Frank Darby
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Frank Darby
| image = Frank Darby.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Darby in 2021
| current_team =St. Louis Battlehawks
| number =2
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|9|8}}
| birth_place = Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 200
| high_school = Lincoln (Jersey City)
| college = Arizona State (2016–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 187
| pastteams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2023}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- St. Louis Battlehawks ({{UFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status =Active
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason = 2023
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 2
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 29
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = D/DarbFr00
}}
Frank Darby (born September 8, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Arizona State. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
Early life
Darby grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey, and attended Lincoln High School. Darby was named first-team All-State in 2016 as a senior after 35 receptions for 957 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense and 27 tackles, one interception and three forced fumbles on defense.{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Todderick |date=May 18, 2016 |title=Lincoln coach explains why Frank Darby picked Arizona State over Rutgers, BC |url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2016/05/lincoln_coach_explains_why_frank_darby_picked_ariz.html |access-date=February 2, 2021 |website=NJ.com}} Darby was rated a three star recruit and initially committed to play college football at Iowa.{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Braulio |date=February 3, 2016 |title=WR Frank Darby does not sign with Iowa, waiting on SAT score per Lincoln coach |url=https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/article/wr-frank-darby-does-not-sign-with-iowa-waiting-on-sat-score-per-lincoln-coach/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |website=NJ.com}} After initially not qualifying to sign with Iowa due to a low SAT score, he chose Arizona State over offers from Rutgers and Boston College.{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2016 |title=2016 3-star WR Frank Darby commits to ASU |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu-recruiting/2016/05/18/2016-3-star-wr-frank-darby-commits-asu/84549396/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |work=The Arizona Republic}}
College career
Darby redshirted his true freshman season.{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Doug |date=December 5, 2019 |title=The pride of Lincoln High: How Frank Darby danced his way from Jersey City to Arizona State |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1433960/2019/12/05/the-pride-of-lincoln-high-how-frank-darby-danced-his-way-from-jersey-city-to-arizona-state/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |work=The Athletic}} He finished his redshirt sophomore season with 21 catches for 421 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Doug |date=August 29, 2020 |title=For now, receiver Frank Darby remains set on reaching his goals at Arizona State |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2030155/2020/08/29/frank-darby-staying-arizona-state-nfl-draft/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |work=The Athletic}} As a redshirt junior, he caught 31 passes for 616 yards and eight touchdowns.{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2020 |title=ASU football: Frank Darby looking to step into role as Sun Devils lead receiver |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2020/10/22/asu-footballs-frank-darby-looking-step-into-role-lead-receiver/3721392001/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |work=The Arizona Republic}} Darby was limited by injury as a senior and appeared in two of the Sun Devils' four games in the COVID-19 shortened Pac-12 Conference season, catching six passes for 46 yards and one touchdown.{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Doug |date=January 5, 2021 |title=Frank Darby on Arizona State's future and his decision to leave: Exit interview |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2302563/2021/01/05/frank-darby-arizona-state-nfl-draft/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |work=The Athletic}}{{Cite web |last=Villanova |first=Patrick |date=December 22, 2020 |title=From Jersey City to Arizona State, Frank Darby declares for NFL Draft |url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2020/12/from-jersey-city-to-arizona-state-frank-darby-declares-for-nfl-draft.html |access-date=February 2, 2021 |work=The Jersey Journal}} Darby finished his collegiate career with 1,317 receiving yards on 67 receptions with 13 touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Gossen |first=Rachel |date=January 30, 2021 |title=Frank Darby shows why scouts are eyeing him with catch in Senior Bowl |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/2523745/frank-darby-shows-why-scouts-are-eyeing-him-with-catch-in-senior-bowl/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |website=ArizonaSports.com}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0
| weight = 201
| dash = 4.59
| ten split = 1.59
| twenty split = 2.61
| shuttle = 4.23
| cone drill = 7.15
| vertical = 34.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 9
| bench = 19
| arm span = 31 3/4
| hand span = 9 3/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/frank-darby/32004441-5213-9841-7f25-6d00ea8a39ff |title=Frank Darby Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 7, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1017392&DraftYear=2021 |title=Frank Darby, Arizona State, WR, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=March 7, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=http://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/105197 |title=Frank Darby 2021 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=March 7, 2022}}
}}
=Atlanta Falcons=
Darby was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round with the 187th pick in the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2021 |title=Falcons draft bio: Frank Darby, WR, Arizona State |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/falcons-draft-bio-frank-darby-wr-arizona-state/DAJG4653PFEX5IPSBBK6BYK2QI/ |access-date=May 6, 2021 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} He signed his four-year rookie contract with Atlanta on June 15, 2021.{{Cite web |title=Falcons Sign Five Draft Picks |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2021/06/falcons-sign-five-draft-picks-2 |access-date=July 29, 2021 |website=Pro Football Rumors}} Darby made his NFL debut in Week 5 against the New York Jets, playing on special teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DarbFr00/gamelog/2021/|title=Frank Darby 2021 Game Logs|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=November 18, 2021}} He caught a 14-yard pass from Josh Rosen for his first career reception on November 14, 2021, in a 43–3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/falcons-frank-darby-first-nfl-catch-sunday/|title=Falcons' Frank Darby: First NFL catch Sunday|website=CBSSports.com|publisher=RotoWire|date=November 15, 2021|access-date=November 18, 2021}}
On August 30, 2022, Darby was waived by the Falcons and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Falcons announce initial 53-man roster heading into 2022 regular season|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-announce-initial-53-man-roster-heading-into-2022-regular-season|author=Bair, Scott|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=August 30, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Falcons add eight more players to practice squad|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-add-seven-more-players-to-practice-squad-caleb-huntley-justin-shaffer|author1=McElhaney, Tori|author2=Bair, Scott|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=August 31, 2022}} He was promoted to the active roster on November 23, 2022.{{cite web|title=Falcons Sign WR Frank Darby to Active Roster; What's His Role?|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/falcons/.amp/news/atlanta-falcons-sign-wr-frank-darby-active-roster-practice-squad|author1=Brener, Jeremy|website=SI.com|date=November 23, 2022}}
On August 14, 2023, Darby was waived by the Falcons.{{cite web|title=BREAKING: Falcons Cut WR Frank Darby with Injury Designation|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/falcons/.amp/news/atlanta-falcons-waive-cut-frank-darby-preseason-training-camp-chris-blair-arthur-smith-tj-yates-terry-fontenot|author1=Flick, Daniel|website=SI.com|date=August 14, 2023}} On October 3, 2023, he was signed to the Falcons practice squad.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/frank-darby-joins-falcons-practice-squad/amp/ | title=Frank Darby: Joins Falcons' practice squad }} His contract expired when the teams season ended January 7, 2024.
=San Francisco 49ers=
On July 27, 2024, Darby signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers.{{Cite web|title=49ers Sign Wide Receiver; Waive CB Kemon Hall|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-wide-receiver-frank-darby-waive-cb-kemon-hall|website=49ers.com|date=July 27, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2024}} He was waived with an injury designation on August 12.{{cite web |title=49ers Sign Wide Receiver, Waive/Injured Wide Receiver Frank Darby |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-wide-receiver-robbie-chosen-waive-injured-wr-frank-darby |website=49ers.com |access-date=12 August 2024}}
= St. Louis Battlehawks =
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://thesundevils.com/sports/football/roster/frank-darby/11949 Arizona State Sun Devils bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204011439/https://thesundevils.com/sports/football/roster/frank-darby/11949 |date=February 4, 2021 }}
{{Falcons2021DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darby, Frank}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football players
Category:Lincoln High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:Players of American football from Jersey City, New Jersey