Stuckey (5-11, 208) is a third-year strong safety. San Diego selected him in the fourth-round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
The window of opportunity is wide open for third-year safety Darrell Stuckey, who is expected to compete for the team’s starting spot at strong safety in 2012.
Stuckey saw his first extensive playing time in 2011, appearing in 14 games, where he was part of a three-way tie for the team lead with 12 special teams tackles. A fourth-round pick in 2010, Stuckey was expected to challenge for the strong safety spot as a rookie, but a hamstring injury during training camp slowed him throughout the preseason and into the regular season, costing him a shot at significant playing time.
Outgoing and gregarious, Stuckey is one of the Chargers’ most-active players in the community. As a student at Kansas University, he was not only one of the school’s most-talented athletes, but also one of it’s most popular and academically gifted. Raised by a single mother, Michele Foulks, Stuckey graduated in four years and was named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He was also one of the Jayhawks’ most active participants in student government and community service. Stuckey enjoys delivering motivational speeches and regularly volunteers to lend a helping hand with community projects in San Diego.
As a collegian, Stuckey’s 295 career tackles were second-most all time among Jayhawks defensive backs. The only player with more was former NFL great Leroy Irvin, who had 347 from 1976-79. Stuckey was the Jayhawks’ first non-linebacker to lead the team in tackles since 2000.
Stuckey has three brothers and three sisters. His younger sister, Denae, played basketball at Iowa State.
Stuckey’s hobbies include painting, drawing and collecting DVD movies.
In April 2011, Stuckey married longtime girlfriend, Lacie Reed, and the couple honeymooned in Hawaii.
Darrell Stuckey had what basically amounted to a redshirt year in his rookie season with the Chargers in 2010. Drafted in the fourth round, Stuckey was expected to challenge for the team’s starting strong safety spot, but a hamstring injury during training camp slowed him throughout the preseason and into the regular season, costing him a shot at any significant playing time in 2010. Now healthy, Stuckey is eager to demonstrate the skills he showed as a collegian when he was a two-time All-Big 12 choice for the Kansas Jayhawks.
At KU, Stuckey was not only one of the school’s most-talented athletes, but also one of it’s most popular and academically gifted students. He graduated in four years and was named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. Stuckey was one of the Jayhawks’ most active student-athletes in the community and that benevolence has carried over to San Diego. He enjoys delivering motivational speeches and regularly volunteers to lend a helping hand with community projects.
As a collegian, Stuckey’s 295 career tackles were second-most all time among Jayhawks defensive backs. The only player with more was former NFL great Leroy Irvin, who had 347 from 1976-79. Stuckey was the Jayhawks’ first non-linebacker to lead the team in tackles since 2000.
Stuckey has three brothers and three sisters. His younger sister, Denae, played basketball at Iowa State.
Stuckey’s hobbies include painting and drawing.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fourth-round pick (110), April 24, 2010...signed four-year contract, June 25.
2011: Darrell Stuckey had a solid game on special teams Week 9 against Green Bay with an onside kick recovery after the Chargers got within 45-31.
2010: Active for first NFL game and saw action on special teams Sept. 26 at Seattle
COLLEGE: First-team All-Big 12 in 2008 and ’09...American Football Coaches Association ’09 Good Works team...Big 12 Community of Champions in ’08...Jayhawks’ ST POY and Weight Room Award in ’08, and co-winner of Nolan Cromwell Leadership Award...career-high 98 TTs in ’08, most by KU DB since 2003...also career-high five INTs...Big 12 Defensive POW after two INTs and FF vs. Missouri in ’08...redshirted in 2005...played at Kansas from 2005-09...degree in communications.
PERSONAL: Born in Kansas City, Kansas...two-time Metro Offensive POY and team MVP at Washington HS in KC...all-state as senior...led team to three-straight KCK league titles...invited to 2005 Kansas Shrine Bowl...all-state in baseball and lettered in basketball and track....sister, Denae, played basketball at Iowa State.
