Orleans Darkwa

Orleans Opoku-Darkwa (born February 28, 1992) is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He has also played for the New York Giants. He played college football at Tulane. He is of Ghanaian descent.

Orleans Darkwa
Darkwa with the New York Giants
Free agent
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1992-02-28) February 28, 1992
Nashville, Tennessee
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:The Ensworth School
(Nashville, Tennessee)
College:Tulane
Undrafted:2014
Career history
Career NFL statistics as of 2017
Rushing yards:1,038
Rushing average:4.2
Rushing touchdowns:9
Receptions:29
Receiving yards:207
Receiving touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Darkwa attended The Ensworth School, where he played high school football.[1]

College career

Darkwa played college football at Tulane University from 2010 to 2013.[2]

2010 season

In his first collegiate game, a win over Southeastern Louisiana, Darkwa had 75 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.[3] On October 23, in a win over UTEP, he had 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns.[4] In the next game, against SMU, he had a season-high 193 rushing yards.[5] On November 6, against Southern Miss, he had 138 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[6] In the following game, against Rice, he had 113 rushing yards and completed two passes for 43 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.[7] He followed that up with 129 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in a loss to the Central Florida Knights.[8] On November 27, against Marshall, he had 65 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, seven receptions, and 64 receiving yards.[9] Overall, in the 2010 season, he had 925 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, 17 receptions, 155 receiving yards, and had two passing touchdowns.[10]

2011 season

Darkwa started his second season with the Green Wave with 34 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, and a 24-yard reception against Southeastern Louisiana.[11] On September 17, against UAB, he had rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the victory.[12] On October 1, against Army, he had 138 rushing yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Black Knights.[13] He followed that up with two more rushing touchdowns in the following game, a loss to Syracuse.[14] On October 22, against Memphis, he had 84 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with seven receptions for 112 yards.[15] On October 10, against Houston, he had 123 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[16] He closed out his season with 71 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against Hawaii.[17] Overall, he finished the 2011 season with 924 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 37 receptions, and 305 receiving yards.[18]

2012 season

In the 2012 season, Darkwa suffered through some regression due to an ankle injury sustained in the preseason.[19] On October 27, he had his best game of the season against UAB with 20 carries for 74 yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with three receptions for 20 yards.[20] On October 3, against Rice, he scored his only other touchdown of the season.[21] Overall, in the 2012 season, he finished with 241 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 15 receptions, and 78 receiving yards.[22]

2013 season

Darkwa returned to form in his final collegiate season. In the season opener against Jackson State, he had 50 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[23] In the next game, against South Alabama, he had 32 rushing yards but added two more rushing touchdowns.[24] On September 28, against Louisiana–Monroe, he had 118 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.[25] On November 9, against UTSA, he had 103 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.[26] On November 23, against UTEP, he had 137 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.[27] In the final game of his collegiate career, the 2013 New Orleans Bowl, Darkwa rushed for 83 yards and three touchdowns,[28] and was named bowl MVP despite Tulane losing the game.[29] In his final collegiate season, he had 863 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, eight receptions, and 57 receiving yards.[30] During his collegiate career, he rushed for 2,953 yards on 663 carries and 39 touchdowns.[31]

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Darkwa was signed by the Miami Dolphins after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft.[32] After appearing in only four games, he was released by the Dolphins on October 6, 2014, but he was re-signed to the practice squad soon after.[33][34][35][36][37]

New York Giants

On November 12, 2014, Darkwa was signed by the New York Giants after Michael Cox was placed on injured reserve. He scored his first career touchdown on December 21, 2014, against the St. Louis Rams.[38]

In the 2015 season, he appeared in six games before getting his first rushing attempts of the season against the Dallas Cowboys on October 25. In the 27–20 victory over the Cowboys, he had eight carries for 48 yards and a touchdown.[39] Overall, he finished the 2015 season with 153 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, three receptions, and 31 receiving yards.[40]

On April 27, 2016, it was reported that Darkwa had suffered a small fracture in his tibia. He had been participating in the Giants offseason program. The Giants expected Darkwa to miss about a month of action.[41] On September 25, against the Washington Redskins, he had 53 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.[42] On October 3, 2016, Darkwa made his first career start against the Minnesota Vikings, rushing 12 times for 48 yards and a touchdown.[43] He was placed on injured reserve on November 29, 2016, with a lower leg injury.[44] Overall, he finished the 2016 season with 111 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, two receptions, and 12 receiving yards.[45]

On March 9, 2017, Darkwa signed a one-year deal with the Giants.[46] Due to injuries to Paul Perkins, Darkwa has started two games. He recorded his first 100-yard game on October 15, 2017, against the Denver Broncos. He helped the Giants beat the Broncos 23–10.[47] He had a career-high 154 yards, including a 75-yard rushing touchdown, in an 18-10 victory over the Washington Redskins.[48] He finished the season with 171 rushing attempts, 751 yards, and five touchdowns.[49] Following the 2017 season he was not re-signed by the Giants and became a free-agent.

Free Agency

Darkwa had a workout with the Jacksonville Jaguars in early October 2018, and the following day ruptured his Achilles tendon in his right leg.[50] In May 2019 Adam Schefter reported that Darkwa was fully recovered from his injury.[51] In late July 2019 Darkwa had a workout withe the Cleveland Browns, however, he remained unsigned throughout the 2019 NFL season.

References
  1. "Ensworth High has quickly become sports powerhouse". USA TODAY High School Sports. August 15, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  2. "Orleans Darkwa College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  3. "Southeastern Louisiana at Tulane Box Score, September 2, 2010". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  4. "Tulane at Texas-El Paso Box Score, October 23, 2010". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  5. "SMU at Tulane Box Score, October 30, 2010". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  6. "Southern Mississippi at Tulane Box Score, November 6, 2010". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  7. "Rice at Tulane Box Score, November 13, 2010". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  8. "UCF at Tulane Box Score, November 20, 2010". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  9. "Tulane at Marshall Box Score, November 27, 2010". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  10. "Orleans Darkwa 2010 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  11. "Southeastern Louisiana at Tulane Box Score, September 3, 2011". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  12. "Tulane at Alabama-Birmingham Box Score, September 17, 2011". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  13. "Tulane at Army Box Score, October 1, 2011". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  14. "Syracuse at Tulane Box Score, October 8, 2011". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  15. "Memphis at Tulane Box Score, October 22, 2011". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  16. "Houston at Tulane Box Score, November 10, 2011". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  17. "Tulane at Hawaii Box Score, November 26, 2011". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  18. "Orleans Darkwa 2011 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  19. "Orleans Darkwa". Tulane Green Wave Athletics. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  20. "UAB at Tulane Box Score, October 27, 2012". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  21. "Rice at Tulane Box Score, November 3, 2012". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  22. "Orleans Darkwa 2012 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  23. "Jackson State at Tulane Box Score, August 29, 2013". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  24. "South Alabama at Tulane Box Score, September 7, 2013". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  25. "Tulane at Louisiana-Monroe Box Score, September 28, 2013". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  26. "Tulane at Texas-San Antonio Box Score, November 9, 2013". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  27. "UTEP at Tulane Box Score, November 23, 2013". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  28. "New Orleans Bowl - Tulane vs Louisiana-Lafayette Box Score, December 21, 2013". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  29. https://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2013/12/tulane_senior_running_back_orl.html
  30. "Orleans Darkwa 2013 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  31. "Orleans Darkwa Career Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  32. Tulane RB Orleans Darkwa signs instead with Miami Monday
  33. "New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins - September 7th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  34. "Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills - September 14th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  35. "Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins - September 21st, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  36. "Miami Dolphins at Oakland Raiders - September 28th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  37. Kelly, Omar. "Dolphins re-sign WR Damian Williams; waive RB Orleans Darkwa". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  38. "New York Giants at St. Louis Rams - December 21st, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  39. "Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants - October 25th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  40. "Orleans Darkwa 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  41. Raanan, Jordan (April 27, 2016). "Orleans Darkwa being held out of Giants minicamp with leg injury, per source". NJ.com. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  42. "Washington Redskins at New York Giants - September 25th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  43. "New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings - October 3rd, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  44. Eisen, Michael (November 29, 2016). "Giants place RB Orleans Darkwa on IR; call up Eric Pinkins". Giants.com.
  45. "Orleans Darkwa 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  46. Jackson, Zac (March 9, 2017). "Giants bringing back Orleans Darkwa". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  47. "New York Giants at Denver Broncos - October 15th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  48. "Washington Redskins at New York Giants - December 31st, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  49. "Orleans Darkwa 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  50. "Orleans Darkwa's mysterious disappearance result of serious injury". ESPN.com. February 19, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  51. Schefter, Adam (May 28, 2019). "Former Giants' RB Orleans Darkwa, who tore his Achilles working out for the Jacksonville Jaguars in October, is said to be "100 percent" recovered from the injury and ready to sign with a team.pic.twitter.com/iYcv3KGyHp". @AdamSchefter. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
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