Western Kentucky’s Tacorian Darden is motivated by the same thing every day: a scholarship.

The redshirt freshman walk-on defensive back from Russellville is trying to make a name for himself this spring, working his way toward a higher status on the roster.

“You’re going to want to work harder every day,” Darden said. “You want to work the hardest and make the most plays. You just want to be known and earn that scholarship.”

Darden – a 5-foot-10, 180-pound product of Russellville High School – joined the Hilltoppers last season as a preferred walk-on.

He redshirted his first year, and as is customary for walk-ons, he began this spring low on the totem pole in WKU’s secondary.

Slowly, but surely, Darden is starting to make people take notice with the limited reps he’s received.

“I feel like TD has done very well for himself,” redshirt junior cornerback De’Andre Simmons said. “He’s a walk-on, so he does his thing on his own time. I feel like he really put in the work. Soon he should be earning a scholarship for us.”

Darden did a little bit of everything for Class 1A Russellville, where he played safety, quarterback and receiver. As a senior, he tallied 645 yards on 82 rushes with eight touchdowns, tossed for 871 yards on 44-of-96 passing with 10 TDs, caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown and recorded five interceptions on defense.

Darden had some opportunities to play at smaller schools, he said, but the chance to play close to home in front of friends and family was too enticing.

He also liked the idea of proving to WKU that he had more to offer.

“When I get out there, I’m trying to show that I can play,” Darden said. “During the fall, the summer, the spring, all I’m doing is grinding and trying to get better, learn the plays more and go out there and make plays. If you make plays, they’ll see that you can play and hopefully get in.

“Being a walk-on, I know my work ethic. I know I can progress. I’m smart on the field, and I know I can work and get this scholarship.”

Darden is part of a deep secondary for the Hilltoppers that is undergoing change, particularly on the outside at cornerback.

The Tops graduated starters Prince Charles Iworah and Wonderful Terry, leaving an open competition this spring to build a new defensive rotation.

Darden has flashed some signs of potential, but as is the case for all defensive backs, the position requires a short memory.

He said he’s tried to not get too high or too low depending on his play, reminding himself that “I’ve got to make more plays, more plays, more plays and less mistakes.”

“I’m not worried about TD getting playing time, because I’m pretty sure he’s showed the coaches he can play,” Simmons said. “He can tackle, he can cover, he can pick balls. He’s agile, just like he’s on scholarship.”

Darden may not have elite-level size, but he has plenty of attributes that you can’t measure, defensive coordinator Nick Holt said.

It’s those qualities that have the architect of WKU’s defense confident that there will eventually be a role for Darden to play in game action.

“He does a great job,” Holt said. “Extremely smart, just a really good football player. You like ’em bigger and taller and all that kind of stuff, but he’s a good football player. When it’s all said and done, he’s going to play here.”

— Follow Assistant Sports Editor Zach Greenwell on Twitter @zach_greenwell or visit bgdailynews.com.