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Name: Jaelon Darden 
College: North Texas      Number: 1
School Bio/Stats Link: HERE
Height: 5-08   Weight: 174
Position:  Pos2: KR
Class/Draft Year: Sr/2021

40 Low: 4.40
   40 Time: 4.46
  40 High: 4.54

> Projected Round:   Stock:    


 Data Scout Notes: Up to 3-4/Awesome lil WR/Knocked for Size but Tough/Easy to Root For **2020: MVPC/WCamp2nd/AFCA2nd/1stC...BiletnikoffSemifinalist...P1stC/PMaxwell/PBiletnikoff...2019: 1stC...48-575-12.0-4 rec, 3-16-5.3-0 rush, 5-62-12.4-0 PR in 13 gms in '18. 32-281-8.8-3 rec, 1-1-1.0-0 rush, 10-119-11.9-1 PR, 16-295-18.4-0 KR in 14 gms i

Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 5075
Weight: 174

Zybek PD3X AKA "Official"
40 Yard Dash (ET):
 
40 Yard Dash (HH): 
20 Yard (ET): 
20 Yard (HH): 
10 Yard (ET): 
10 Yard (HH): 
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 
Vertical Jump: 
Broad Jump: 
20 Yrd Shuttle: 
3-Cone Drill: 


Dates: 03/25/21
Hand: 08 3/4  Arm: 30 5/8
Wingspan: 72 1/2

Height: 5075
Weight: 174
40 Yrd Dash: 4.46
20 Yrd Dash: 2.58
10 Yrd Dash: 1.54
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 11
Vertical Jump: 35 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'02"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.10
3-Cone Drill: 6.67

40 Time Range: 4.44-4.47/Projected 4.48
 

 





 Jaelon Darden, North Texas, Player News

  06/26/21 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Jaelon Darden and Hope Trautwein dazzled North Texas fans throughout 2020-21 school year. Darden needed just nine games to post 19 receiving touchdowns, while Trautwein became the first known player to strike out all 21 batters in a Division I softball game. Those accomplishments and others landed both on the short list of contenders for Conference USA's Michael L. Slive athlete of the year awards. The league announced its list of contenders for both awards on Friday. Each of the nominees received player of the year honors in their individual sports.

Darden was named C-USA's Most Valuable Player after posting one of the best individual seasons in program history. The Houston native became the first UNT player to be named a consensus All-American since program legend "Mean" Joe Greene in 1968. The 5-foot-9 speedster caught 74 passes for 1,190 yards in his final season with the Mean Green. He became the first UNT player selected in the NFL draft since linebacker Cody Spencer in 2004 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the fourth round on May 1. "It shows how much they trusted me," Darden said. "They loved what I was doing. I am shocked that I was picked by the Super Bowl champs." - FOX 4 TV News, Dallas


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: FOX 4 TV News, Dallas
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  05/04/21 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  The North Texas draft drought is finally over. Jaelon Darden, a diminutive wide receiver whose rare combination of talent and drive made him one of the best players in Mean Green history, etched his name into program lore yet again on Saturday. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Darden with the 24th pick in the fourth round of the NFL draft, bringing one of the more baffling slumps in college sports to a close. UNT had not had a player selected since the Oakland Raiders picked linebacker Cody Spencer in the sixth round in 2004. Hundreds of players have pulled on a Mean Green uniform since, including linebackers Zach Orr and Craig Robertson as well as running back Lance Dunbar. All three UNT legends are among a host of players who went on to the NFL after their time with the Mean Green. And yet, it was Darden, a 5-foot-8 slot receiver with blazing speed, elite quickness and an insatiable work ethic who finally broke the longest draft drought in major college football. - Denton Record

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: Denton Record
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  03/25/21 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Jaelon Darden has maintained focus on his dream of reaching the NFL throughout his football journey. Staying on that day-to-day grind has put Darden in position to become the first North Texas player selected in the NFL draft since 2004 heading into his pro day on Thursday. The Houston native has rarely looked forward toward what it will be like to live out his NFL dreams. Tuesday was one of those days. "I'm definitely going to shed a couple of tears because I've been working hard and did it with my best friend in my life, which is my dad," Darden said during a press conference ahead of his pro day. "That's going to be the hardest part. I can't share that moment with him, but I can share it with my mom and my little brother." Darden's father, Manya Darden, died of a heart condition over the summer.

Darden played his senior season with his father on his mind and put together one of the greatest campaigns in program history. He caught a program record 19 touchdown passes in just nine games and finished his career as UNT's career leader in receptions (230), receiving yards (2,782) and receiving touchdowns (38). "He's one of the best players I've coached offensively," UNT coach Seth Littrell said. "He's meant a lot to this program as a player and a lot to me as a person. "I look at him as a not only a great player but also a close friend." - Denton Record


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: Denton Record
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  01/09/21 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  North Texas wide receiver Jaelon Darden was already a notable player in program history by the time the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced its All-America team on Thursday. Making an 11th All-America team - this time as a second-team selection - was significant for Darden because it made him a consensus All-American. Darden is the first player to receive the distinction since program legend "Mean" Joe Greene in 1968. The 5-foot-9 speedster caught 74 passes for 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns in just nine games. He declared for the NFL draft following UNT's win over UTEP in the Mean Green's regular season finale. - Denton Record

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: Denton Record
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  01/02/21 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  2020 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM (COACHES): WR-Jaelon Darden, Sr., North Texas,...Darden finished with 74 receptions for 1,190 yards and a single-season program record 19 touchdowns in just nine games. His 19 receiving scores lead the Football Bowl Subdivision and entering the postseason has two more than Alabama's DeVonta Smith, who has the second-most nationally. Darden ranks seventh in the country in receptions per game (8.2). Darden led the nation in games with three or more receiving touchdowns, with four, and also tied for the most receiving scores in a single game in the country with four. Darden ranks third nationally in receiving yards per game (132.2) and receiving yards (1,190) and fourth in receptions (74). Darden concluded his time in Denton as the program's career record-holder in receptions (230), receiving yards (2,781) and receiving touchdowns (38). - North Texas Football

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: North Texas Football
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  12/29/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  2020 CONFERENCE USA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (COACHES): North Texas senior WR Jaelon Darden is the recipient of the C-USA Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the second receiver to be named C-USA MVP since the award was instituted in 2008. He continues to lead the FBS in receiving touchdowns with 19 in just nine games and caught at least one touchdown in 10 consecutive games dating back to the 2019 season finale. Darden posted four games with three or more touchdowns game on the season and his 19 TD catches set a new single-season program record and was two shy of the C-USA single-season record. A semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, he also set a new UNT records for career receptions with 230 and receiving yards with 2,782 and is the program's new career touchdown leader with 38. Darden had five games this season with 100-plus yards receiving. - Conference USA Football

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: Conference USA Football
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  12/14/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  DEC 14 CONFERENCE USA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: North Texas senior WR Jaelon Darden further cemented himself as the Mean Green's most accomplished receiver in the 45-43 win over UTEP on Dec. 11, hauling in team-highs in catches (8) receiving yards (173) and receiving touchdowns (4). Darden set a new program record for career receptions with 230 and receiving yards with 2,782 just one week after taking over the school record in receiving touchdowns, which now stands at 38.

He also moved into second place in program history in single-season receiving yards with 1,190 and career total touchdowns (rushing/receiving/returns) with 39. Darden leads the FBS in receiving touchdowns with 19 and receiving touchdowns per game with 2.1 and his 19 touchdowns have tied him for the second-most in a single season by an FBS player in the last five seasons (Corey Davis - 2016, Western Michigan and Carlos Henderson - 2016, Louisiana Tech). Darden scored touchdowns of 75, 50, 32 and two yards in the win over the Miners. - C-USA Football


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: C-USA Football
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  12/13/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  North Texas wide receiver Jaelon Darden declared for the NFL draft on Sunday, just two days after he cemented his status as one of the all-time greats in program history. Darden was already UNT's career leader in touchdown receptions heading into the Mean Green's game against UTEP on Friday. The senior added school records for career receiving yards and career receptions with a signature performance in UNT's 45-43 win over the Miners. Darden finished with eight caches for 173 yards and four touchdowns. - Denton Record Chronicle

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: Denton Record Chronicle
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  12/11/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Jaelon Darden had eight catches for 173 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to help North Texas beat UTEP 45-43 on Friday night. On Darden's fourth TD reception, the 2020 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist tied Casey Fitzgerald (2005-08) for the North Texas program record with 229 career receptions as he gave the Mean Green (4-5, 3-4 Conference USA) a 45-28 lead with 9:58 to go in the fourth quarter. He broke Fitzgerald's record with a minus-2-yard grab with 3:33 to go. Darden has 19 touchdown receptions - four more than any other player in the nation - in nine games this season.

The Miners (3-5, 0-4) closed the gap with a pair of touchdowns, including a two-point conversion. But UTEP needed to recover an onside kick with 26 seconds to go and Deonte Simpson secured it for the Mean Green to allow them to run out the clock for the win. Austin Aune passed for 302 yards and a career-high five TDs for North Texas. Simpson added 103 yards receiving and a TD, and Tre Siggers ran for 94 yards. Calvin Brownholtz threw for 196 yards with two TD passes and four interceptions and ran for 114 yards and two TDs for the Miners. Deion Hankins added 99 yards rushing and two TD runs and Jacob Cowing caught five passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. - North Texas/AP College Football


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: North Texas/AP College Football
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  12/11/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Jaelon Darden has never lacked for confidence, which is one of the reasons he has exceled as a 5-foot-9, 174-pound receiver. That confidence was on display on Tuesday when Darden made his first comments since he was named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award. Only 11 players made the cut. "It's an honor," Darden said. "I give all glory to God. I expected it to be honest. It can help me as I look to get to the next level." It was a bit of surprise to hear Darden say he expected to make the cut. What wasn't a surprise is that Darden say he hasn't made a decision on whether or not he will return to UNT next season. - Denton Record

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  12/10/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Darden, a Houston native, has 66 catches for 1,017 yards on the year - totals that rank fifth and sixth, respectively, on the major college level. "There are very few guys who work as hard as he does or have the same drive and determination," UNT coach Seth Littrell said earlier this season. "He's meant a lot to our program. He goes out and competes every week and gives us his all." Darden being named a Biletnikoff semifinalist comes on the heels of a memorable night for the senior. He caught eight passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns last week in a 42-31 loss to Louisiana Tech.

Darden broke UNT's single-season touchdown receptions record when he pushed his total to 15 against the Bulldogs. UNT Hall of Famer Ron Shanklin caught 13 touchdown passes in 1967. Darden's three scoring grabs upped his career total to 34. He was tied with Shanklin for the program record with 31. Those marks didn't mean a whole lot to Darden after a loss. "If I set records, that is good," he said. "I care more about winning, to be honest." - Denton Record


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  12/08/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  2020 BILETNIKOFF AWARD SEMIFINALIST: Jaelon Darden, North Texas,...Darden is having a career-year for the Mean Green and has led the nation wire-to-wire in receiving touchdowns. The Houston native has caught 66 passes (ranks fifth in FBS) for 1,017 yards (ranks sixth in FBS) and 15 touchdowns (tied for the national lead) in just eight games. Darden has five games with 100-plus yards and two with 200-plus yards, while posting three games with three receiving scores (most in FBS). His average of 8.2 catches per game ranks sixth in FBS, his 127.1 receiving yards per game rank fifth in FBS and his 1.9 receiving touchdowns per game leads the nation. - North Texas Football

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: North Texas Football
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  12/07/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  DEC 7 CONFERENCE USA CO-OEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: North Texas senior WR Jaelon Darden had a record-breaking day in the game against Louisiana Tech, setting new program records for career receiving touchdowns (34) and single-season receiving touchdowns (15). The Houston native hauled in eight passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns. It marked Darden's ninth straight game with at least one TD catch and his FBS-leading third game of the season with three receiving TDs. He remains the FBS leader in receiving touchdowns with 15 through just eight games. He became the program record-holder for career receiving TDs, breaking a tie with Ron Shanklin (1967-69), who had 31 throughout his storied career, in the first quarter with a 13-yard TD grab, where Darden took a wide receiver screen and evaded several Bulldog defenders. Darden's 33-yard TD in the third quarter made him the program record-holder in single-season receiving scores, breaking another tie with Shanklin, who had 13 in his 1967 season. Darden also scored on a screen early in the fourth quarter to pull the Mean Green within 11. - Conference USA Football

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: Conference USA Football
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  12/05/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  The Houston native came into the game tied with Ron Shanklin for career touchdown catches with 31. Darden's 12 touchdown catches on the season trailed the program record of 13 set by Shanklin set in 1967. Darden caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jason Bean in the first quarter to set the career record. He later caught a 33-yard scoring strike from Bean to grab the single-season mark on his way to finishing with eight catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns. None of that mattered to Darden on a night the Mean Green fell to 3-5 in their final home game of the season. "I am more focused on winning," Darden said. "If I set records, that is good, but I care more about winning, to be honest."

Darden is considered an NFL prospect and said earlier this fall that he has yet to decide if he will return for another season with the Mean Green. If Darden does elect to return, he will have an opportunity to hold nearly all of UNT's receiving records by the time he finishes his college career. He came into the night with 214 career catches, just short of the program record of 229 set by Casey Fitzgerald from 2005-08. Johnny Quinn's total of 2,718 receiving yards is the program record. Darden came into the night with 2,474 yards. Darden now has 222 catches for 2,609 yards in his UNT career. He moved into moved into second place all-time at UNT in receiving yards after passing Casey Fitzgerald (2,533 yards) and Troy Redwine (2,567 yards). - Denton Record


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  12/03/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Senior wide receiver Jaelon Darden has separated himself as one of the elite receivers in the country. He caught eight passes for 143 yards and a touchdown last week at UT San Antonio. His 75-yard touchdown in the second quarter was the longest catch of his career and the longest offensive play for the Mean Green this season. Darden is among the nation's leaders in all three primary receiving categories heading into Week 14, with 58 receptions (T-7th in FBS), 882 yards (9th) and 12 touchdowns (tied for the lead in FBS) through just seven games. - North Texas Football

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: North Texas Football
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  10/20/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  North Texas wide receiver Jaelon Darden continued to move up on the Mean Green's list for career receptions during UNT's 52-35 win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday at Floyd Stadium. Darden came into the game with 192 career catches and vaulted past Carlos Harris for second on UNT's all-time leaders list after grabbing 10 passes for 204 and a touchdown. Harris caught 197 passes during his time with the Mean Green that spanned from 2012-15. Darden now is chasing UNT Hall of Famer Casey Fitzgerald, who holds UNT's career record of 229 catches. Fitzgerald played for UNT from 2005-08. Darden caught his 200th career pass early in the second half. "Darden had made a lot of big plays for us," UNT coach Seth Littrell said. "You never know the way teams are going to play him, bracketing him or doubling him. They didn't do that tonight." That decision left MTSU's defensive backs facing Darden in one-on-one situations. Darden has won those battles throughout the season. He came into the night with nine touchdown catches on the season and continued to shine in UNT's win over the Blue Raiders. - Denton Record

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  10/19/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Scoring and other offensive numbers continue to rise through seven weeks of the college football season, and the weekend showed why. Clemson scored 73 points against Georgia Tech, North Texas hung 52 on Middle Tennessee, Memphis had 50 against Central Florida, and the week began with Arkansas State outscoring Georgia State 59-52. Seven teams have scored at least 63 points in a game this season. Over the entire 2019 season, a team hit 63 points 18 times. And remember, only 77 of 130 FBS teams have played so far because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Big Ten and Mountain West Conference open their seasons this week and the Pac-12 and Mid-American Conference start the first week of November.

The FBS scoring average of 30.3 points is up more than a point from last season and slightly ahead of the record of 30 points per game in 2016. The average of 3.89 touchdowns per team is slightly ahead of the record 3.82 in 2016. The total offense average of 412 yards is on pace to be the second-highest since the NCAA started keeping records in 1937, behind the record 417 yards per game in 2016. Five teams have gone over 700 yards in a game; North Texas has done it twice. The combined 1,501 yards between UCF (798) and Memphis (703) was an American Athletic Conference record. Other offensive outbursts Saturday saw North Texas pile up a program-record 768 yards against Middle Tennessee and Clemson go for 671 against Georgia Tech. - AP College Football


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
News Source: AP College Football
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  10/17/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Jaelon Darden is solidifying his status as a UNT great. Jaelon Darden came into the season with a chance to carve out a significant legacy in UNT history. The senior is capitalizing on that chance while establishing himself as one of the top players in C-USA. Darden caught 13 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns in the Mean Green's loss to Charlotte. The performance helped him continue to climb UNT's career leaders lists. Darden now ranks third in program history with 192 receptions. He has a chance of surpassing the record of 229 set by Casey Fitzgerald from 2005-08. Darden is on track to be a first-team All-C-USA selection as well as a UNT Hall of Famer. "I study film and know where I need to be," Darden said after the game. "If I take care of small things, everything else will take care of itself." - Denton Record

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  10/16/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  The question with UNT heading into the year was if it had any hope of making a run at a bowl game after losing standout quarterback Mason Fine to graduation. Those hopes appear dim at best nearly halfway into the season. UNT was always going to miss Fine, the two-time C-USA Offensive Player of the Year. The emergence of Aune has helped. He's thrown for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns with just two interceptions after starting the Mean Green's last two games. Wide receiver Jaelon Darden is having a monster year. The senior has nine touchdown catches in four games. He went off for 244 yards and three touchdowns in UNT's loss to Charlotte. The reality for UNT is a big year from Darden isn't translating into wins. The Mean Green have too many holes throughout the rest of their lineup, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic and injuries that have ravaged the roster. - Denton Record

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  10/14/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Jaelon Darden put together one of the more memorable performances of his career on Saturday. The senior wide receiver caught 13 passes for 244 yards in a notable performance in program history. Unfortunately for Darden and UNT, it came in a 49-21 loss to Charlotte at Apogee Stadium. "Darden always brings it," UNT coach Seth Littrell said. "He has the mindset and confidence to go out there and make plays. He is going to give it everything he has on every snap. He has grown over time. This is his fourth season and has played a lot of ball. He plays fast and is a great player." That was evident in the Mean Green's loss to the 49ers. Darden caught three touchdown passes and kept UNT's hopes to rally for a win over Charlotte alive late in the second half. He caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Austin Aune early in the fourth quarter that pulled UNT within 35-21. "I study film and know where I need to be," Darden said. "If I take care of small things, everything else will take care of itself." - Denton Record

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  10/08/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Jaelon Darden continues to play well and sophomore wide receiver Deonte Simpson keeps coming on for UNT. Darden caught his sixth touchdown pass of the season and had 13 catches for 104 yards against Southern Miss. Simpson added five catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. Those two receivers will continue to help UNT excel in the passing game. - Denton Record

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  10/02/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  The list of teams Jaelon Darden has played for, or was expected to join, during his football journey points toward a restless soul. The Houston native played at two high schools, was forced to sit out part of his senior season after transferring, and committed to three colleges, including one that pulled his scholarship offer. Darden never found a long-term home until he landed at North Texas, where he's become a cornerstone for the Mean Green. The senior is in his third year as a starter, ranks second in program history with 24 career touchdown catches and has emerged as a team leader as well as one of the more productive players in college football in a pandemic-impacted season.

Darden leads the nation in touchdown catches with five heading into the Mean Green's Conference USA opener against Southern Miss (0-3, 0-1) on Saturday at Apogee Stadium, despite the fact UNT (1-1) has played just two games. "The journey has been hard, but then again, it wasn't with the things I have been through," Darden said. "They didn't faze me at all. I just took it on the chin and ran with it." - Denton Record


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  09/08/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  The feeling heading into the season was that UNT has some serious depth at its skill positions. Nothing that transpired in the Mean Green's win over HBU dispelled that notion. UNT's top players all showed up in a big way, including Jaelon Darden (three touchdown catches) and DeAndre Torrey (85 rushing yards). What was even more encouraging was the fact that so many of UNT's younger players fared well when they had the opportunity. Oscar Adaway came on late to rush for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Deonte Simpson and Kealon Jackson each had three catches. Adaway and Jackson are redshirt freshmen, while Simpson is a sophomore. - Denton Record

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  09/08/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  2021 SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST: Jaelon Darden, North Texas,...Darden, a 2019 first team all-conference selection by the league's 14 head coaches, led the Mean Green in every major receiving category and was among the nation's most productive receivers. He finished with 76 receptions for 736 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 receiving scores ranked 12th in FBS (his 12 touchdowns were three more than anyone else in the conference), and he ranked 21st in the country in receptions per game (6.3). - North Texas Football

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  09/05/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Jason Bean threw three touchdowns and ran for another one in his first start for North Texas, and the Mean Green set a school record with 721 total yards in a 57-31 win over FCS team Houston Baptist on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams. Jaelon Darden had three TD catches, scores of 33 and 19 yards from Bean and a 6-yarder thrown by former minor league outfielder Austin Aune in his UNT debut a day before his 27th birthday. Oscar Adaway added TD runs of 35 and 47 yards.

Bailey Zappe was 39-of-62 passing for 480 yards and three touchdowns for Houston Baptist. The senior led all FCS quarterbacks last season with 357 completions, and was second with 317.6 yards passing per game and 35 TDs. The Huskies, in only their eighth season since starting the program, have only three games scheduled after the Southland Conference decided not to play league games this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. They face their first-ever Power Five opponent next week at Texas Tech, then go to C-USA team Louisiana Tech on Sept. 26. - North Texas/AP College Football


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  08/28/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  2020 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM (COACHES): WR Jaelon Darden, Sr., North Texas,...Darden, a 2019 first team all-conference selection by the league's 14 head coaches, led the Mean Green in every major receiving category and was among the nation's most productive receivers. He finished with 76 receptions for 736 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 receiving scores ranked 12th in FBS (his 12 touchdowns were three more than anyone else in the conference), and he ranked 21st in the country in receptions per game (6.3). Darden tied for the most three-touchdown games by any receiver in the country with two. - North Texas Football

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  07/27/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  2020 PRESEASON MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: WR Jaelon Darden, North Texas,...Darden, a 2019 first team all-conference selection by the league's 14 head coaches, led the Mean Green in every major receiving category and was among the nation's most productive receivers. He finished with 76 receptions for 736 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 receiving scores ranked 12th in FBS (his 12 touchdowns were three more than anyone else in the conference), and he ranked 21st in the country in receptions per game (6.3). - North Texas Football

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  07/24/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  2020 PRESEASON BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST: Jaelon Darden, North Texas,...Darden, a 2019 first team all-conference selection by the league's 14 head coaches, led the Mean Green in every major receiving category and was among the nation's most productive receivers. He finished with 76 receptions for 736 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 receiving scores ranked 12th in FBS (his 12 touchdowns were three more than anyone else in the conference), and he ranked 21st in the country in receptions per game (6.3). Darden tied for the most three-touchdown games by any receiver in the country with two.

Darden is fourth in program history in single season receiving touchdowns and his 76 catches tied for fifth-most in a single season in program history (John Love, 1965). Darden concluded his junior season with 156 career catches, which ranks sixth in program history, and his 19 career touchdowns are seventh in program history. An explosive talent from the slot, Darden enters 2020 as one of two seniors among a deep receiving corps and will look to continue to build on his fantastic career in Denton. - North Texas Football


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  04/29/20 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  Seth Littrell has never lacked confidence when it comes to predicting success for North Texas since taking over the program ahead of the 2016 season. Littrell said his goal heading into his debut campaign was to win a bowl game. The Mean Green haven't always hit those marks but have enjoyed a whole lot of success since while playing in the postseason three of the last four years. Littrell was at it again leading up to last week's NFL draft. UNT hasn't had a player selected since 2004, when the Oakland Raiders snapped up linebacker Cody Spencer in the sixth round.

The Mean Green had the longest drought in major college football heading into this year's draft and saw the slump drag on another year when it didn't have a player among the 255 picked. The event wrapped up on Saturday. "It will happen," Littrell said of the program breaking through. "We have done a good job evaluating in recruiting and have talented players on our roster. Hopefully it will happen pretty quickly. It would mean a lot." - Denton Record


(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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  12/18/19 - WR Jaelon DardenSr/2021, North Texas, 5-08, 174 (DS#27 WR) + More +

  2019 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM (COACHES): WR Jaelon Darden, Jr., North Texas,...Darden led the Mean Green in every major receiving category and was among the nation's most productive receivers. The junior finished with 76 receptions for 736 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 receiving scores ranked ninth in FBS (his 12 touchdowns were three more than anyone else in the conference), and he ranked 21st in the country in receptions per game (6.3). Darden tied for the most three-touchdown games by any receiver in the country with two. Darden is fourth in program history in single season receiving touchdowns and his 76 catches tie for fifth-most in a single season in program history (John Love, 1965). Darden concluded his junior season with 156 career catches, which ranks sixth in program history, and his 19 career touchdowns are seventh in program history. - North Texas Football

(DS#27 WR) Sr/2021 WR Jaelon DardenNorth Texas
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