DaRon Gilbert never expected to be wearing a Detroit Lions uniform and playing in front of friends and family for his hometown team. The undrafted rookie linebacker, a product of Brother Rice High School before progressing to college at Lafayette and then Northern Illinois, got to live out the local dream on Friday.
With a large cheering section on the first day when friends and family were allowed at Lions training camp, Gilbert had a very impressive morning practice session. His strong instincts and quick reactions earned him the “Secret Superstar” award in my practice notes. He had a couple of nice run stops, a would-be sack and his savvy coverage nearly created an interception for a teammate.
Gilbert spent a long time talking with his support system after practice. I caught up with him as he headed to the locker room, with Gilbert showing a proud smile and bright eyes.
“It was amazing,” Gilbert said of playing in front of family and friends. “Being from here and growing up here, I just feel like it’s full circle. It’s a dream come true. That means everything.”
Gilbert was a safety for most of his college career, starting at that position for four years at FCS-level Lafayette before finishing his final season at Northern Illinois. He moved to linebacker for the Huskies as a 215-pounder.
Now up to 222 pounds, Gilbert admits he’s still getting acclimated to playing closer to the line of scrimmage in the “bigger, stronger, faster” NFL. He praised Lions LB coach Kelvin Sheppard for helping his transition.
“Coach Shep has been great in helping me with (that transition). I’ve only been playing linebacker for one year before coming here, but (Sheppard) has definitely been great at helping me,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert is doing his best to be this year’s Trevor Nowaske, a local linebacker who made the practice squad and got called up to the 53-man roster before being poached away by the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions didn’t draft any linebackers this year, with the top five all returning intact at the team’s most stable position group. There’s room for Gilbert on the practice squad behind that group.
As for a final thought about his Lions experience so far?
“I’m feeling real good right now.”
As he should.
