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American football player (born 1999) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
DaRon Bland (/dəˈrɒn/ də-RON;[1] born July 12, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Sacramento State Hornets before transferring to the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Cowboys selected Bland in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL draft. In 2023, he led the NFL with 9 interceptions and set the NFL single-season record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown with five; this also tied Ken Houston's record for the most defensive touchdowns in a single season.[2]
Bland in 2022 | |||||||||||
| No. 26 – Dallas Cowboys | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | July 12, 1999 Modesto, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 197 lb (89 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Central Catholic (Modesto) | ||||||||||
| College: |
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| NFL draft: | 2022 / round: 5 / pick: 167 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Injured reserve/designated for return | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||
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Bland grew up in Modesto, California, and attended Central Catholic High School, playing receiver on the football team as well as running track and field.[3][4] He was named the Valley Oak League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.[5]
Bland began his college career at Sacramento State. As a junior, he was named first-team All-Big Sky Conference after recording 43 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and forced fumbles with two interceptions and eight passes broken up.[6] After his senior season was canceled and moved to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Bland entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.[7] Bland ultimately committed to transfer to Fresno State.[8] In his only season with the Bulldogs he recorded 45 tackles with five passes defended and two interceptions in 13 games played.[9]
| Season | GP | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Cmb | TfL | Sck | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | FF | TD | ||
| Sacramento State Hornets | ||||||||||||||
| 2017 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 10 | 33 | 11 | 44 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 47 | 47.0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 13 | 30 | 13 | 43 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 2 | 43 | 21.5 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||||||
| Fresno State Bulldogs | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 13 | 34 | 11 | 45 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 38 | 19.0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 43 | 102 | 38 | 140 | 10.5 | 1.0 | 5 | 128 | 25.6 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0+1⁄4 in (1.84 m) |
197 lb (89 kg) |
32 in (0.81 m) |
9 in (0.23 m) | 4.48 s | 1.55 s | 2.59 s | 4.15 s | 7.26 s | 35.5 in (0.90 m) | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) | 14 reps | |
| All values from Pro Day[10] | ||||||||||||
Bland was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys.[11][12]
Bland recorded his first career interception on October 2, 2022, versus Carson Wentz.[13] Bland would then have two picks against Matt Ryan on December 4,[14][15] and another on December 24 against the Philadelphia Eagles for his fifth interception of the season, setting the Dallas Cowboys rookie record for interceptions in a single season.[16]
On September 10, 2023, Bland recorded his first interception of the season. It was a pass from New York Giants quarterback, Daniel Jones to Saquon Barkley. Barkley caught the ball, but dropped it after getting hit by Trevon Diggs. Bland intercepted the ball and returned it for his first career touchdown.[17]
On October 1, Bland recorded two interceptions against Mac Jones while facing the New England Patriots, one of which he converted for six points.[18]
On October 29, Bland returned an interception from Matthew Stafford for a touchdown, making it his third of the year; setting the Cowboys single-season pick-six record previously held by five other players.[19]
On November 19, in a game against the Carolina Panthers, Bland intercepted a pass from Bryce Young and returned it for his fourth interception return for a touchdown of the year, tying the NFL single-season record and the Cowboys career record. Bland was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.[20]
On November 23, during the win over the Washington Commanders, Bland intercepted a pass from Sam Howell and returned it for his fifth interception return for a touchdown of the year, setting the NFL single-season record.[21] Bland was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November.[22]
During training camp in 2024, Bland suffered a stress fracture and began the season on injured reserve.[23]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| NFL record | |
| Bold | Career high |
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