Darrell Stuckey to become latest Orange Bowl-winning Jayhawk in Ring of Honor

By Benton Smith     Sep 19, 2019

Richard Gwin
Kansas kick returner Darrell Stuckey (25) takes the ball up the sideline with KSU's Lamark Brown (7) in pursuit against Kansas State in Manhattan Saturday, November 7, 2009.

A key part of the Kansas football program’s successful run a little more than a decade ago, former defensive back Darrell Stuckey will soon join a few of his Orange Bowl-winning teammates in the Ring of Honor inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

KU’s athletic department announced Thursday that Stuckey will see his name added to the list of program greats, including Aqib Talib, Todd Reesing, Chris Harris Jr. and Anthony Collins, during the Jayhawks’ Oct. 26 homecoming game versus Texas Tech.

“I am humbled to be honored alongside those who came before me and those who are yet to be honored,” Stuckey stated in a KU release. “To me, this is not about stats and accolades. This is about the people who walked beside me before I got to the finish line. I was a kid who just wanted to be made into something greater than what I could see or believed I could become. The men and women of KU football and Kansas Athletics helped me do that. For that, I am forever grateful.”

Stuckey, a Kansas City, Kan., native and graduate of Washington High and KU, played safety for then head coach Mark Mangino’s Jayhawks from 2006-09.

He played in 45 games and started 42, finishing his college career with 295 total tackles — second all-time among KU defensive backs, behind LeRoy Irvin’s 347 in the late 1970s. Stuckey’s eight career interceptions rank him 10th all-time in KU’s record book. A first-team All-Big 12 defender in 2008, Stuckey contributed to consecutive bowl game victories with KU, the Orange Bowl and the Insight Bowl.

“From what I have been told, he was the finest teammate you could ask for and led this program to great heights,” KU head coach Les Miles stated in a release. “It is an honor to have him continue to be an integral part of not only the football team, but the entire KU community.”

KU Athletic Director Jeff Long called Stuckey “an exceptional student-athlete” for the football program.

“His off-the-field contributions to KU are highlighted by his support of an endowed scholarship, his role as a daily mentor for the current football team, and his stature as one of the great community ambassadors for the Jayhawks,” Long added of Stuckey’s role since then. “We applaud Darrell for his continuous support of the University of Kansas and cannot wait to celebrate his induction in front of our fans at homecoming.”

After becoming a fourth-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2010, Stuckey played seven seasons in the NFL and was a special teams captain with the organization for five years. He made the Pro Bowl in 2014.

Stuckey is set to join the following former KU standouts in the Ring of Honor: Gilbert Brown, Larry Brown, Collins, Nolan Cromwell, Bobby Douglass, Ray Evans, John Hadl, Harris, David Jaynes, Bruce Kallmeyer, Curtis McClinton, Mike McCormack, George Mrkonic, Willie Pless, Reesing, Gil Reich, Gale Sayers, Otto Schnellbacher, Oliver Spencer, John Riggins, Talib and John Zook.

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53893Darrell Stuckey to become latest Orange Bowl-winning Jayhawk in Ring of Honor