NC State had a couple of redshirt freshmen depart the program in the past couple of weeks in running back Nakia Robinson and tight end Damien Darden. Robinson announced on Twitter his intentions to transfer. Darden has not made any such declarations but the word is he too is seeking a transfer.
Darden had actually started NC State’s first two games at tight end, but that was more out of necessity. Sophomore Dylan Autenrieth was injured, and sophomore USC transfer Cary Angeline was not eligible until the Marshall contest. Both Autenrieth and Angeline are ahead of Darden on the depth chart. Sophomore Dylan Parham would likely be ahead of Darden as well if he was healthy.
Thus Darden, buried on the depth chart, probably saw the writing on the wall and had enough game film to seek a transfer to other colleges. He made a very early commitment to NC State, before his junior season at C.B. Aycock High in Pikeville, N.C., and at the time East Carolina was the only other known program recruiting him.
Robinson’s decision probably not coincidentally coincides with freshman Ricky Person’s emergence in NC State’s running game. Person had rushed for 200 yards on 31 carries in wins over Virginia and Boston College. With a pair of touted freshmen coming in next season in Jamious Griffin and Zonovan Knight, Robinson’s opportunity at NC State was not looking promising.
Most of Robison’s recruiting attention out of high school in Miami came from mid-majors, although Oregon State did make a push for him.
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