Kansas recruit Jordan Darling will play for fourth school in four years

Calling audibles is nothing new for well-traveled East (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) quarterback Jordan Darling.

A key contributor in each of his three previous seasons, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Kansas commit is nearing a fourth football season that promises Darling ample opportunity to flash his gridiron might in front of hundreds and eventually thousands of football fans in Kansas.

But Darling has had to learn to adjust on the run as well. The son of military parents – Bill (retired from the military) and Lieutenant Colonel Leslie – Darling learned early about sacrifice and hard work.

The 2011 second team Texas 5A-District 8 quarterback has constantly been on the move and adjusting to a new coaching staff and a new receiving corps. Just as he has begun developing chemistry with his new teammates and making friends, Darling has had to pick up, move on and then do it all over again.

So much so that he will be playing football in his fourth state this season.

"That's been the toughest part – period. And I did it three times," Darling recalled of the moves he and his father have made in support of Leslie. "You just have to start over."

While moving hasn't always been on top of his list of things to do, Darling embraced the changes in his life just so he could stay close to his family. Last fall Leslie was deployed to Afghanistan and Darling had to adapt to his new surroundings without her by his side. He missed her desperately.

"We prayed for her a lot, and talked with her on the phone as much as we could," Darling said. "I'm proud of her and our soldiers in Afghanistan and all over the world. It was tough. But I'm so happy and thrilled that she will be here for my senior season. I want to make this season a great one for her, my father and everyone else."

After kicking off his varsity football career at Platte County (Platte City, Mo.) in the fall of 2009, Darling's three moves have amassed more than 2,300 miles collectively. He made stops at Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) and Midway (Waco, Texas) before coming nearly full circle with his final stop at Shawnee Mission East, located about 33 miles southeast of Platte City.

Playing a sport that requires more than just outstanding athletic ability, especially at the quarterback position, Darling has been able to adjust and compete at a high level each stop of the way.

"In football, especially when you're the quarterback, you have to give it your all all of the time," Darling said. "You have to be the first one on the football field, and the last one off. You have to be able to prove that you are the best quarterback for that time.

"I've had to prove myself four times. But it's been a privilege. It's been an opportunity for me to set myself up for the future. Going to Kansas I'll have to compete against great quarterbacks. And having gone through these last four years I know I can compete."

Darling threw for more than 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago, while splitting time as the starter of Texas 5A state runner-up Midway (Waco, Texas) (12-3). In the championship game, Darling and the Panthers fell to five-time defending state champion Lake Travis (Austin, Tex.), 22-7.

As a sophomore, Darling threw for a Greater Miami Conference-leading 1,083 yards and seven touchdowns despite not starting at Lakota West (3-7) until after the season began. [Profile]

Serving as Platte County's backup quarterback during his freshman campaign, Darling threw for a pair of touchdowns, and rushed for another while accounting for 203 yards collectively through the air and on the ground as part of a 4-6 campaign. [Profile]

While it's uncertain if any other prep football player has done so, Darling's nomad-like career has put the newest Lancer in position to become one of the few high school football players to score a varsity touchdown both running and throwing the football in four different states.

Regardless of whether he throws up big numbers in 2012, Darling, who said he was humbled and honored by the opportunity to play football in four different states, may be able to hold that rare feat over the heads of some of high school football's most accomplished athletes.

Although he's played prep football in three of the nation's more reputable football states – Texas, Ohio and Missouri – Darling sidestepped picking one state over another in regards to which state plays the best brand of football, or has the most talent. But he did offer this.

"Football is football," Darling said. "When it comes to who is the most physical or the most talented – it's really up to the players and how hard they want to work and how they want to play the game. There is good football everywhere.

"In Ohio, the defenses were definitely very good, while the offenses in Texas were outstanding. Colerain (Cincinnati), probably the best team I faced, was talented on the defensive side of the ball. Ryan (Denton, Tex.) was loaded with D-1 players on defense too."

Shortly after losing to Lake Travis, Darling began to size up his senior campaign with the Cavaliers. But then he received word that his motherl Leslie was transferring to Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

He was on the move again.

This time, however, Darling will be able to learn from family friend and coaching legend Chip Sherman, now the head coach at Shawnee Mission East, and his offensive coordinator Sam Brown. Darling's older brother Matt played for Sherman at Platte County.

"I watched him grow up," Sherman said, "so its pretty neat that during his final year of playing high school football I get to coach him. He brings so much talent to the position. Jordan can do it all. He can throw the deep ball. He can throw it short. He throws with touch. He can make all of the throws and he does an outstanding job of running with the football too."

Darling knew right away which coach he wanted to play for in Kansas City.

"If I'm going to play here in this area, there is no other coach I'd rather play for," Darling said of Sherman. "He's been doing this for 30 years. He's a great coach and a great guy. That's who I'm playing for my senior year."

Brown, also the Lancer quarterbacks coach, described Darling as a talented quarterback with a strong arm and tremendous accuracy. He has been coaching at the high school and college levels for 40 years, and expects a big year from Darling in 2012.

"My job is to make him better as a quarterback every day," Brown said. "My job isn't to prepare him for next year, but to prepare him for this fall. My job is to prepare him to win a state championship."

Not one to shy away from hard work, Darling is willing to make every sacrifice necessary to have success with the Lancers. Playing in the Sunflower League, arguably Kansas' best big school conference, Darling knowingly has his hands full.

But he's already paid the price physically by spilling blood and sweat in the heat of Texas and in the cold of Ohio. And he's enjoyed it every stop of the way.

Once his final prep season comes to a close, Darling will embark on the shortest move he's encountered in some time. The future Big 12 signal caller will travel the meager 38 miles from Shawnee Mission East to the University of Kansas' Memorial Stadium to play for Kansas coach Charlie Weis and Jayhawk quarterbacks coach Ron Powlus.

"They are both phenomenal coaches," Darling said. "Coach Powlus is passionate about the game and is down to earth. He's done it before at the high school and college levels. He's played under the lights with thousands of people watching. Coach Weis has had great success with quarterbacks. His work speaks for itself. Every kid wants to play for coach Weis. It's definitely a blessing that I get to go and play for Kansas. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!"