Iowa Star Darien Porter Set for NFL Draft This Week

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Former Bettendorf football and track star Darien Porter is expected to be selected in the NFL Draft this week. Porter expressed his gratitude to the Quad Cities community for supporting him in achieving his dream of reaching the NFL.

“All of it really helped culminate into the athlete that I am now,” Porter said. He credited his coaches from Bettendorf High School and Middle School for fostering his love of the game and shaping him into a competitive player.

Porter set an Iowa record in the 400-meter dash as a senior at Bettendorf in 2019. He attributes his success to the guidance he received over the years from his coaches. “Obviously, everyone likes to be faster, so it’s very helpful for me,” he said. “I’m very grateful for them and for the Quad Cities in general.”

Porter’s high school coaches believe his success comes as no surprise. “He runs faster than about everybody else on the planet, but it’s way more than that,” said Bettendorf head football coach Aaron Wiley. “He’s a high character kid who works hard. He does everything right.”

Assistant track and field coach Sean Graves noted Porter’s quiet leadership style. “He wasn’t very vocal, but his behavior showed excellence,” Graves said. “If you told Darien to do something, he would do it without question, and the other kids followed his lead.”

The NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Saturday.