On Thellen: Will be a back-up free safety to All-American Jeromy Miles ... Very good size ... Brings intelligence to the game ... Very smart player who picked up the game in the spring, making great strides ... Will be a role player this season in the secondary and on special teams ... Could be an impact player before career is over at UMass.
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
rush
rcv
ret
pat
2pat
fg
total
avg/g
2009
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
2010
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
2011
11
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
6
0.5
TOTAL
33
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
6
0.2
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
TOTAL
33
7
172
1
85
24.6
5.2
ALL PURPOSE
g
rush
rcv
pr
kr
ir
total
avg/g
2009
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
2010
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
2011
11
0
0
0
0
172
172
15.6
TOTAL
33
0
0
0
0
172
172
5.2
TACKLES
g
ua
a
total
tfl
pd
ff
fr
blk
2009
11
26
13
39
1.5
3
0
0
0
2010
11
40
13
53
2.0
7
0
0
0
2011
11
42
26
68
0.0
8
0
0
0
TOTAL
33
108
52
160
3.5
18
0
0
0
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, Delaware, Nov 13, 2010 (1-0); New Hampshire, Oct 17, 2009 (1-0); at James Madison, Oct 30, 2010 (1-0) Pass breakups: 2, at Towson, Oct 02, 2010
