Ronald Darby

Ronald Darby (born January 2, 1994) is an American football cornerback for the Washington Football Team of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles. Darby is also a sprinter, having won medals at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics.

Ronald Darby
Darby with the Buffalo Bills in 2015
No. 23 – Washington Football Team
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1994-01-02) January 2, 1994
Oxon Hill, Maryland
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Potomac (Oxon Hill, Maryland)
College:Florida State
NFL Draft:2015 / Round: 2 / Pick: 50
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2019
Total tackles:251
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:0
Pass deflections:65
Interceptions:8
Player stats at NFL.com

High school career

Darby attended Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland, where he played as many as six different positions on offense, defense, and special teams. Excelling on defense, Darby was part of a Wolverines' secondary that also included Tavon Young, and which registered four shutouts and allowed just 82 points in 2011. Darby was a USA Today and Sports Illustrated High School All-American in 2011, and participated in the 2012 Under Armour All-American Game. as a junior, rushed for 1,329 yards and 23 touchdowns, while tallying three interceptions and eight pass breakups on defense.

Regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Darby, running a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, was ranked as the No. 2 cornerback prospect in his class, behind only Tracy Howard.[1] He chose Florida State over Notre Dame, Maryland, Clemson and Auburn.

Ronald Darby
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
World Youth Championships
2011 LilleMedley relay
2011 Lille200 m

Darby won a bronze medal in the 200 m at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics.[2][3] He also finished fourth in the 100 m.[4] Along with Aldrich Bailey, Najee Glass, and Arman Hall, he ran a World Youth Best in the meet's medley relay.

His personal bests are 6.77 seconds in the 60 meters, 10.41 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.05 seconds in the 200 meters.[5]

College career

As a true freshman at Florida State, Darby was part of a Florida State defense that led the ACC in points allowed (15.1 per game) and yards allowed (253.8). They ranked seventh in the FBS. Additionally, Darby was a brother of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity while attending Florida State University.[6] Although exclusively a back-up to Xavier Rhodes and Nick Waisome, Darby registered 18 tackles and broke up seven passes in 2012, which earned him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.[7] Darby was also named Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.[8] In the 2013 Orange Bowl vs. Northern Illinois, Darby registered four solo tackles and one defended pass.[9] As a sophomore, he played in 14 games with nine starts, including playing in, and winning the 2013 BCS National Championship game. For the season he had 14 tackles and two interceptions. As a junior in 2014, he started all 14 games and recorded 43 tackles.

After his junior season, Darby entered the 2015 NFL Draft.[10]

Professional career

Coming out of Florida State, Darby was projected to be selected in the second or third rounds by the majority of analysts and scouts.[11] With a deep cornerback draft class, Darby was considered the second-best cornerback coming out of Florida State behind P.J. Williams. He was invited to the NFL Combine and was able to raise his draft stock after finishing with good times in the 40, 20, and 10-yard dash. Darby participated at Florida State's Pro Day, but was satisfied with his combine performance and only performed positional drills. He had scheduled visits with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, and New York Jets.[12] Going into the 2015 NFL Draft, he was ranked the third-best cornerback by Lance Zierlein, the sixth-best cornerback by Sports Illustrated, and the seventh-best by NFLDraftScout.com.[13][14][15]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10 5⁄8 in
(1.79 m)		 193 lb
(88 kg)		 31 3⁄8 in
(0.80 m)		 8 5⁄8 in
(0.22 m)		 4.38 s 1.53 s 2.56 s 4.14 s 6.94 s 41 1⁄2 in
(1.05 m)		 10 ft 9 in
(3.28 m)		 12 reps
All values from NFL Combine [16]

Buffalo Bills

2015

The Buffalo Bills selected Darby in the second round (50th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the seventh cornerback drafted and one of ten players from Florida State to be selected.[17] On May 19, 2015, Darby signed his four-year rookie contract with the team, worth US$4.56 million.[18] After competing with Stephon Gilmore, Corey Graham, Ross Cockrell, Nickell Robey, and Ron Brooks throughout training camp, Darby was named a starting cornerback, opposite Gilmore, to begin the regular season.[19]

Darby made his professional regular-season debut in the Buffalo Bills' season-opener against the Indianapolis Colts, recorded six combined tackles and two pass deflections, and intercepted Andrew Luck for the first pick of his career, as the Bills defeated the Colts, 27–14.[20] On September 27, 2015, he made five combined tackles and a season-high four pass deflections, and intercepted Miami Dolphins' quarterback Ryan Tannehill during a 41–14 victory.[21] He was named the AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for September.[22] During a Week 9 match-up against the Dolphins, he had a season-high ten solo tackles and deflected a pass in a 33–17 victory. He missed a Week 16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys after suffering a groin injury.[23] Darby finished his rookie season with 68 combined tackles (61 solo), 21 pass deflections, and two interceptions in 15 games and 15 starts, while also being named Pro Football Focus' Defensive Rookie of the Year.[24]

2016

Darby was named the starting cornerback to begin the 2016 regular season. He started the Buffalo Bills' season-opener against the Baltimore Ravens and recorded seven solo tackles and made two pass deflections in a 13–7 loss. He missed the Bills' Week 3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals with a hamstring injury.[25] During a Week 7 contest against the Miami Dolphins, he made a season-high eight solo tackles in a 28–25 loss. On November 27, 2016, Darby left in the first quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after suffering concussion while trying to make a tackle on Jaguars' running back Chris Ivory. Ivory attempted to hurdle him but his knee was driven into Darby's helmet in the process. He missed the 38–24 loss to the Oakland Raiders the following week.[26] On December 11, 2016, he racked up a season-high ten combined tackles during a 27-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Darby finished the 2016 season with 69 combined tackles (60 solo) and 12 pass deflections in 14 games and 14 starts.[24] The Buffalo Bills finished with a 7-9 record and head coach Rex Ryan was fired after Week 16 and replaced with Anthony Lynn.

Philadelphia Eagles

2017

On August 11, 2017, the Bills traded Darby to the Philadelphia Eagles for slot wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a 2018 third-round NFL draft pick.[27] In his first game with the Eagles, Darby injured his ankle in the second quarter and was carted off the field. It was revealed that he dislocated his ankle and was ruled out for 4–6 weeks.[28] He would then make his return in Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys in which he achieved his first interception as an Eagle. Darby finished his first season as an Eagle with 34 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 9 passes defended. The Eagles reached Super Bowl LII where they defeated the New England Patriots 41-33.[29] Darby had 4 tackles and 2 passes defended in the game.

2018

Darby entered the 2018 season as a starting cornerback for the Eagles. He started the first nine games before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in Week 10.[30] He was placed on injured reserve on November 17, 2018.[31] He finished the season with 43 tackles, 12 passes defensed, and one interception.

2019
Darby in a game against the Washington Redskins

On March 15, 2019, Darby signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract to remain with the Eagles.[32] In week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, Darby recorded his first interception of the season off Matt Ryan in the 24–20 loss.[33] In week 13 against the Miami Dolphins, Darby intercepted a pass thrown by Ryan Fitzpatrick on the first drive of the game in the 37–31 loss.[34] He was placed on injured reserve on December 24, 2019 with a hip injury.[35] He finished the season with 37 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and two interceptions through 11 starts.

Washington Football Team

Darby signed with the Washington Football Team on April 6, 2020, then known as the Redskins prior to a name change later that offseason.[36]

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References
  1. "Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com cornerbacks 2012". Rivals.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  2. "English-speaking Caribbean athletes bring home three more gold medals". Antigua Observer. July 11, 2011.
  3. "2011 World Youth Championships: Stephen Newbold wins boys 200m". Universal Sports. July 10, 2011.
  4. Little, Carl (July 8, 2011). "Ronald Darby takes 4th in 100 at World Youth Championships". Washington Post.
  5. "Profile of Ronald DARBY - All-Athletics.com". www.All-Athletics.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  6. https://www.pikes.org/about-pike/prominent-pikes
  7. "FSU cornerback Ronald Darby named ACC's Defensive Rookie of Year". OrlandoSentinel.com. November 27, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  8. "FWAA > News > Freshman All-America Team". Sportswriters.net. January 7, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  9. "Ronald Darby Game By Game Stats and Performance - Florida State Seminoles - ESPN". Espn.go.com. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  10. "FSU CB Ronald Darby intends to enter 2015 NFL Draft". NFL.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  11. NFL Combine profile
  12. Mike Huguenin (March 31, 2015). "Speedy Florida State CB Ronald Darby has 5 visits scheduled". NFL.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  13. "*Ronald Darby, DS #5 CB, Florida State: 2015 NFL Draft". nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  14. Chris Burke (April 14, 2015). "2015 NFL Draft Rankings: cornerbacks". si.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  15. Lance Zierlein (March 27, 2015). "2015 NFL Draft: Lance Zierlein's top 10 cornerbacks". NFL.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  16. "NFL Combine: Ronald Darby". NFL.com. NFL.com. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  17. Sonnone, Brendan (May 1, 2015). "Buffalo Bills draft CB Ronald Darby, continue pipeline to FSU". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  18. "Sportrac.com: Ronald Darby contract". Sportrac.com. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  19. "Ourlads.com: Buffalo Bills' Depth Chart". Ourlads.com. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  20. "NFL Game Center: Week 1-2015: Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills". NFL.com. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  21. "NFL Game Center: Week 3-2015: Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins". NFL.com. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  22. "Bills CB Ronald Darby named NFL defensive rookie of the month". BuffaloBills.com. October 1, 2015.
  23. Bryson Treece (December 26, 2017). "Injury Report: Dallas Cowboys At Buffalo Bills". InsideTheStar.com. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  24. "NFL Player Profile: Ronald Darby". NFL.com. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  25. The Sports XChange (September 25, 2016). "NFL Week 3 Injury Report: Fantasy Foot Update". UPI.com. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  26. Tyler Conway (November 27, 2016). "Ronald Darby Injury: Update on Bills' CB's concussion and return". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  27. Sessler, Marc (August 11, 2017). "Bills trade Sammy Watkins to Rams, acquire Matthews". NFL.com. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  28. Patra, Kevin (September 11, 2017). "Eagles CB Ronald Darby (ankle) out 4-6 weeks". NFL.com.
  29. "Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots for first Super Bowl title in stunner". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  30. Alper, Josh (November 12, 2018). "Ronald Darby out for season with torn ACL". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  31. McPherson, Chris (November 17, 2018). "Eagles Promote CB De'Vante Bausby To Active Roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  32. Teope, Herbie (March 15, 2019). "Eagles, Ronald Darby agree to one-year contract". NFL.com.
  33. "Jones scores late TD, leads Falcons past Eagles 24-20". www.espn.com. September 15, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  34. "Bag of tricks helps Dolphins rally past Eagles 37-31". www.espn.com. December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  35. McPherson, Chris (December 24, 2019). "Eagles sign TE Richard Rodgers and promote WR Deontay Burnett to the active roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  36. "Redskins Sign CB Ronald Darby". Redskins.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
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