2007 NFL Draft: Kenneth Darby To Swashbuckle With Buccaneers

By Jeremy White, NFLHS.com

There have been lots of great running backs at the University of Alabama over the years.

Glance at the list of the Crimson Tide's all-time leading rushers, and you'll see Kenneth Darby's name in the No. 3 spot. It's an impressive place to be, and Darby hopes his success at the high school and collegiate levels will translate to an equally successful career in the National Football League.

"I kind of compare myself to LT, LaDainian Tomlinson," said Darby, who was drafted in the seventh round of this year's NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I run hard and I run both inside and outside. I hit the hole hard and run fast to the hole. I also like catching passes out of the backfield."

Darby works out during rookie camp at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida.

Darby thought about declaring a year early for the NFL draft, but a knee injury and the desire to finish his degree in Communications and Computer Science helped him decide it was in his best interest to complete his playing eligibility at Alabama, which he did in 2006.

"It was really important to graduate college," he says. "I really wanted to do that for me, and my mother and father really wanted that, too. I got a degree in Communications and Computer Science."

The injury - which he says is now healed - tested his patience as he worked through the rigors of rehabilitation.

"It's frustrating when you're injured," he admits. "One doctor will say you're fine, he'll say you're okay and he won't see something that another doctor sees."

Darby doesn't believe he was at 100 percent during much of his senior season, so he's eager to hit an NFL practice field and play at full strength.

"I came into this season overweight and I had to get over the knee injury," he says. "It was a bad season for me, so I had to prove I was the same guy. Now I have a great opportunity to show people what I can do."

He had little trouble showing what he could do while starring as a multi-sport athlete at Butler High School in Huntsville, Alabama.

"I played basketball and track there, too. I was a point guard in basketball and ran the 100 in track," he recalls. "In football, I played outside linebacker and running back. I was a high school All-American and played in both the Alabama North-South All-Star game and the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game."

When he arrived at Alabama, he didn't take long making his presence known. In his first game he put up monster numbers for the Crimson Tide.

"My first career start I had a great game," he says. "I ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns. It felt great."

Now Darby hopes history will repeat itself during his first NFL game.

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.