Biography

• 6'3", 285 pounds
• Rimington Trophy Finalist (for nation's top center)
• Centered an offensive line in 2006 that anchored the offense to 2,342 yards in rushing (180.2 ypg), 2144 yards passing (164.9 ypg) and allowed only 8 sacks all season (second fewest in the nation).
• Participated in the Texas Bowl win in 2006 and the Insight Bowl against Arizona State in 2005.
  

2006:  Rutgers’ starting center ... Finalist for the Rimington Trophy ... Awarded the David Bender Trophy, given annually to the top offensive lineman at Rutgers ... Part of a Rutgers’ rushing offense that is ranked 20th in the country ... Contributed to Rutgers win over Howard (9/23), as the Scarlet Knights scored 56 points, the most points scored in the Greg Schiano era ... In Rutgers’ win over Louisville (11/9), contributed to a blocking effort that allowed Ray Rice to rush for 75 yards in the fourth quarter .... Contributed to a Rutgers blocking effort that allowed both Brian Leonard and Ray Rice to rush for 100 yards apiece in the win over Syracuse (11/25) .... Opened holes for Ray Rice to rush for 176 yards in the Texas Bowl victory over Kansas State (12/28).

2005: Emerged as the starting center in preseason camp and started all 12 games ... Helped pave the way for RU to accumulate a season-best 574 yards of total offense, including 337 yards rushing,in the Scarlet Knights’ regular-season finale against Cincinnati (11/26) ... Also served on an RU offensive line that opened the way for 532 yards of total offense, including 158 on the ground in the Insight Bowl vs. Arizona State (12/27) … Played important role in an offensive line that recorded seven 100-yard rushing performances and produced RU’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 1994.

Scholastic/Personal: Started at center and tackle for two seasons at Hudson Valley Community College, which captured the conference and Region III Championship in 2004 … Played and started in 11 games in 2004 … Selected to First Team All-Northeast Football Conference … Named preseason NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American …Finished his career as the only player in Hudson Valley history to start 21 consecutive games … Offense averaged 280.3 yards per game, including 169.7 rushing yards per game … Team finished 8-3 in 2004 and 8-2 in 2003, when he earned Second Team All-League honors … Named First Team All-Watchung Conference and First Team All-Union County as a senior … Played in New Jersey’s North-South All-Star Game … “Darnell was the most athletic big man we had in my seven years at Hudson Valley,” said former Hudson Valley head coach Bob Jojo. “He’s a good leader, a good athlete, and is strong academically.” ... Younger brother Desmond will attend Rutgers in the fall ... Born 9/21/85.