Ta’Corian Darden has proved he’s more than just a feel-good story from fall camp. He’s instead established himself as one of Western Kentucky’s best defenders.

The redshirt sophomore Darden was awarded a scholarship during an August practice by coach Mike Sanford. Video cameras captured the walk-on defensive back’s reaction after Sanford told the team, with his teammates going wild, and later the phone conversation where Darden informed his mother of the good news.

Fast forward three months, and Darden has made the most of his opportunities.

Darden has started five straight games at nickelback after appearing as a reserve behind Leverick Johnson in the first three. The Russellville native ranks fourth on the defense with 39 tackles, has a team-best five tackles for loss and has broken up three passes.

“CoCo’s an incredibly reliable player but he’s also very talented,” Sanford said Thursday after practice. “That’s the thing that’s fun to watch and that’s what we knew coming out of spring was that he’s not just a great story, he’s also a terrific athlete.

“He makes his hometown of Russellville very proud by the way he plays and the way he conducts himself.”

Darden is coming off the best statistical game of his career last week against Florida Atlantic. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound DB made 13 tackles and broke up two passes downfield.

Darden’s 13 tackles would have led WKU in most weeks but were instead second to linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe’s 14.

“Oh yeah, that’s my little brother right there,” said Iyiegbuniwe, a Bowling Green native. “He’s from Russellville, 270. He’s done a great job since camp, since spring workouts, working and understanding the scheme and buying into it, man. You can see now it’s paying off.

“He had 13 tackles last game. He actually came to me and said, ‘Oh, you couldn’t let me get the team-high total?’ I said, ‘No, man, that’s me.’

“No, he’s worked hard and I’m happy for him. He’s showing what he can do.”

Darden said he’s enjoyed playing every down, but added that winning games is still more important to him than putting up stats.

The Toppers (5-3 overall, 3-2 Conference USA) lost that matchup last week to FAU, 42-28. They’ll look for a bounce-back Saturday at Vanderbilt (3-5) in a game that kicks off at 11 a.m. on ESPNU.

“I had a couple of missed tackles too, although I had 13 (made tackles),” Darden said. “ … I want to correct those mistakes this week and hopefully have a better game next week.”

Darden has adapted well to the 4-2-5 scheme implemented by new defensive coordinator Clayton White.

The defense employs a nickelback in its base package. That position requires defenders who are good tacklers in the run game and who can also cover slot receivers, running backs and tight ends in the passing game.

“I like that you can cover, and you can also tackle,” Darden said. “Me, I’m a physical guy and I love to tackle, so that’s why I like that position.”

There are a wide variety of responsibilities associated with that spot on the field. Cornerback Roger Cray said Darden does the mental work during game weeks to get himself ready for whatever he’ll see come Saturdays.

“He comes every single day locked in,” the freshman Cray said. “He probably watches the most film of anyone on the defense. He’s a student of the game.”

White echoed those comments, recalling how Darden was one of the first players he met after he was hired as WKU’s new D-coordinator this winter. He walked into the weight room and saw the DB in there getting in a workout on his own.

“He takes great notes and asks unbelievable questions that make you scratch your head,” White said. “That lets you know he understands the defense. He’s having fun and his teammates love him.”

Darden said he’s had family and friends from his native Russellville at each home game this season, and that they’ve congratulated him on his new role and encouraged him to keep working.

Darden was once a fixture on the field for Russellville High School, accounting for 20 touchdowns in his senior year of 2014. He chose to walk on at WKU and now he’s on scholarship and backing up his coaches’ faith with his play on the Topper defense.

“I didn’t come here just to be a teammate, just to be on the team,” Darden said. “Of course, this is what I came for. (The opportunity is) here and I’m taking advantage.”