From No Stars or Offers to Power Five Starter, Former Walk-On Kevon Darton Still Plays With Chip on Shoulder

The Syracuse Orange starting defensive tackle has proven the doubters wrong.

Syracuse defensive lineman Kevon Darton took an uncommon journey to becoming a starter on a power five football team. From unheralded recruit with no stars or offers to walk-on, Darton then earned a scholarship with the Orange. 

“I always play with that chip on my shoulder, you know not a lot of kids come in as walk-ons and earn scholarships, but I continue to keep that chip on my shoulder especially when people think I am undersized," said Kevon Darton.

The chip of Darton’s shoulder did not just appear in college, it has been a part of him for years.

The journey for Kevon Darton to play division one college football is not what many would expect for the key defensive tackle. There was a time when only Kevon, his parents and his high school coach believed he could play at the next level. Those were all he needed.

“I used to laugh as players ‘tried’ to tackle him (Kevon), because he is so low to the ground, they were never able to bring him down and eventually jumped on top of him. Kevon would carry the defenders on his back usually 15 yards further, said Coach Johnson, Kevon’s high school head coach.

At 5’11 Darton was making a name for himself at Worcester Academy, being named the New England Prep Defensive Player of the Year. While he turned heads, no offers and no stars were given based on one thing. His height.

Coach Johnson, who was a well-respected coach in Massachusetts for thirty years, only put his reputation on the line for one player in his career. Kevon.

“People do not realize what a phenomenal athlete he is. I could have put him back to return punts if I needed to. At practice he would make Odell Beckham catches all day long,” said Johnson.

Smiling at the recollection, Johnson told the story about the game Kevon singlehandedly won by himself. Kevon scored a touchdown on a 10-yard run where he ran over two players and carried two more into the end zone with him. On defense, he scored two more for the team on a safety. The team won 9-0.

Flash forward years later, Kevon Darton still stands at 5’11 and is doing what he has always done. Except now he is doing it at the Power 5 level. A level that a lot of people did not think he belonged playing in.

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