Senior Spotlight: Darian Roseboro

RALEIGH, N.C. - After his first three seasons as a member of the Wolfpack, Darian Roseboro was faced with a decision: leave NC State early to go pro or return for his final season of eligibility.

It was a decision that many football players grapple with during their collegiate careers but a choice that Roseboro found easy to make.

Despite having started just two games in his first three seasons with the Pack, Roseboro ended his junior campaign ranked 15th in program history with 13.5 career sacks. But he still had more to accomplish.

"It was an easy decision for me to come back," said Roseboro. "I still had a lot of things that I wanted to improve on as a player. I wanted to come back and graduate, but I also made a promise to my dad to come back, and I kept it."

Roseboro has always been big on keeping his promises to those that he cares about. His father, Johnny, passed away in the middle of the 2017 football season, but Roseboro wanted to finish what he had started with his Wolfpack teammates.

"We're a family," he said. "Everybody was there for me and treated me the same as they would anyone else on the team."

The defensive end returned to the field to play in NC State's game against Pittsburgh just days after his loss and dedicated the game to his father.

He went on to lead the Wolfpack defense with three tackles for loss and a sack in the team's victory against the Panthers, and he was awarded the game ball for his performance.

"I'll never be able to forget that moment because I wanted to fight through adversity and be able to honor my dad," Roseboro said. "It was important for me to be able to take ownership, be a complete team player, and show commitment to my team."

Roseboro has aimed to show that same commitment to his current teammates on the 2018 squad. He's always thought of himself as a contributor to the team, and his return for his final season gives him more of an opportunity to make an impact with the Wolfpack.

"I had to be able to follow before I could lead," Roseboro said. "I'm able to get more snaps and make more plays as a starter, but I've always tried to be one of the guys to do my job and to be the best teammate and player I can be."

Now a senior starter, Roseboro carries with him a wealth of knowledge that he has gained through his life experiences, and he hopes to pass that knowledge along before his time at NC State is finished.

"I just want to leave the program better than I found it," said Roseboro. "It's been big for me to try to lead the younger guys and help them develop as players on the field and as men off the field. I'm trying to be their teammate but also their brother and leave a legacy at this school."

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