Darryl Sharpton

[edit] Biography

CAREER: Rising star at middle linebacker who was named third-team Freshman All-America in 2006...Local star from Coral Gables High who reminds people of former UM standout Jonathan Vilma, who hailed from the same high school...Talented sophomore finished the 2006 season as the starter at middle linebacker...Played early in the season as a freshman in 2005, then missed the rest of the year with an injury...Intelligent, quick linebacker who can run, cover ground and move laterally...Has great reaction and instincts. Is an outstanding special teams player...Finance major.

2006 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Named third-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News and CollegeFootballNews.com and was selected to The Sporting News ACC All-Freshman team...One of eight UM players who were selected to the 2006 ACC Academic Football Team...Played in 12 games, starting five times as the middle linebacker late in the season...Totaled 41 tackles (10th on the team), with four tackles for loss, four QB pressures, one sack and three pass breakups...Produced 17 tackles in his last two starts...Ranked second on the team with seven tackles on special teams...Early in the season, played mostly on special teams and saw limited action at linebacker in the FAMU and FIU games (did not play against Louisville)...Took over at middle linebacker on the second play of the Duke game when Romeo Davis was injured. Made five tackles (four solo)...Made his first collegiate start at middle linebacker a week later at Georgia Tech, making one tackle for loss...Started vs. Virginia Tech but saw action on only 11 plays. (three assisted tackles and one tackle for loss)...Started at Maryland and played just 16 downs but tallied four tackles and one pass breakup...Started at Virginia and played on a season-high 61 plays, making a career-best nine tackles (five solo), with a sack for minus-10 yards and two QB pressures...Started at linebacker in a nickel defense vs. Boston College and tallied eight tackles (five solo), adding two QB pressures and two pass breakups...Did not start in a nickel defense in the MPC Computers Bowl vs. Nevada but played as the middle linebacker. Tallied six tackles (five solo).

2005 (REDSHIRT): True freshman who played in the first three games of the season before suffering knee and ankle injuries that sidelined him for the remainder of the year...Received a medical redshirt...Played on special teams vs. Florida State, Clemson and Colorado, suffering a sprained left knee in the third game

HIGH SCHOOL: A star on both offense and defense throughout his high school career...Also returned kickoffs and blocked punts...As a senior in 2004, finished with 96 tackles (three for loss), two interceptions and four blocked punts...Made the defensive calls...Selected to play in the CaliFlorida Bowl, but declined the invitation...As a junior, had 110 tackles and one interception for a touchdown...Ranked as the nation's No. 28 outside linebacker prospect by Rivals.com...Chosen All-Dade County and ranked as the No. 10 prospect in Dade County by the Miami Herald...Was the No. 90 prospect in Florida by the Orlando Sentinel and the No. 48 overall prospect by the Tampa Tribune...Member of the Florida Times-Union Super 75...Was in his high school's International Baccalaureate Program...Chose Miami over Stanford, Boston College, Massachusetts and Brown...Coached by Joe Montoya.

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