The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Justin Durant plays against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. While the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Darian Durant, Justin's older brother, takes on the visiting Calgary Stampeders.
Photograph by: David Stobbe and courtesy of Jacksonville Jaguars, Reuters
Photograph by: David Stobbe and courtesy of Jacksonville Jaguars, Reuters
REGINA — Darian and Justin Durant are brothers in pads.
They have defied the odds and both are playing professional football, albeit in different leagues. Darian is the 27-year-old starting quarterback with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders while Justin, 24, is the starting middle linebacker with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. The brothers will be on the field Sunday with their respective teams.
The Jaguars play host to the Buffalo Bills at noon. The Riders are playing the Calgary Stampeders in Sunday's West Division final (3:30 p.m.) at Mosaic Stadium.
"Before every game I play, I look around and think about the position that my brother and I are in and how blessed we are,'' said Darian Durant. "It's crazy because most families don't get one person to play pro ball, let alone two from the same one. There are times when I look back and I think how rare it is to take and make the most of the opportunity. We both realize what it means to our parents and to people in our home town (Florence, S.C.) who strive to be professional athletes.''
Justin expressed similar sentiments when reached in Jacksonville during a break in his preparations for Sunday's game.
"It's big because he's up there doing a great job,'' said Justin, who is in his third season with the Jaguars. "I'm down here trying to get to his level. I'm trying to follow in his footsteps.''
Justin may take a minute to consider their on-field accomplishments before turning his attention to beating the Bills.
"Then I'm going to race out of there as fast as I can to get home and watch Darian play,'' Justin, 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, said with a chuckle. "They play about 5 p.m. so I should be able to watch the game. It's big and my mother and father (Betty and Israel Durant) will be up there for the game. It's going to be really good for us.''
The Durant brothers have enjoyed recent success as pros. Darian guided the Riders to first place in the West Division as a first-year starter and was named the West Division's all-star quarterback. Justin has dressed for 34 games and recorded 183 tackles in three seasons with Jacksonville. He has 63 tackles in seven starts this season with the Jaguars.
Justin and Darian talk regularly during the season. Justin was aware of the concerns regarding Darian being named the starting quarterback despite limited action in that role. He feels that Darian has answered all of those questions.
"We've talked about that it's not what you say, it's what you do,'' said Justin. "He took all of the negativity and got the team into the position they are today. He answered all of the critics.''
Darian attended the University of North Carolina after graduating from Wilson High School in Florence, S.C. Justin attended Hampton University after high school. The brothers played one season together with the Wilson High Tigers when Justin was a freshman linebacker and Darian was the starting senior quarterback.
They were stars at both levels of football. Durant, 5-foot-11 and 214 pounds, set numerous school records with the Tar Heels. Justin was a three-time Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference defensive player-of-the-year before being selected by the Jaguars in the second round (48th overall) of the 2007 draft.
They were stars at both levels of football. Durant, 5-foot-11 and 214 pounds, set numerous school records with the Tar Heels. Justin was a three-time Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference defensive player-of-the-year before being selected by the Jaguars in the second round (48th overall) of the 2007 draft.
"I've tried to pattern myself after him in terms of the work ethic, the studying and wanting to be the best at everything,'' said Justin. "I get all of that from him. He has been an amazing influence and he is part of the reason that I'm where am I today.''
There are deep football roots in the Durants' family. Keyshawn Durant, Darian's 36-year-old brother, was a quarterback at South Carolina State. Justin decided to become a linebacker as a way of separating himself from his brothers.
"I just wanted to go my own way,'' said Justin, who along with Darian was inducted into the Florence Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. "I could throw a bit but I wanted to make a name for myself at another position.''
Darian said there was competition between the two when they were growing up. That competition helped create a bond that still exists.
Darian said there was competition between the two when they were growing up. That competition helped create a bond that still exists.
"We've both had our ups and downs growing up,'' said Darian. "The thing we kept each other believing in was tomorrow was going to be a better day. That's how we made it this far.''
No comments:
Post a Comment