Phone call cements Darty's football plan

By: Brad Norman | Mooresville Tribune
Published: July 22, 2010

STATESVILLE --

Statesville graduate Jordan Darty wanted to attend college at the University of North Carolina.

He also wanted to play college football.

Those two separate hopes merged into one tangible reality after a brief phone call Tuesday from Tar Heels head football coach Butch Davis.

Davis called Darty's father, Ken, and told him the Tar Heels could guarantee Jordan a spot on the team as a preferred walk-on. Preferred walk-ons at programs across the country often put themselves to eventu-ally earn scholarships, either full or partial.

"It was exciting, man," Jordan Darty said. "It was a big relief, really. It's been a long process."

The process started last summer.

Darty is extremely close with West Iredell graduate P.J. Clyburn. When Clyburn attended camps at North Carolina and other schools, Darty usually went with him.

"P.J. is really the one who helped me get some attention, if you want to put it that way," Darty said. "I got to know the coaches and get my name out there."

Darty, a lifelong Tar Heels fan, was very impressive during Carolina's camp. He performed well in the combine-style drills, and also in the individual defensive back drills.

He met with the coaches, expressed his desire to play for UNC and left his film.

"Basically, I just had to wait until they could find and see if they had an open slot for me," Darty said.

Carolina has experienced a resurgence under Davis and recruits well. The Tar Heels signed 21 players — including Clyburn — in their 2010 class, which was generally regarded as one of the top-30 classes in the nation.

Darty was no slouch on the field at Statesville. He was a three-year starter at safety, and was garnering heavy interest, and a few offers, from Appalachian State, N.C. A&T and Wingate.

In the classroom, Darty sported a 3.98 GPA. He wants to major in biology and study to be an anesthesi-ologist.

"As soon as I got accepted into the school, that's where I wanted to go," Darty said. "I just had to see if football would work out."

Darty and Clyburn will likely get red-shirted this season.

Under Davis, the Tar Heels have built a dynamic defense that includes projected NFL players like Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn, Quan Sturdivant, Bruce Carter and Deunta Williams, among others.

But after this year and in the future, the Tar Heels will have to start filling those gaps.

"I'm hoping to compete to start by my junior year, or at least be third string," Darty said. "I know they signed a couple (defensive backs) in this class to play for them. I just want to go there and try to contribute."

Phone call cements Darty's football plan

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