#35 Darreon Herring Season 2013-14

Honors
2015 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll

2015
In his final season as a Commodore, Herring became a critical leader and top performer for one of the SEC’s most improved defenses… Was voted squad’s defensive captain by teammates after the campaign… Started all 12 games at linebacker, and filled an important leadership void when returning starter Nigel Bowden couldn’t return from an early-season injury… Finished the season second on the team with 64 total tackles and fourth with 34 solo stops… Also contributed 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 quarterback sacks and three defensed passes… Ended career as team’s active leader with 123 solo tackles and 226 total tackles… Contributed at least three tackles in 11 of 12 games… Registered career high at South Carolina by contributing eight solo tackles… Herring’s two tackles for loss and QB sacks played critical role in SEC victory over Missouri… Also had eight total tackles in road games at Ole Miss and Houston… Concluded season on high note, posting six tackles against both Texas A&M and Tennessee.

2014
Herring showed versatility playing among the linebacking corps and secondary in team’s new 3-4 defensive scheme… Participated in all 12 games, earning 11 starts… Earned eight starting assignments at inside linebacker and three starts at nickel back… Finished the season with 23 solo tackles, 45 total tackles and 3.5 quarterback sacks… Ranks as the team’s active career leader with 162 total tackles and 89 solo stops… Posted at least two tackles in every game… Season high tackle totals (8) came against SEC foes Ole Miss and Kentucky.

2013
Ranked among Commodores’ top defensive performers as a first-year starting sophomore… Started every game at OLB, finishing the regular season ranked second on team with 84 total tackles and 11 passes defended, and third with 47 solo tackles… Also registered an interception and one QB sack… Herring was extremely consistent, contributing at least five tackles in 11 of 12 games… Set career high with 10 total tackles in win over Georgia… In other SEC games, added nine tackles at South Carolina and at Texas A&M, and eight stops vs. Missouri… Posted 8-yard sack among five solo tackles in opener vs. Ole Miss… Interception came in win over UAB… Posted four tackles, including 1.5 stops resulting in lost yards, in Vanderbilt’s 41-24 victory over Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

2012
One of four true freshmen to see action for the Commodores… Minutes increased as the season endured as Herring moved into key reserve role at linebacker… Played in all 13 games… Finished the year with 33 total tackles and 19 solo tackles… Also contributed a tackle for loss and two forced fumble… Played well in Music City Bowl victory, registering three tackles and a forced fumble… Enjoyed superb game in victory over Massachusetts, contributing seven tackles, a forced fumble and an interception that he returned 40 yards… One of two mid-term enrollees in 2012 recruiting class.

High School
Senior captain… Two-year starting LB for one of Atlanta’s top public schools… As senior, contributed 65 solo tackles, 109 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, five QB sacks, four forced fumbles and an INT for 9-2 Jaguars team that reached AAAAA state playoffs… Earned team MVP and All-Region honors as senior… As junior, posted 52 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles at Stephenson after transferring from Martin Luther King H.S. following sophomore campaign… Four-star prospect by ESPN… Three-star prospect by Rivals and Scout.

Personal
Darreon Franz Herring… Majoring in Human and Organizational Development… Son of Sheldon and Jennifer Herring… Born Nov. 23, 1993… One of four siblings: two older brothers, Dominique and Dameon; and one sister, Destiny… One brother, Dameon, plays football at Tusculum (Tenn.) University… Attended same high school as Vanderbilt outside linebacker Jonathan Wynn and running back Dallas Rivers… Video game enthusiast… Selected Vanderbilt over Arkansas, South Carolina, Miami (Fla.), Clemson, Stanford, Nebraska and West Virginia among others.

Career Highs
Solo Tackles: 8, at South Carolina, 10/17/2015
Total Tackles: 10, vs. Georgia, 10/19/2013
Sacks: 1.0, vs. Missouri, 10/24/2015
Tackles for Loss: 2.0, vs. Missouri, 10/24/2015
Passes Defended: 3, (2x) Last at Texas A&M, 10/26/2013