Darian Bernard Durant (born August 19, 1982) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2006 to 2017. He played college football at the University of North Carolina. By the end of his college career, he held school records for completion percentage, touchdowns, passing yards, total offense and completions. Durant was signed as a free agent by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2006, and became the club's full-time starting quarterback in 2009. He was named a CFL West Division All-Star in 2009 and 2013. Durant was the starting quarterback when the Roughriders won the 101st Grey Cup in 2013 on their home field. Durant also played for the Montreal Alouettes in 2017. His brother Justin played in the National Football League as a linebacker.
Early life Durant was born on August 19, 1982, in Florence, South Carolina to Betty and Israel Durant. He has three brothers and a sister. His younger brother, Justin, played for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and his older brother, Keyshawn, was a quarterback at South Carolina State.
Durant attended high school at Wilson High School in Florence, South Carolina. During his senior year of high school, he led the team to South Carolina's 4-A state semi-finals. Durant set a school record with 2,446 passing yards and tied his own record with 25 touchdown passes, which was set during his sophomore season. He was named a Super Prep All-America, Honorable Mention All-America by USA Today and Prep Star All-Region selection. He also played in the South Carolina All-Star game, where he completed 9 of his 11 passing attempts for 215 yards.
College career Durant signed a letter of intent to play college football at the University of North Carolina in 2000. In 2001, during his first NCAA season, Durant established school freshman records with 17 touchdown passes, 142 completions, 1843 passing yards and 1971 yards of total offense. His freshman records for passing yards and completions were broken in 2007 by T. J. Yates. During his freshman season, Durant was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Week five times. He finished second overall in ACC Rookie of the Year voting to Florida State quarterback Chris Rix. As a freshman, Durant split time with Ronald Curry, helping the team to a victory in the 2001 Peach Bowl against Auburn. He was awarded the Jeffrey Cowell Memorial Award as the team's top freshman.
After his college career, Durant was one of the most accomplished athletes in the school's history. He held 51 offensive records at the school. During his sophomore season, Durant set the school's single-game record for passing yards with 417 during a victory against Arizona State. In his junior year, he set single-season records with 389 passing attempts, 234 completions and 2,551 passing yards. Durant had set UNC records with 1,159 passing attempts, 701 completions, 68 passing touchdowns, 8,755 passing yards and 9,630 yards of total offense. While playing football at the University of North Carolina, Durant completed a degree in African-American studies.
Professional football
NFL Durant was undrafted in the 2005 NFL draft, but signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens and attended their training camp. He was briefly on the team's practice squad, but was cut during the 2005 season because of concerns about his size.
CFL A September 4, 2002 Vancouver Sun article mentions that Durant was on the negotiation list of the BC Lions. He was "among some of the more intriguing quarterback names" on their list.
Circa 2004, Durant was on the Ottawa Renegades negotiation list when Eric Tillman was the team's general manager.
On April 9, 2006, the CFL announced that it had suspended the operations of the Renegades while the search for new ownership continued, and that a dispersal draft would be held. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats acquired Durant's negotiation list rights.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
2006 Prior to the Renegades dispersal draft, the Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders made a trade:https://www.cfl.ca/article/hamilton_and_saskatchewan_strike_deal Hamilton and Saskatchewan strike a deal +To SaskatchewanTo HamiltonHamilton's First Overall Pick in Dispersal Draft Corey HolmesHamilton's Negotiation List Quarterback Darian DurantScott GordonSaskatchewan's First Round pick in 2007 CFL draftSaskatchewan's Negotiation List Quarterback Reggie Ball The Roughriders used the first overall pick in the dispersal draft to acquire quarterback Kerry Joseph. Durant signed with the team on May 11, 2006.https://www.cfl.ca/article/transaction_22 Signed import QB Darian Durant In 2006, General Manager, Roy Shivers, who signed Durant, and Head Coach, Danny Barrett, were in the final year of their tenure with the Roughriders. Durant wore #10 during training camp and #14 during the season. Coming out of training camp, the Roughrider quarterback depth chart from 1 to 4 was Joseph, Marcus Crandell, Rocky Butler, and Durant. Because of injuries, Durant served as the team's backup quarterback for eight games, completing a single pass for 14 yards and recording a single rushing attempt for 20 yards in a game against Hamilton. Durant was on the team's practice roster for the remaining ten games. Shivers was replaced by Tillman in August. The Roughriders finished 9-9, third place in the West. Saskatchewan ultimately lost the West Final to BC 45–18.
2007 For the 2007 season, Tillman hired a new head coach, Kent Austin. Austin hired Ken Miller as offensive coordinator. Austin was the last quarterback to lead the Roughriders to a Grey Cup victory, 1989. The quarterback depth chart was Joseph, Crandell, Durant, and Drew Tate, who spent the season on the practice roster. Durant spent the entire season on the active roster, and was available for all of the Roughrider regular season and playoff games, but did not see any game action while serving as the team's third-string quarterback. He was on the sidelines as starting quarterback Joseph won the CFL Most Outstanding Player award, led the Roughriders to their first 12 win regular season since 1970, their first home playoff game since 1988, won their first home playoff game since 1976, appeared in their first Grey Cup since 1997, and won their first Grey Cup since 1989. The Roughriders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup 23–19, and Durant was one of the players who gave Austin a Gatorade shower after the game.
2008 Prior to the 2008 season, Austin left to become the offensive coordinator at his Alma mater, Ole Miss. He was replaced by Miller, and Paul LaPolice became the offensive coordinator. Joseph was traded to the Toronto Argonauts. The Roughriders also acquired quarterback Steven Jyles from the Edmonton Eskimos and retained Tate in reserve. Durant changed his number to #4, the number Joseph had worn for the previous two seasons.
Crandell began the season as the starting quarterback, Jyles was the backup, and Durant was third string. In game 2 against BC, Crandell sustained an injury, and Jyles struggled in relief, so Durant finished the game. The Roughriders won 26–16. Durant started the next three games, all victories. He sustained a rib injury in his third start, a game against the Toronto Argonauts, and the team went back to Crandell.
When Crandell returned, he struggled and was released in August. During this time, Tillman acquired quarterback Michael Bishop, who had been sharing quarterbacking duties with Joseph in Toronto. Late in the season, Durant, Jyles, and Bishop started and saw significant playing time in three consecutive weeks. Bishop started the West Semi-Final against BC, threw three interceptions and was unable to generate a touchdown. Durant played in the late stages of the game. The Roughriders lost 33–12. Bishop was released shortly after the season was finished.
Despite starting four different starting quarterbacks (Crandell, Jyles, Durant, and Bishop), the Roughriders won 12 games and hosted the West Semi-Final. Durant started four games and played in four others, gaining seven passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown.
In January 2009, Durant signed a new contract with the Roughriders rather than becoming a free agent.
2009 Going into the 2009 season, Crandell and Bishop were no longer quarterbacks with the team, and Tate had joined the Calgary Stampeders. At the time of Durant re-signing, Tillman promised Durant that he would be "the lead rabbit" for the starting quarterback position at training camp, but that it was going to be an open competition for the spot. Crandell was a guest coach at Roughriders training camp, and on July 7, joined the team's coaching staff as an offensive assistant coach to work primarily with the team's quarterbacks. Durant entered the season as the club's starting quarterback, but Miller gave backup Jyles significant playing time as well.
Durant made the most of his opportunity, becoming the first Roughrider quarterback to start all 18 regular season games since Austin did it in 1992. Durant's consistency on the field was one of the reasons he earned the Roughriders' starting quarterback position, along with his ability to run for yards when his pass protection breaks down. Durant was named the Roughriders nominee for CFL Most Outstanding Player, and was selected a West Division All-Star at quarterback. He was also named the Roughriders' Wireless Age Most Popular Player.
Saskatchewan played Calgary in the final game of the regular season, where the winner would take first place in the West Division. Saskatchewan won this game 30–14, and finished in first place for the first time since 1976. Saskatchewan won the West Final over Calgary 27–17, a game in which Durant threw three touchdowns, and qualified for their second Grey Cup in three years. In the Grey Cup game, Durant ran for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that put Saskatchewan up 27–11 over Montreal. However, Montreal was able to score 17 unanswered points. On the last play of the game, Montreal's Damon Duval attempted a field goal, but missed. However, Saskatchewan had too many men on the field, so Montreal got a second chance at the field goal. Duval made this field goal, and Montreal won 28–27.
Durant finished the 2009 season with 4,348 passing yards and 501 rushing yards. Durant threw 24 touchdown passes during the season and also had 21 interceptions, leading the CFL. Heading into the 2010 season, Durant wanted to cut down on his interceptions, although he tried to be optimistic, "I throw 21 picks last year and I guarantee every guy with better stats than me wishes they were in the Grey Cup."
2010 In 2010, LaPolice became the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Jyles joined him. LaPolice was replaced by Doug Berry. Berry had coached Anthony Calvillo in Montreal and Kevin Glenn in Winnipeg when they put up career high statistics. Crandell was on the coaching staff for the second straight season. To start the season, Saskatchewan hosted Montreal in a Grey Cup rematch, which was held on Canada Day and kicked off the CFL season. Durant and the Roughriders staged a second half comeback to defeat the Montreal 54–51 in overtime. He threw the winning touchdown to Weston Dressler. Durant threw five touchdown passes and picked up 478 passing yards during the game. For his efforts, he was named the CFL's Offensive Player of the Week.
On August 6, the Roughriders played in Montreal. Durant had been suffering from a stomach ailment, but was still able to go 35-62-445 passing. His 62 pass attempts tied for third highest in a single game in CFL history.
At the halfway point of the season, Durant had thrown 11 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions, while rushing for another five touchdowns.