10) August 12th, 2026. Homewood, Illinois. That was the day and place Ms. Deanna Arnold was admitted to the hospital for the birth of her child. Technically the child had been due on her own birthday 4 days earlier, but, much like later in his life, the child clearly did not want to be overshadowed. Little Daron was born, a child with mocha colored skin and flame red hair, courtesy of his estranged Irish father who he would never meet. The young mother balanced several part time jobs for the first 8 years of Daron's life, doing her best to ensure her boy would not grow up homeless. Times were rough, but the pair got by.
Their change in fortune came entirely by chance. While working as a bartender, Deanna ran into a travelling businessman. He had only spent a couple days in town and was due to spend most of the next month hanging around for one meeting or another. The two immediately hit it off. The businessman was one Mr. Donald, a widowed native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When the time came for him to head back home, he invited Deanna and Daron to join him. With nothing of note keeping the pair in the Chicago area, Deanna gladly accepted.
And so young Daron was uprooted and met his future step brother, Aaron Donald. The pair were very close in age and interests, which kindled a very close relationship between the two. They would always push each other to strive for more, and both were talented and driven enough to achieve most of what they wanted. Unfortunately for Daron, Aaron was just a bit better every step of the way. Where Daron would bench 180 at age 14, Aaron was benching 200. When Daron clocked a 4.9 second 40-yard dash, Aaron ran it in 4.8. And when Daron was awarded a two-star recruit rating, Aaron was rated at three stars. Daron was relegated to the role of red-headed step child. Literally.
Though Daron's support for his adopted brother never waivered, he still wanted to achieve success in his own right. So when Aaron committed to Pittsburgh, Daron decided to head back to his home state and attend the University of Illinois. Initially he struggled to find playing time against the upperclassman. However, he had developed a strong work ethic in his eternal competition with his step brother, and through hard work he steadily improved and earned additional reps. Finally, he achieved his big break as a junior, earning well-deserved second-team All-Big Ten honors for his performance. While impressive, Daron still couldn't accept settling for second-team honors when Aaron had earned first-team All-Big East accolades. He worked harder than ever before preparing for his senior season.
Sadly, the extra effort was to his detriment. As Daron pushed himself harder and harder, he worked beyond what his body could handle. In the heart of offseason training camp, Daron tore his pectoral muscle badly enough to require a pair of surgeries to fully repair it. The resulting recovery process prevented him from participating his senior season. Daron couldn't stand the thought of losing his senior season and inevitably falling back into his step brother's shadow in Aaron's pursuit of NFL stardom. So, rather than accept a life stuck in the wake of his more successful step brother, Daron simply waited for his muscles to fully heal before applying as a late addition to the DSFL free agent market. Armed with nothing but an intense work ethic and a can-do attitude, Daron sets off to make a name for himself in the ISFL.
16) As a prospect, Daron Arnold provides all the same characteristics of his more famous step brother, Aaron Donald. He strives to be an inhuman combination of strength and speed, someone who can bull rush his way through the nastiest offensive lineman and still exhibit the speed to run down opposing RBs and QBs. Nothing wrecks an offensive game plan like pressure up the middle, and that's exactly what Daron hopes to provide for whatever team ends up drafting him. Sure, his technique could use a little work, but that's what the developmental league is for. Daron can be counted on to take advantage of every opportunity that is provided to him to improve.
Off the field, Daron wouldn't necessarily call himself a leader, but he is certainly capable of finding himself in the middle of any conversation. He is passionate about his hobbies, and is more than willing to talk and share about any of them. He is very active in the fantasy world, in a couple senses of the term. In terms of football, Daron is an aspiring fantasy football analyst. He's already penned a few articles each year detailing breakdowns of schemes and projections that most armchair analysts would never dream of digging into. He's also active in several online fantasy football communities and has earned a reputation for being particularly knowledgeable in year-long projections. In terms of fictional fantasy, Daron is active in multiple Dungeons and Dragons groups. He's always happy to share knowledge and swap stories. What's more, he always seems to find himself in a position to DM for groups of people who are entirely new to the role playing game. This dedication to sharing hobbies and passions with teammates is the bedrock of a cohesive locker room. When players can connect and enjoy each other's company, they are more likely to stay committed to the team and the sport. With commitment to each other comes commitment to improving. The team with the best locker room will usually look the best on gameday as well.
25) As noted above, Daron's primary concern is that he doesn't want to be stuck in anyone's shadow. He's spent his whole life playing second fiddle to his all-star step brother, so he wants to make a name for himself in his own right. His desire to play defensive tackle stems from the fact that there simply aren't that many great defensive tackles in the pros. By choosing defensive tackle as his position, he believes he has a clearer shot at making a roster in the ISFL, and by extension a better chance to prove his worth and earn his own name recognition.
If defensive tackle were no longer an option, Daron wouldn't be concerned. His unparalleled work ethic would allow him to transition easily to whatever position is needed most. The team that drafts him needs an offensive lineman? No problem. What if they have a hole at linebacker? Sure, just have to shed a few pounds to pick up his speed. Cornerback? Why not? Yeah, Daron might be a little big for a prototypical corner, but there's nothing a good work ethic can't adjust for. He'd even train as a kicker if that meant he was sure to make an ISFL roster. At the end of the day, Daron firmly believes that all he needs is a chance to play and he will prove that he belongs, no matter what position he ends up playing. As long as he gets his chance, he is confident that he will earn the right to be mentioned amongst the best to ever play the game.
Their change in fortune came entirely by chance. While working as a bartender, Deanna ran into a travelling businessman. He had only spent a couple days in town and was due to spend most of the next month hanging around for one meeting or another. The two immediately hit it off. The businessman was one Mr. Donald, a widowed native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When the time came for him to head back home, he invited Deanna and Daron to join him. With nothing of note keeping the pair in the Chicago area, Deanna gladly accepted.
And so young Daron was uprooted and met his future step brother, Aaron Donald. The pair were very close in age and interests, which kindled a very close relationship between the two. They would always push each other to strive for more, and both were talented and driven enough to achieve most of what they wanted. Unfortunately for Daron, Aaron was just a bit better every step of the way. Where Daron would bench 180 at age 14, Aaron was benching 200. When Daron clocked a 4.9 second 40-yard dash, Aaron ran it in 4.8. And when Daron was awarded a two-star recruit rating, Aaron was rated at three stars. Daron was relegated to the role of red-headed step child. Literally.
Though Daron's support for his adopted brother never waivered, he still wanted to achieve success in his own right. So when Aaron committed to Pittsburgh, Daron decided to head back to his home state and attend the University of Illinois. Initially he struggled to find playing time against the upperclassman. However, he had developed a strong work ethic in his eternal competition with his step brother, and through hard work he steadily improved and earned additional reps. Finally, he achieved his big break as a junior, earning well-deserved second-team All-Big Ten honors for his performance. While impressive, Daron still couldn't accept settling for second-team honors when Aaron had earned first-team All-Big East accolades. He worked harder than ever before preparing for his senior season.
Sadly, the extra effort was to his detriment. As Daron pushed himself harder and harder, he worked beyond what his body could handle. In the heart of offseason training camp, Daron tore his pectoral muscle badly enough to require a pair of surgeries to fully repair it. The resulting recovery process prevented him from participating his senior season. Daron couldn't stand the thought of losing his senior season and inevitably falling back into his step brother's shadow in Aaron's pursuit of NFL stardom. So, rather than accept a life stuck in the wake of his more successful step brother, Daron simply waited for his muscles to fully heal before applying as a late addition to the DSFL free agent market. Armed with nothing but an intense work ethic and a can-do attitude, Daron sets off to make a name for himself in the ISFL.
16) As a prospect, Daron Arnold provides all the same characteristics of his more famous step brother, Aaron Donald. He strives to be an inhuman combination of strength and speed, someone who can bull rush his way through the nastiest offensive lineman and still exhibit the speed to run down opposing RBs and QBs. Nothing wrecks an offensive game plan like pressure up the middle, and that's exactly what Daron hopes to provide for whatever team ends up drafting him. Sure, his technique could use a little work, but that's what the developmental league is for. Daron can be counted on to take advantage of every opportunity that is provided to him to improve.
Off the field, Daron wouldn't necessarily call himself a leader, but he is certainly capable of finding himself in the middle of any conversation. He is passionate about his hobbies, and is more than willing to talk and share about any of them. He is very active in the fantasy world, in a couple senses of the term. In terms of football, Daron is an aspiring fantasy football analyst. He's already penned a few articles each year detailing breakdowns of schemes and projections that most armchair analysts would never dream of digging into. He's also active in several online fantasy football communities and has earned a reputation for being particularly knowledgeable in year-long projections. In terms of fictional fantasy, Daron is active in multiple Dungeons and Dragons groups. He's always happy to share knowledge and swap stories. What's more, he always seems to find himself in a position to DM for groups of people who are entirely new to the role playing game. This dedication to sharing hobbies and passions with teammates is the bedrock of a cohesive locker room. When players can connect and enjoy each other's company, they are more likely to stay committed to the team and the sport. With commitment to each other comes commitment to improving. The team with the best locker room will usually look the best on gameday as well.
25) As noted above, Daron's primary concern is that he doesn't want to be stuck in anyone's shadow. He's spent his whole life playing second fiddle to his all-star step brother, so he wants to make a name for himself in his own right. His desire to play defensive tackle stems from the fact that there simply aren't that many great defensive tackles in the pros. By choosing defensive tackle as his position, he believes he has a clearer shot at making a roster in the ISFL, and by extension a better chance to prove his worth and earn his own name recognition.
If defensive tackle were no longer an option, Daron wouldn't be concerned. His unparalleled work ethic would allow him to transition easily to whatever position is needed most. The team that drafts him needs an offensive lineman? No problem. What if they have a hole at linebacker? Sure, just have to shed a few pounds to pick up his speed. Cornerback? Why not? Yeah, Daron might be a little big for a prototypical corner, but there's nothing a good work ethic can't adjust for. He'd even train as a kicker if that meant he was sure to make an ISFL roster. At the end of the day, Daron firmly believes that all he needs is a chance to play and he will prove that he belongs, no matter what position he ends up playing. As long as he gets his chance, he is confident that he will earn the right to be mentioned amongst the best to ever play the game.
