Potomac (Oxon Hill, Md.) defensive back/running back
Ron Darby committed to attend Florida State during a signing ceremony at school this afternoon.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound speedster is the nation's No. 27 recruit according to MaxPreps, and the No. 3 athlete.
Darby picked the Seminoles over
Auburn, Clemson and Notre Dame. He also plans to run track.
"I had a home feeling there. I like the track program as well," he said. "I just
want to better myself overall as an athlete and a person, and I felt
like they are the perfect fit for me."
Ron Darby, Potomac
Photo by Jim Stout
Darby, who is a state champion sprinter and
one of the fastest players in the class of 2012 — he had the fastest 40-yard dash time in the country at the Under Armour combine (4.31) and was the nation's fastest runner in the 100 and 200 last spring — can play defensive back or running back at the next level, although most experts predict he will end up on the defensive side of the ball.
This past fall, the Under Armour All-American rushed for 1,369 yards and 23 scores on offense, recorded 47 tackles on defense, and had three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns). Darby also returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns. MaxPreps recruiting expert Tom Lemming says he also could be "a lights-out kickoff returner" at the next level.
Darby originally committed to Notre Dame in April, but made national headlines in early January when he decommitted, choosing to put his talents back on the recruiting blocks. He received offers from more than 30 schools, including the University of Maryland, which is located just 20 miles north of his hometown.
Visit the MaxPreps 2012 National Signing Day pageJon Buzby is the sports columnist for the Newark Post, a freelance writer, and on the broadcast team for the 1290AM The Ticket High School Football and Basketball Games of the Week. You can reach him at jonbuzby@hotmail.com.
