#6 Darlron Spead Season 2007-08

SINGLE-GAME HIGHS
TACKLES: 6, vs. Florida, 11/11/2006

2007
Important member of defensive secondary that ranked among the nation[apos]s top units… Regarded by coaches as team[apos]s starting nickelback…Saw action in 11 of 12 games, playing through arm and leg injuries for much of the season… Earned starting assigments vs. Richmond, Eastern Michigan, Florida and Wake Forest… Concluded season with 19 total tackles, including 11 solo stops… Shared team lead with two fumble recoveries… Also contributed an interception, a QB sack and 2.5 tackles for loss… Scored on 36-yard fumble recovery at Florida… Lone tackle in victory over South Carolina – a 9-yard QB sack – halted first half Gamecock possession… Credited with five total tackles vs. Kentucky, and four stops at Florida… Interception deep in Eastern Michigan territory led to third Vanderbilt touchdown drive.

2006
Never started, but coaches looked at Spead as a starter – and one of the Commodores[apos] most consistent performers in the secondary… Used primarily as the No. 1 nickel back in multiple-receiver formations by opposing teams… Ended year as team leader with five defensed passes and shared lead with safety Reshard Langford with three interceptions… Also contributed 14 solo tackles and 16 total tackles as dependable tackler in open-field situations… Also posted one of team[apos]s three blocked kicks… Returned first career interception 26 yards and notched only career tackle for loss against Arkansas… Interception late in game at Ole Miss gave Commodores an opportunity to tie score… Played well against eventual national champion Florida, contributing career high six tackles, including five solo stops, in narrow home loss.

2005
Redshirted as freshman… Impressed coaches as cornerback in fall practices… Named team[apos]s Defensive Scout of the Week after Arkansas game.

High School
Senior captain… Three-year starter for southeast Georgia powerhouse… Started for Wildcats at running back as junior and senior… Cornerback starter as a 10th grader… As senior, rushed for 532 yards and 13 TDs and caught 10 passes for 149 yards and 2 TDs… As junior, had 49 tackles, an interception and nine pass breakups on defense; 470 rushing yards and 6 TDs on offense… Named AAAAA All-State by both the Georgia Sports Writers Association and Atlanta Journal-Constitution… Also saw varsity action as freshman… Wing-T squad was annual contender for AAAAA title, going 41-2 during last three varsity seasons… Helped team to state title during 15-0 junior campaign.

Personal
Darlron Jarrell Spead… Son of Sherlma Watkins and Darryl Gibbs… Has a brother… Dad works as a mail carrier… Plans on majoring in Human and Organizational Development.

Camden County Head Coach Jeff Herron
‘Darlron is one of those kids who does a lot of things really well, possesses a combination of skills to make him a really good football player. I think he has the versatility to play any number of positions, from cornerback and receiver to running back. He is also an extremely strong guy for his size.

‘Darlron was a special player for our squad and I expect him to be very good for Vanderbilt. He played a lot of games for us and enters Vanderbilt with a tremendous amount of big-game experience.’