If ASU freshman Alden Darby were like the rest of affectable humanity, the prospect of his first college football game would feel like a migration of Monarchs in his gut, putting him into a tizzy of sleepless nights.
But like a butterfly traveling the high skies of the Americas, Darby’s journey to Tempe is hard to fathom — trepidation could only serve as a fuel.
With Darby’s first step on ASU’s campus came the completion of a challenge far more vexing than that posed by a fleet-footed receiver, a badgering coach, or a pestering press.
He survived his childhood.
Darby grew up in Long Beach, Calif., a neighborhood so rough, his two nearest crossroads — 21st and Lewis — became lyrics used to describe the location of a carjacking in rapper Warren G’s famous track “Regulate”. ,
Darby did it without his parents, both of whom were imprisoned throughout his childhood — if one can call it that.
“I stayed with my grandma and my aunties,” Darby said. “I played quarterback, wide-receiver, DB (defensive back), [and] safety. I ran track and they wanted me to play baseball but I didn’t have time to do that.”
Darby found refuge on the football field. He was so good at Millikan Senior High School, you’d have thought he was throwing the ball to himself. In 2010 he led the team in passing and rushing and somehow managed to finish third in receiving, all while dominating the defensive secondary.
“I know my abilities and I know I can play any position on the field,” Darby said.
Darby couldn’t escape to the athletic fields enough. He even volunteered as a youth coach for summer football camps.
“I never gave into drugs or anything like that,” Darby said. “ I helped out, coached Pop Warner, helped out with camp at school— I was always at school.
While Darby didn’t have his parents, he managed to build a support group that included the team, friends, cousins, grandmother, aunts and a stepfather.
“Everyone pitched in to help because they didn’t want my life to be like parents, they knew that I had something special so they all gave in and helped,” Darby said.
What was originally a distraction from the realities of a broken home soon became the foundation for a dream.
The goal was clear — become good enough to get a scholarship.
Darby was offered one by ASU, but had to make a final exhausting push his senior year to receive the proper amount of credits to be academically eligible.
Given the hardships of life on the tough streets without parents, Darby was well equipped to quickly adapt to the heavy workload.
Now, as one of only four true freshmen at ASU with the chance to contribute as either a safety or cornerback, Darby sees a positive side to his youth.
“It helped me grow up and keep my eye on the prize,” Darby said. “It made me stronger as a person, and my mentality is to be strong.”
His coaches agree.
“The game doesn’t seem too big for him just yet,” cornerbacks coach Greg Burns said. “I would definitely say his childhood has helped a lot, in an unfortunate way. He has unfortunately had to grow up fast with personal life issues that has probably given him a different perspective on life.”
While Darby’s traumatic childhood may not endear him to an opponent, the net result of his youth is evidenced in day-to-day competitions with teammates.
“He has a lot of talent and I can see the potential in him as a great player,” senior receiver Kerry Taylor said. “ I definitely tested him from day one to see what he was made of, and he stepped up to that challenge every time.”
Yep, the kid can fly.
Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu.
