Tulane · L 24-28
No tackles.
Louisiana Tech · L 20-35
No tackles.
Darby has tackles in 5 of South Alabama’s 8 games: none against SE Louisiana, Tulane and Louisiana Tech.
Damyrion Darby
Doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. Third year in the South Alabama secondary. A game that shows it: 7 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss against Marshall — Week 8, 2026.
19 tackles · 1.5 sacks
Play style
Steady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
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| Season | Team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | South Alabama | 19 | 8 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 | South Alabama | 10 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | South Alabama | 6 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 35 | 18 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 3 | 3 |
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 6 games
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| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 39-14vs SE Louisiana | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | |
| Wk 3 | W 41-36vs Ohio | 4 | 3 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 4 | L 21-45@ Kentucky | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | W 52-35vs UL Monroe | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | W 56-49@ Arkansas State | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 8 | L 13-20@ Marshall | 7 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 7 tackles |
| Total | 19 | 8 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 3 | 1 |
Oct. 20 · L 13-20 at Marshall, play by play
7 tackles. He hurried the quarterback twice.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 8 for him; the box score credits 7.
His game this year: taking the ball away — 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble in the 6 games with play by play.
How South Alabama’s defense played that day
Marshall’s 10 drives: 6 stopped · 4 scored. While the game was within a score they held 6 of 10.
4 tackles, including 1 interception. His interception ended Arkansas State’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Intercepted. Third quarter, up 42-28. Ended Arkansas State’s drive (int).
A defensive touchdown: his fumble recovery went 21 yards for the score. 2 tackles, including 1 more for loss.
Forced a fumble on 3rd and 9, recovered and returned for the score. First quarter, made it 14-0.
Intercepted. Second quarter, up 28-14. Ended UL Monroe’s drive (int).
2 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
4 tackles, including 1 sack, 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Sacked the quarterback for a 9-yard loss. Fourth quarter, up 38-29.
0 tackles, including 1 interception. His interception on 3rd and 12 ended SE Louisiana’s drive (downs).
Intercepted on 3rd and 12. First quarter, up 7-0. Ended SE Louisiana’s drive (downs).
Week 3 · 2026
W 41-36
vs Ohio
1.5 sacks · 1.5 tackles for loss · 4 tackles
Edged out Ohio at home in a shootout.
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from -24 to +11 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
5%1 pass breakupsInterceptions
3interceptionsTackle volume
19tackles this season19 tackles · 3 for loss · 1.5 sacks · 1 pass breakup · 3 interceptions.
3 seasons under Major Applewhite — 15-18 over that span.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 6 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Road3g | 4.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-75g | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Weeks 8+1g | 7.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Major Applewhite
Pass share
37.6%
215 pass / 357 run
Plays / game
71.5
8 games
Team sack rate
5.0%
241 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Player standing · 2026
Fewer tackles a game than most FBS defensive backs who play every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Three-star recruit. Now #11 at the position.
The No. 2,578 recruit in the country is starting in the secondary in the Sun Belt.
2026 is in progress.
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed every college season under Major Applewhite.
