One of the most versatile football players in recent history, Richard Darden, meanwhile, has the distinction of being the last Governor football player to earn first-team All-America.
Darden played three positions during his outstanding career—linebacker, tight end and linebacker. As a freshman inside linebacker in 1989, Darden led the Governors in tackles (97), including a 14-tackle effort against Western Kentucky.
The next season, Darden became an “iron man” for the Govs final four games, playing both linebacker and tight end. He earned OVC Specialist of the Week honors for his two-way effort against Eastern Kentucky, where he recorded 14 tackles on defense and caught eight passes (one TD) on offense.
In 1991, Darden finally found his home—at defensive end. In his first start at his new position, he not only earned Don Hansen National Football Weekly Player of the Week honors for his 12-tackle performance (five for losses) but helped the Govs end the nation’s longest winning streak as well. APSU stunned Western Kentucky to end the Govs’ 23-game losing skid. Darden finished that season with 77 tackles, including 14 for losses.
He was even better as a senior. Darden recorded 19 tackles for loss, including nine quarterback sacks, among his 72 tackles. As a result, he earned first-team Associated Press All-America, the Govs first first-team selection in 10 years. He also was first-team Sports Network All-America and second-team Don Hansen National Football Weekly Gazette All-America.
