Tabor’s Hugo Djeumeni running to glory

MARION – Hugo Djeumeni dearly misses his friends in his hometown of Ottawa, Canada, and his mom Nicole’s African-inspired home cooking as a senior at Tabor Academy.

What the electric 6-foot, 200-pound running back does not miss much is the end zone.

Djeumeni, who sports a 3.8 GPA and recently committed to Yale to play football, has compiled out of this world numbers on the field after being named the ISL co-MVP last season.

Djeumeni has 1,236 yards on 130 carries and 18 touchdowns. That’s a season or even a career for most high school players, but Djeumeni has that in only five games in 2024. Overall, Djeumeni has accumulated 3,262 yards on the ground in a total of only 14 games for an average of 233 yards rushing per game.

Two signature games were last year against Brooks – as he ran roughshod for 427 yards and seven touchdowns – and this season’s battle with St. Sebastian’s when Djeumeni had 51 carries for 406 yards and five TDs in a come-from-behind 40-34 victory.

Djeumeni is fully committed to the game of football and holds his teammates to the same benchmarks he sets for himself.

“I hold us all accountable at the standard we are at, so if we dip below to what we are supposed to be, I’ll tell everyone to pick it back up,” said Djeumeni, who was also NEPSAC Player of the Year in 2023. “One of the major points of playing this game is that you have to think that you are the best. Operate the best, practice the best, and everything as the best.”

Djeumeni is flanked by nationally ranked Div. 1 hopeful quarterback Peter Bourque in the Seawolves backfield.

“(Bourque) compliments me well and we’ve had a great harmony together. We can run the ball well, we can pass the ball well, so if the pass game opens up – the run game opens up,” said Djeumeni.

The turnaround for Tabor Academy as a program can be directly correlated with the arrival of Djeumeni and his head coach, Jeff Moore. Moore is in his second season after a stint as the tight end coach at UMass and points directly to the work of Djeumeni and the backfield for the success the past two seasons.

“Anytime you can vertically push the ball down the field, it definitely helps with defensive box structure and running the football. Hugo has been a great leader for us and is one of our hardest workers, is in the best shape, and is a great leader by example,” said Moore. “His mental toughness, physicality, and care of others are so vital to our program from a captain.”

Djeumeni is one of four captains, along with Folu Shobowale, Liam Hubacz and Will Smith, and the goal is to win the ISL-7 Championship this season. The Seawolves last won an NEPSAC Bowl game back in 2016, but Tabor has never captured the Independent School League title after joining the league in 2017.

“Last year we turned things around going 7-2 but this year, what is really different, is the coaching and us being hungry, and the goal and expectation is to go undefeated,” said Djeumeni. “But you must take it one week at a time. The goal isn’t to go 9-0, it’s to go 1-0, 1-0, 1-0 each week.”

Djeumeni believes his current and future success starts with his leadership and believing in his decision-making skills. This includes every choice he makes on and off the football field – including his ultimate determination to leave his home country to try his luck at football in the United States.

Everything is working for Djeumeni.

“It’s not always about making the right decisions, it’s about making your decision right,” said Djeumeni. If you make a mistake on the field, like if I hit the wrong hole and I go in and score – who is going to say I was wrong,” said Djeumeni. “I made my decision right. No matter what in life, you just have to go at everything 100 percent.”

HUGO DJEUMENI PROFILE BOX:

NAME: Hugo Djeumeni

SCHOOL:  Tabor Academy

AGE: 17 (18 on Nov. 3)

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6’0’’; 200 lbs.

POSITION: Running Back

NICKNAME: “Franchise”

FAMILY: Mother Nicole; Brother, Vioct; Sisters, Mégane, Oceané, Marie Therese;

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: NEPSAC Player of the Year; ISL Co-MVP

FAVORITE PERSONAL MOMENT IN SPORTS: Oct. 13 40-34 win vs. St. Sebastians. “Just being on the field when Dameer (Phifer) caught that ball is by far my best moment on the field especially as a teammate.”

FAVORITE COURSE IN SCHOOL: Statistics

LEAST FAVORITE COURSE IN SCHOOL: Digital Music

FAVORITE PIGOUT FOOD: Santoro’s Pizza and More (Marion)

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Breaking Bad

FAVORITE MOVIE La Haine (French movie; 1995)

FAVORITE MUSICIAN: Kanye West

FAVORITE VIDEO GAME: Brawlhalla (like Super Smash Bros.)

FAVORITE SMARTPHONE APP: Instagram

FAVORITE TWITTER ACCOUNT TO FOLLOW: Tabor Academy Football – @TASeawolfFB

FAVORITE PRO TEAM: Cameroon National Football Team

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Hugo Djeumeni, myself!

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A GAME: On game day, we wake up and have a walkthrough and rundown of what we worked on for the week. Then breakfast as a team and that has been essential to get ready mentally. Then – we are on the bus and I’m not a big music person, but I’ll find some or read a book. My main thing is I have to be calm before a game. Violence on the field can come later.

IF YOU COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE FOR A DAY, WHO WOULD IT BE: I wouldn’t want to be anyone else really but if I had dinner, I’m taking Folu (Shobowale) because he is mad funny. Then I’m taking Dameer because if you take Folu – you have to take Dameer as they are always funny but most importantly – I’m taking Coach Moore.