University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Spotlight: Jaelon Darden Pro Day
3/26/2021 10:30:00 AM | Football
DENTON - On Thursday, March 25, the Mean Green football program hosted scouts from 29 of 32 NFL teams with all eyes on standout wide receiver Jaelon Darden. Darden showed off his abilities in a multitude of workouts and drills, including the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle run, three cone drill, broad jump, vertical jump and bench press. He also demonstrated his route running and catching abilities and fielded punts. Listed results from Darden's Pro Day are as follows:
- Height: 5'7.5"
- Weight: 174 lbs.
- 40-yard dash: 4.4 sec.
- 20-yard shuttle run: 4.07 sec.
- Three cone drill: 6.65 sec.
- Broad jump: 10'2"
- Vertical jump: 35.6"
- Bench press: 11 reps
Darden was among the nation's leaders in all of the major receiving categories. The Houston native finished with 74 receptions for 1,190 yards and a single-season program record 19 touchdowns in just nine games. His 19 receiving scores were second in the Football Bowl Subdivision, only trailing Alabama Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, who had 23 touchdowns in 13 games. Darden ranked 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 ranked 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 (2,782) and receiving touchdowns (38).
Darden was a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, was named the Conference USA MVP, a First Team All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), a First Team All-America selection by Phil Steele, a Pro Football Focus First Team All-American (and the PFF Conference USA Player of the Year), an ESPN All-America selection, a Bleacher Report All-America selection, and a Second Team All-America selection by the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Walter Camp Foundation, the Sporting News, CBS/247Sports and The Athletic. Darden also narrowly missed a spot as one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award (was a semifinalist).
The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 29.
