By all measures, Erick Dargan was one of the best safeties in college football last year. The senior led the Ducks with 95 tackles and seven interceptions, all while playing in the pass-happy Pac-12 Conference. Dargan was both the physical and emotional leader for a defense that, although not excellent, played well enough to help lead the Ducks to a national title game.
Just ask the Florida State Seminoles how they feel about Dargan and the rest of Oregon’s defense. Against the Seminoles in the Rose Bowl, Dargan recorded eight tackles, a pick, and he even forced a fumble. When the Ducks needed a play on defense, Dargan was there.
Dargan returning a pick.
And yet, there was no invitation for Dargan to attend the NFL Combine. NFL.com listed Dargan as one of the top defensive snubs by the combine, but when asked if he was mad, Dargan simply responded, “They’re sleeping on me. I had some of the better numbers in the country and was able to perform at one of the highest platforms. I think that speaks for itself.” He went on to say that it simply, “Adds fuel to the fire.”
CBS.com has Dargan ranked as the eighth-best strong saftey and the 210th best prospect overall. That projection has Dargan landing somewhere in the sixth round. Now to be fair Dargan has his limitations. He’s not the fastest, and he’s a little undersized (5’11”). What he lacks in physical attributes, though, he more than makes up for in football IQ and dynamic play-making ability.
As Ducks fans, we all know that whatever team gets him will have a steal of a draft pick. Here at FishDuck.com we wish Dargan all the best as he transitions to the next level.
Top Photo by Kevin Cline
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Caleb is a sophomore at the University of Oregon intending to double major in Journalism and Sports Management. He is the Managing Editor for FishDuck.com, along with being a lifetime Saints and San Francisco Giants fan, as Caleb fell in love with sports at a young age and developed that love into a passion for sports analysis. He is looking forward to cheering on the Ducks throughout his career at Oregon, and is always willing to talk sports with any fellow fan.