A vastly underrated talent, Daren Stone not only proved to be a punishing tackler from his strong safety position, but is also drawing considerable interest from NFL teams as a potential candidate to play outside linebacker in a Cover-2 scheme. With his speed and range, this reliable tackler is ready to make an impact at the next level.
Stone competed as a defensive back and wide receiver at Lockport High School, serving as team captain in 2002. He recorded the most tackles by a defensive back in school history and was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year in 2002. He added first-team all-league and second-team All-Western New York honors as a senior. He also garnered second-team all-league honors in basketball and first-team All-Western New York accolades in track.
Stone enrolled at Maine in 2003, seeing limited action in 11 games as a free safety. That year, he totaled five tackles (four solos). As a sophomore, he shifted to strong safety, starting nine of 10 contests. He sat out the Rhode Island game after being suspended for missing classes. He still managed to rank third on the team with 77 tackles (47 solos), including 3.5 stops for losses. He intercepted four passes for 61 yards in returns and one touchdown and deflected three other throws.
Again on the move, Stone started the team's first eight games of the 2005 season at strongside cornerback. He was limited late in the year by a right ankle sprain that forced him out of the starting lineup, but he delivered 41 tackles (30 solos) with a sack and 5.5 stops for losses. He gained 28 yards on five interception returns and broke up three passes, earning third-team All-Atlantic Ten Conference honors.
In 2006, Stone was named All-Atlantic Ten second team. He shifted positions again, taking over strong safety chores in 10 games. He sat out the Shaw contest (coach's decision), but produced 50 tackles (30 solos) with four sacks and 7.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused a fumble, intercepted one pass and batted away five others. He also scored on a 21-yard blocked punt return.
In 41 games at Maine, Stone started 27 contests. He recorded 173 tackles (111 solos) with five sacks for minus-47 yards and 16.5 stops for losses of 85 yards. He gained 96 yards with a touchdown on 10 interceptions and scored on a 21-yard blocked punt return. He deflected 11 passes and caused one fumble.
AGILITY TESTS: Campus: 4.47 in the 40-yard dash ... 295-pound bench press ... Bench pressed 225 pounds 15 times ... 460-pound squat ... 341-power clean ... 260-pound incline press ... 41-inch vertical jump ... 11-foot-5 broad jump ... 34-inch arm length ... 9 3/4-inch hands ... Right-handed. Combine: 4.63 in the 40-yard dash ... 1.64 10-yard dash ... 2.71 20-yard dash ... 4.44 20-yard shuttle ... 11.54 60-yard shuttle ... 7.13 three-cone drill ... 39-inch vertical jump ... 11-foot broad jump ... Bench pressed 225 pounds 13 times.
