How Sweet It Is

An Interview with One of Marshall’s New Lockdown Corners… Darrell Sweeting

On December 20th, 2024, Huntington, WV became a Sweet place to be. Not just for the small-city atmosphere, but because Darrell Sweeting officially signed with Marshall University Football.

Sweeting is known as a highly sought-after recruit from high school and had numerous high-level offers from schools such as Pittsburgh, Miami, and USF, to name a few. He was a multi-sport athlete who excelled in football, basketball, and track while attending The Benjamin High School, home of the Buccaneers.

Sweeting would eventually land with the Temple Owls in 2022, where his entire college career has been played up to this point. In December, he entered the transfer portal and has since become a major piece of the 2025 debut recruiting class for Coach Tony Gibson.

Sweeting kindly took some time to answer a few of my questions. Here’s how our conversation went:

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Q: Can you tell us about your upbringing? What was your home life like, and who were some of the most influential people in your life?

A:

“From West Palm Beach, FL. I’m the oldest of five. The most influential people in my life are my grandparents and my mom. My mom had me at an early age, so my grandparents took me in to help and support her. I’ve been staying with them since then. My mom has still been a huge part of my life though, showing me how tough it is to be a single mother of five. So, I just do it for them — I want to give them what they deserve.”

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Q: What stands out most from your high school days? Any favorite memories or coaches who had a big impact on your journey?

A:

“I went to The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, where a lot of big names came out of, such as Kaiir Elam, Buffalo Bills cornerback. He is one I definitely would say took me in as a younger brother. He was always giving me tips on how to grow on and off the field. My Head Coach Eric Kresser, who is a Marshall football alum, and DB Coach Willie Smith, who is also a Marshall football alumni, were the two most influential people there, putting me in the best spots to make a lot of plays and be successful. They both played here at Marshall, and they were very pumped up when I chose Marshall out of the portal.”

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Q: What first made you fall in love with football? Were there any players or teams that inspired you along the way?

A:

“My love for football started at six years old. I remember myself running up and down playing Little League ball. I was always a great player. Going into high school, I thought I was going to be a basketball player. I was really good at that too. What’s crazy is when I first got into high school, I told my football head coach that I was just going to focus on basketball. He told me that he thought I was going to be a great football player in the long run, but he did not put any pressure on me to play football. I decided to listen to him, played one year, and started as a true freshman corner, leading the team in picks.”

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Q: How did your journey lead you to Marshall? What was the path like, and what made Huntington feel like the right fit?

A:

“My journey here was interesting. I am a Temple University transfer. Last season, I had to sit due to an injury, which put a chip on my shoulder. My head coach left Temple University, and I decided to leave as well. Coach Shannon Morrison and Coach Gibson recruited me out of the portal and decided to give me a chance here at Marshall University.”

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Q: What can Herd fans expect from you this season? How would you describe your playing style, and is there a player you model your game after?

A:

“The Herd fans can expect a lockdown corner who can eliminate a receiver out of the game and help the defense. I’m a very versatile, gritty player who loves going up against the best. One player I say I model my game after is Patrick Surtain Jr., who can play all over the field, switching up his techniques and dominating receivers. Off the field, the Herd fans can expect a ton of energy. I love holding conversations and am a very easy guy to talk to.”

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Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of football? Any favorite foods, hobbies, or go-to spots to relax?

A:

“Off the field, I watch a lot of film, and I’m a very big movie guy. I love watching different series. You can also catch me playing a lot of 2K.”

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Q: Are you involved in any NIL deals right now? How can Herd fans support you in those opportunities?

A:

“I have a couple of NIL deals and partnerships, but I look forward to any and every NIL opportunity here at Marshall University. I’m here to help us win another championship in any way I can.”

All in all, it appears Marshall has landed a very hungry and talented player in Sweeting. Reports from spring practice indicate that he is going to be a key piece of what is shaping up to be one of the most talented defensive back rooms we’ve seen here at Marshall.

It’s clear that Gibson and company have been hitting the recruiting trail hard, as the entire roster is coming together to be incredibly talented — and highly exciting.

At the time of this writing, the Spring Game is just a few hours away. Let’s get out to the Joan and cheer on Sweeting, along with the entire 2025 Marshall Thundering Herd football team!

As always…

Go Herd!!!

Headset out…