Darrion Gardner
#H8ME6ROWNTAL3NT
Fort Meade defensive lineman Darrion Gardner said there's a reason the Fort Meade Miner defense has only given up 28 points in their six games this season.
“We got a lot of guys with a lot of skills so we just talk up to each other,” he said. “We look to each other to improve each other. We all work together like we're leaders. We don't have any followers in the group, we're all leaders.”
The senior defensive end and defensive tackle is in his first year at Fort Meade. He's a Frostproof native that has made the left side of the Miner defensive line his new home. Gardner said he's always liked playing on the defensive side of the ball; dishing out hits instead of taking them.
“First time I played football was my pee wee year in little league. I was a little skinnier then, so I was playing running back and quarterback. I really didn't like getting hit, so they moved me back to linebacker. I started playing defense there. For me it felt better because I wasn't receiving the pain, I was giving it. Plus I had a bit of anger in me so when I got hit I just reacted.”
Gardner said that he came up admiring the play of former Frostproof stars Carlton Thomas, Greg Bell and Ellis Brummell.
“Those were the guys I looked up to,” he said. “I lived in a very small part of Frostproof that a lot of people don't know about. They often came around, saw how I was doing, and hung out.”
In the Miner's six games, Gardner has earned 29 tackles this season and has received attention from Maine's Hudson University, a Division III program.
“It just shows me that I have a chance of making it to the next level,” he said. “And if I keep pushing I can make it and help my family.”
Writer - James Bennett, Jr.
Photographer - Titus Moye Photography
#H8ME6ROWNTAL3NT
Fort Meade defensive lineman Darrion Gardner said there's a reason the Fort Meade Miner defense has only given up 28 points in their six games this season.
“We got a lot of guys with a lot of skills so we just talk up to each other,” he said. “We look to each other to improve each other. We all work together like we're leaders. We don't have any followers in the group, we're all leaders.”
The senior defensive end and defensive tackle is in his first year at Fort Meade. He's a Frostproof native that has made the left side of the Miner defensive line his new home. Gardner said he's always liked playing on the defensive side of the ball; dishing out hits instead of taking them.
“First time I played football was my pee wee year in little league. I was a little skinnier then, so I was playing running back and quarterback. I really didn't like getting hit, so they moved me back to linebacker. I started playing defense there. For me it felt better because I wasn't receiving the pain, I was giving it. Plus I had a bit of anger in me so when I got hit I just reacted.”
Gardner said that he came up admiring the play of former Frostproof stars Carlton Thomas, Greg Bell and Ellis Brummell.
“Those were the guys I looked up to,” he said. “I lived in a very small part of Frostproof that a lot of people don't know about. They often came around, saw how I was doing, and hung out.”
In the Miner's six games, Gardner has earned 29 tackles this season and has received attention from Maine's Hudson University, a Division III program.
“It just shows me that I have a chance of making it to the next level,” he said. “And if I keep pushing I can make it and help my family.”
Writer - James Bennett, Jr.
Photographer - Titus Moye Photography
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