« Football 2009

Darrell Stuckey

School
University of Kansas
Position
Safety
Major
Communication Studies

Classroom

Stuckey has already graduated with a degree in communication studies.  He will pursue another undergraduate degree during his final season of football at Kansas.

Character

Stuckey has been elected as a team captain for the 2009 season. He has also been elected by his peers to serve on the Executive Board of the Jayhawk Student Athlete Advisory Committee (2007 – 2009). He is on the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics (2007-08 and 2009-10) and serves as one of three student-athlete representatives and seven total students on a committee that is designed to provide advice and recommendations on athletic matters to the Athletics Board of Directors and to the Chancellor. Stuckey was also elected by KU students in April 2009 to serve as a Student Senator in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (August 2009 – April 2010). He was voted by his teammates as the nicest player on the team, the most likely to succeed, and the second most competitive (2009).

Community

Stuckey is the most active volunteer in the Kansas Athletics Community Service program.  Most recently, Stuckey was recognized as a member of the 2009 Allstate Good Works Team for his off-the-field achievements and generous contributions to the community.  He volunteers weekly in various activities with Kansas Special Olympics. The Jayhawk Student Athlete Advisory Committee has a strong partnership with Special Olympics Kansas. Special Olympics, which is the Big 12 Conference charity of choice, is an international organization created to help people with disabilities develop self-confidence and social skills through sports training and competition. Jayhawk student-athletes have the opportunity to volunteer throughout the year to participate in events such as bowling, attending Jayhawk sporting events, and also events at PowerPlay, which is a family fun entertainment center that features laser tag, bumper cars and an arcade. All of these events are aimed at developing a social bond with Special Olympians while having fun. Stuckey also volunteers to speak with visiting elementary students about the importance of academics and always trying your best. He is a member of the Kansas Athletics Speaker’s Bureau and is a highly-sought after motivational speaker, and has worked with the KU Endowment (University fundraising department), KU Alumni Association as well as various community organizations to tailor and deliver a positive message to their constituents.

Competition

Stuckey earned All-Big 12 first team honors in 2008 and is a preseason All-Big 12 selection by most publications. He is on preseason national award watch lists, including the Bednarik Award (top defender), Thorpe Award (top defensive back), Lott Trophy (on and off the field success for a defensive player) and the AFCA Good Works Team (off the field contributions). He was second on the team in tackles (98) and passes broken up (7), while leading in interceptions with five. He was the Big 12 Player of the Week after KU beat Missouri last year, as he recorded six tackles, two interceptions and forced and recovered a fumble.