakups. Loyal contributed a fumble recovery that helped lead to the go-ahead touchdown in the win over Minnesota. He was selected honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media.

KYLE MONANGAI
A First Team All-Big Ten honoree, Monangai has posted six games with over 100 rushing yards in 11 outings on the way to 1,279 yards in 2024, second in the league and the most by a Rutgers player in a season since joining the Big Ten. The Roseland, New Jersey, native had a conference-high 256 carries during the regular season, which was 16 more than any other player despite missing a game. He recorded a touchdown in nine different games in posting 13 rushing and one receiving score to rank second in the league with 14 trips to the end zone. Adding 75 receiving yards, the running back is also second in the Big Ten with 123.1 all-purpose yards per game. For his career, Monangai is second in the program record book with 3,221 rushing yards, third with 14 100-yard rushing games and seventh with 27 rushing touchdowns in 52 games played (35 starts). The team captain has zero fumbles (669 carries, 38 receptions) and owns two of the top six rushing seasons by yards in Rutgers history. He earns All-ECAC distinction for the second straight year.

HOLLIN PIERCE
Pierce started all 12 games at left tackle this season, has played in each of the last 50 games since 2021 and made 49 consecutive starts. The Trenton, New Jersey, native helped the Scarlet Knights to the third-best rushing attack (176.3 yards per game) in the Big Ten, on track for its best placement since joining the league, while the offense permitted two or less sacks in 9-of-12 games with none permitted five times. Pierce is rated as the No. 7 tackle nationally by Pro Football Focus and was previously a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy as one of the top players who started as a walk-on. He was voted Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media.

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Schedule

Players Mentioned

Dariel Djabome

Shaquan Loyal

Kyle Monangai

Hollin Pierce

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