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LB, 6'3, 210, 4.6, 250 bp
Oxford, AL
High School: Oxford
HS Number: 8
Official Visits: Alabama, Kentucky, Auburn
Second Choice: Tennessee
Host During Alabama Visit: Tony Dixon
Committed: January 26, 1998
Academic Status: Qualified
Stats
HS Junior Season
Receptions
- 5 receptions
- 130 yards
- 1 TDs
Tackles
Interceptions
HS Senior Season
Tackles
Interceptions
Honors
- Two-time All-County
- Two-time All-Area
- Two-time All-State
- Super Seniors Team
- USA Today Honorable Mention All-American
- Pigskin Preps Super South 75
- Forrest Davis Second Team All-South
- Prep Star All-American
- AL-MS All-Star Game
Stories
Linebacker "U"
For Darius Gilbert the opportunity to study defense at Alabama was too good to turn down.
He could’ve gone to Tennessee and played on a defense filled with individual stars. But he chose the school that has a better tradition.
"That was the big thing," Gilbert says. "Tennessee always has a good defensive ranking, but it’s nothing like playing defense for Alabama. To get noticed on defense, Alabama is the place to be."
Gilbert especially likes Alabama’s linebacker tradition. He feels that he has the ability to become another in the long line of Tide greats.
"I have the speed to cover running backs and to rush the passer. That’s what guys like Ralph Staten had -- a lot of speed."
In HS Gilbert played four positions on defense. Depending on the situation, he lined up either at outside linebacker, cornerback, strong safety or free safety.
He says that at Alabama he’ll be a "SAM" outside linebacker.
"They want to use my speed to make big plays. That’s what I do best -- make big plays."
And that’s what it takes to play linebacker at Alabama.
Oxford vs Anniston
Beating Anniston is big news in Oxford.
"Anniston is our rival," Gilbert says. "Everybody gets worked up over that game every year."
Just like most rivalries, the Oxford-Anniston game is intense. It produces memories.
"We were playing them my junior year. I had two interceptions that night. The second one was the biggest."
Oxford led 10-9 with a minute left in the game. Anniston had driven inside of Oxford’s thirty-yard line. It was fourth down. Gilbert lined up at free safety.
"They went for it all. Their receiver was running a fly route. I made a good break on the ball, got in front of the receiver, and came down with ball in the end zone."
That play made big news in Oxford.
On The Recruiting Trail …
Bama Makes Good Impression
There were rumors that Rodney Garner was about to strike again.
Last year Rodney Garner dipped into Alabama and swiped Fred Weary. This year, before Garner accepted a job at Georgia, Tide fans were concerned that Garner would lure Darius Gilbert to Tennessee.
"I wouldn’t have gone to Tennessee just because of him," Gilbert says.
But he might have gone because of his lifelong attachment to Tennessee. The Vols and Michigan were his childhood favorites.
"I just always liked those two the best. But Alabama was the first school to start recruiting me and that left a big impression."
Gilbert began to consider Alabama strongly after his father passed away last summer.
"All of my family, especially my mom, wanted me to go to Alabama. Alabama is nearby and they have a great tradition. Those were the two things that I was looking for."
Q&A
TI: Darius, are you anticipating a difficult transition from high school to college football?
DG: I think it’s going to be a big transition. There’s a lot of things that I’ve never experienced before. There will be some areas that I’ll need to improve.
TI: Such as?
DG: Tackling. I feel that I really need to work on becoming a better tackler.
TI: Are you not a good tackler?
DG: It’s not like I’m afraid to hit or anything. And I’m not saying that I’m a bad tackler. It’s just that to be a good defensive player tackling is very important. I need to hit the weights hard and get a little stronger. That will help my tackling.
TI: Are you hitting the weights now?
DG: Now that basketball is over I am. I’m going to skip baseball this season to workout. I want to get bigger before next season.
TI: How much bigger?
DG: Right now I’m about 210. I think by the time we report I’ll be up around 225. I’ve played sports year-round the past four years. That’s kept me from getting bigger and stronger.
TI: So, do you think that you’ll play or redshirt next season?
DG: Most definitely, I’ll play. I’ll be ready to go.
TI: What do you hope to accomplish at Alabama?
DG: I just want a starting position.
TI: What about a national championship?
DG: Now that’s something that will definitely be within reach. I never won a championship in high school. That’s one of the main things that I want at Alabama.
TI: Obviously you believe the program is headed back to the top.
DG: Oh yeah. That’s one of the things that I was thinking about during recruiting. I want to be a part of rebuilding Alabama. That’s something that I’ve got to do -- help Alabama back to the top.
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