Darren Hambrick facts for kids
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
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| Born: | August 30, 1975 Lacoochee, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 227 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Pasco (Dade City, Florida) | ||||||||
| College: | South Carolina | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1998 / Round: 5 / Pick: 130 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Darren Hambrick (born August 30, 1975) is a former American football linebacker. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, and Cleveland Browns. Before becoming a pro, he played college football at the University of Florida and the University of South Carolina.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Darren Hambrick grew up in Florida with his brother, Troy Hambrick. They both went to Pasco High School. In 1992, they helped their football team win the Class 3A state championship. As a senior, Darren was an amazing linebacker, making 140 tackles. He was named an All-American and the best defensive player in his area.
Darren was also a talented track athlete. He was the first person in Florida to qualify for five events at the state track meet. He could high jump an impressive 7 feet, 1 and 3/4 inches! He also played basketball. In 1999, the St. Petersburg Times newspaper called him the best football player in Pasco County history.
College Football Journey
Darren earned a football scholarship to the University of Florida. He was the only new student to start a game on defense for the team. He played in 13 games and was recognized as an All-Freshman player in the SEC. He made 46 tackles and had 2 interceptions.
In his second year, he continued to play well. He made 59 tackles and had 2 interceptions, including one he returned 81 yards for a touchdown against the University of Georgia. He also competed in high jump and long jump for the Gators' track team.
Darren later left the team due to an incident before the 1995 Sugar Bowl. He then transferred to the University of South Carolina. He had to sit out the 1995 season because of NCAA transfer rules.
As a junior at South Carolina, he was named honorable-mention All-SEC. He made 83 tackles and forced two fumbles. He had his best game against the University of Georgia, making 13 tackles. In his senior year, he was set to be a starter but broke his left fibula in the first game. He missed seven games but returned to play later in the season.
Professional Football Career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1+7⁄8 in (1.88 m) |
216 lb (98 kg) |
33+5⁄8 in (0.85 m) |
10 in (0.25 m) |
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| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Darren Hambrick was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL draft. He was the 130th player picked overall.
Dallas Cowboys
As a new player, Darren was great on special teams, making 18 tackles. In 1999, he became a starting strongside linebacker for most of the season. He finished with 62 tackles and 2 interceptions. He was the team's leading tackler in the 2000 season with 154 tackles.
During his time with the Cowboys, Darren faced some challenges with team rules and had disagreements about his salary. He missed some team practices and was suspended for not following curfew. Because of these issues, the Cowboys released him in October 2001. He is remembered by some Dallas sports fans for a famous quote when asked why he missed voluntary workouts: "What do voluntary mean?"
Carolina Panthers
After leaving the Cowboys, Darren was picked up by the Carolina Panthers in October 2001. He started in eight of nine games and was the team's leading tackler twice. He was not re-signed by the Panthers after the season.
Cleveland Browns
Darren signed with the Cleveland Browns for the 2002 season. He started 15 games as a strongside linebacker and helped the team reach the playoffs. The Browns offered him a new contract, but he turned it down. His five-year NFL career ended due to issues off the field.
Tampa Bay Storm
In 2007, Darren joined the practice squad for the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena Football League. However, he was released in June of that year.
Family Life
Darren Hambrick is the brother of former NFL running back Troy Hambrick. He is also related to former Major League Baseball pitcher Mudcat Grant.
