'They've Been by My Side All Season:' Plum DE Commits to St. Francis
With his high school football career coming to a close, Plum edge rusher Darian Slaughter felt it was time to make his college decision and it’s a school that sits not too far from home.
On Saturday, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound 2025 prospect announced his commitment to the St. Francis Red Flash.
“They’ve been there for me since summer,” Slaughter told Pittsburgh Sports Now about his decision. “When I went to their camp, they saw a lot in me. I performed well, they offered me. They’ve been by my side all season. They’ve been watching me and have had tight communication with them.”
#AGTG #Committed @RedFlashFB 🔴⚡️ pic.twitter.com/05OSmSNEcS
— Darian Slaughter (@darianslaughter) October 26, 2024
Slaughter picked the Red Flash, who offered on June 28, over VMI, Mercyhurst and Valparaiso and it came in large part thanks to defensive coordinator Jacob Craig.
“Overall, my decision was this is the coach I want to play for. Coach Craig is a really good coach and they are building up a program. His coaching style is good. When I went on a gameday visit, he makes sure everyone is in tune. He’s a really good coach.” Slaughter said.
During his senior season, St. Francis paid Slaughter an in-game visit for his senior night against Fox Chapel.
“They came to my senior night game. That right there really stood out to me. That showed they really cared,” Slaughter said.
After his senior night game, Darian Slaughter made the short trip to watch the Red Flash take on Duquesne.
“It was really good,” Slaughter said about the visit. “The environment was good. The band was going, a lot of fans and alumni and it was just overall a good atmosphere.”
Proximity was a key factor in Slaughter’s decision with the St. Francis campus in Loretto, Pa. situated roughly 70 miles from Plum.
“Especially for my family, it’s a really big deal because they’ll be able to come see me most Saturdays,” Slaughter said. “My family has sacrificed so much for me. My first ever visit was at the University of Maine. That was a bit of a hike, but they dropped everything for me and ever since then with all this visits, they cost money, so I can’t thank them enough.”
On his multiple visits to Loretto, Slaughter got a glimpse of his future home.
“They have a beautiful campus. It’s one of the top FCS campuses you’ll ever see.”
As a defensive end recruit, Slaughter has put in extra work in the weight room that has allowed him to excel on the field and prepare him for the D-I level. This season, Slaughter recorded 37 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
“I will win every one-on-one battle,” Slaughter said. “I learn off the way [offensive lineman] motion. When I do film study, I watch their hips, their footwork, how is their drop-step, hand movement and I put all those tactics together and I use it against them. Going into college, there’s going to be really good offensive lineman, so I am going to have to do a lot of film study. I might even have to go back and watch what they did the year before that. I know SFU is going to expect a lot of out me, so I have to be on my Ps and Qs.
Playing in the Northeast Conference (NEC), Slaughter will play against other nearby FCS programs in Robert Morris, Duquesne and Mercyhurst that boasts plenty of local talent.
“I mainly have to adjust because half these teams know how I play. I got to change up my play style a little bit and get more crafty because they’re either going to know how to stop me or they’re going to know what’s coming like half the WPIAL teams have done this year,” Darian Slaughter said.
Check out Darian Slaughter’s Hudl highlights here.
https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2024/07/19/wpial-football-recruiting-board-western-pa-football-recruiting/
