Daryl Worley left the WVU football team early to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing professionally in the NFL.
Even though he could have been a star with the Mountaineers in 2016, he felt the time was right to test the waters and make a splash. So far, that decision has paid off for Worley, as well as his new team, the Carolina Panthers.
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Worley was drafted in the third round of this most recent NFL Draft.
He wrapped up a solid junior season which included six interceptions, 49 tackles and two forced fumbles. For his career with the WVU football team, Worley had 126 tackles in 34 games. He had a total of 10 interceptions and five pass breakups.
Even though Worley received a “stay in school” suggestion after filing paperwork with some other West Virginia teammates, he went against his initial analysis and entered the draft anyway.
Whether it was a matter of personal fulfillment or a chance to prove his haters wrong, Worley took a chance and so far it is paying off. Though he has just started minicamp practice with the Panthers, he seems to be making an impact right away.
Rookie cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Worley getting first team reps.
— Jon Stout (@JonStout89) June 16, 2016
Bradberry was the Panthers’ second round selection and, like Worley, plays cornerback.
So far, it doesn’t seem like the rookie pair are even in a competition for a starting spot with their new team. In fact, it looks like if the 2016 NFL season started today, they would be seen in the secondary together.
Bradberry and Worley are being tested early on by star quarterback Cam Newton, who will be on a mission this year to capture that Super Bowl crown that he was denied by the Denver Broncos in February.
"“We brought them here for a reason. And that’s why they’re out there working with the 1’s and 2’s,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said in the Charlotte Observer. “It’s an opportunity for them to show us what they can do and what they’re capable of. Again there’s a lot of things that go into what’s going on on the field.”"
Worley and Bradberry are both built in a similar fashion. They are each 6-foot-1, but Bradberry has the size advantage at 210 pounds. Worley is a slimmer 205.
According to the article written by Joseph Person, Worley actually picked off a pass thrown by Newton during the team’s most recent practice.
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That will certainly raise even more eyebrows within the organization.
Worley deserves a chance to start right away because he is taking advantage of the opportunity presented to him. There is still a long way to go and he certainly cannot afford to get a big head after performing so well so early.