Darren Thellen

Height:
6-2
Weight:
207
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Brockton, Mass.
High School:
Brockton H.S.

As a redshirt senior in 2012: Game-By-Game Statisics
All-MAC Second Team Defense ... Phil Steele's All-MAC Third Team ... Started all 12 games ... Led the team with three interceptions for 84 yards and six passes defended ... Also recorded 79 tackles (45-34), with 1.0 TFLs, and one forced fumble ... Had 11 stops (5-6), a forced fumble, and a deflected pass at Akron (11/10) ... Earned UMass Athlete of the Week and CFPA Defensive Back of the Week honorable mention with 11 tackles (9-2), one interception and a pass breakup, vs. Indiana (9/8).

As a redshirt junior in 2011:Game-By-Game Statistics
Four-year starter at free safety entering 2012 as the Minutemen's most vetern defensive player ... In 2011, started every game at safety, leading all defensive backs with 68 tackles, including 42 solos ... Also had a team high five interceptions for a program record 172 yards and 1 TD ... Was third on the team overall in stops ... Had 10 tackles with seven solo against Villanova (11/5) ... Posted a career-high 14 stops (six solo) in the finale against James Madison (11/19) ... Picked off two passes against Central Connecticut (10/8) including one return for a score. His 128 interception return yards stands as a UMass single-game record ... Also had two interceptions in the next game at Delaware (10/15).

As a redshirt sophomore in 2010:Game-By-Game Statistics
Redshirt sophomore who is starting free safety in 2010 after being starter late in year at strong safety in 2009, Filling the shoes of current Cincinnati Bengals practice squad member and UMass alum Jeromy Miles ... First among all secondary members in tackles with 53 including 40 solo stops in 2010, starting ten games ... Tied for lead on team with six passes defended ... Second-career interception along with eight tackles vs. #2 Delaware (11/13) ... Career-high nine tackles vs. Maine (11/6) ... Recorded 7 solo tackles and two assisted vs. Maine (11/6) ... Seven stops including a TFL at #15 James Madison (10/30) ... Five solo tackles vs. #20 Richmond (10/16) ... Racked up career-high eight tackles at #20 Michigan (9/18) ... Six solo tackles vs. Holy Cross (9/11) with a break-up ... Five stops and pass defended vs. #4 William & Mary (9/4) ... In 2009 had 39 tackles and an interception and three passes defended, playing all 11 games with seven starts.

As a redshirt freshman in 2009: Game-by-Game Statistics
Redshirt freshman who started at strong safety in the secondary in first season of game action ... Had 39 tackles and an interception and three passes defended, playing all 11 games with seven starts ... Seven tackles at Hofstra (11/21) in season finale ... Career-high seven tackles including a half-TFL vs. James Madison (11/14) ... Four tackles in win over Northeastern (11/7) ... Three tackles at Maine (10/31) ... Career-high six tackles with a TFL vs. New Hampshire (10/17) ... First-career start at strong safety, making three tackles at Delaware (10/10) ... First-career interception came against Stony Brook (9/26).

As a freshman in 2008: Redshirt season ... Gained experience on scout team.

Before College:Two-year varsity starter at Brockton High School for Peter Columbo ... As a senior earned Enterprise All-Scholastic honors, Big III All-Star, and All-Eastern Mass honors ... Led Brockton to a 9-2 record, falling to Dartmouth in the State Playoffs ... honored as Team MVP junior year ... Finished career with 172 tackles, six interceptions and six touchdowns.

Personal: Darren Michael Thellen ... Born Jan. 22, 1990 in Stoughton, Mass. ... Son of Michael and Renae Brown ... Brother of Nathan Thellen and Cheyenne Brown ... Brother plays for the Northeastern Huskies and will face UMass this season on Nov. 7 ... Majoring in Finance and Operations Management.

1. What was it like playing youth and/or high school football in your home town?
Football in my hometown is a big tradition so I feel it got me well prepared for college.

2. What is your favorite memory growing up in your home town?
Winning the state championship my sophomore year in high school.

3. What is it like playing college football?
It's very different from high school from the competition to the commitment you must put in.

4. What were your thoughts when you learned that the rivalry, dubbed the Colonial Clash, would move to Gillette Stadium?
Very excited because Gillette is very close to home and is also where my favorite NFL team plays.

5. What advice would you give young players who have aspirations of playing college football?
Work hard on and off the football field and make you get it done in the classroom.

6. What do you enjoy the most of your college experience?
Just being with my teammates and having fun.

7. What do you plan to do upon graduating from college?
Continue with football and if not own my own business.

SCORING	g	td	ret	total	avg/g
2009	11	0	0	0	0.0
2010	11	0	0	0	0.0
2011	11	1	1	6	0.5
2012	12	0	0	0	0.0
TOTAL	45	1	1	6	0.1

INTERCEPTIONS	g	no.	yards	td	long	avg/r	avg/g
2009	11	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0
2010	11	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0
2011	11	5	172	1	85	34.4	15.6
2012	12	3	84	0	38	28.0	7.0
TOTAL	45	10	256	1	85	25.6	5.7

ALL PURPOSE	g	ir	total	avg/g
2009	11	0	0	0.0
2010	11	0	0	0.0
2011	11	172	172	15.6
2012	12	84	84	7.0
TOTAL	45	256	256	5.7

TACKLES	g	ua	a	total	tfl	pd	ff
2009	11	26	13	39	1.5	3	0
2010	11	40	13	53	2.0	7	0
2011	11	42	26	68	0.0	8	0
2012	12	45	34	79	1.0	6	1
TOTAL	45	153	86	239	4.5	24	1

SINGLE-GAME HIGHS:
Points scored: 6, Central Connecticut, Oct 08, 2011
Touchdowns: 1, Central Connecticut, Oct 08, 2011
All-purpose yards: 128, Central Connecticut, Oct 08, 2011
Interceptions: 2, Central Connecticut, Oct 08, 2011 ; at Delaware, Oct 15, 2011
Long interception return: 85, Central Connecticut, Oct 08, 2011
Tackles: 14, James Madison, Nov 19, 2011 (6-8)
Tackles for loss: 1.0, 4 times
Fumbles forced: 1, at Akron, 11/10/2012
Pass breakups: 2, at Towson, Oct 02, 2010