Born: October 11, 1994- San Jose, California
Entering 2026:  Years as a Lion: 1st  Years in CFL: 6th   Status: American
Career Games: 74   Playoffs: 6   Grey Cup: 2

Acquired:

Darnell joined the Lions as a free agent on December 19, 2025.

Highlights:

2023-25: Darnell began 2023 in the XFL with the Arlington Renegades, helping the squad capture their first league title in March. He then signed with the Montreal Alouettes and helped the team to a Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg that November. In 41 regular season games over three seasons with the Alouettes, Darnell recorded 239 defensive tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and five forced fumbles. An Eastern Division All-CFL selection in 2024 and 2025, he helped the Alouettes reach another Grey Cup in his final season with the team.

2022: Signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and enjoyed his finest CFL season to date with 120 defensive tackles, three sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles.

2020-21: Darnell moved north to the Calgary Stampeders in 2020 and debuted with the club upon the CFL’s return to play the next season. With the Stamps, he registered 94 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble across 14 regular season games and capped off his first CFL campaign with a Western Division All-CFL selection.

2017-19: After signing with the Indianapolis Colts as a non-drafted free agent in May 2017, Darnell appeared in six regular season games that year. He also had training camp and practice roster stints in Oakland, Denver, Kansas City, Baltimore and Detroit through 2019.

Kudos:
West Division-All CFL: 2021
East Division-All CFL: 2024, 2025

College:

2012-15: Darnell suited up at Sacramento State for four seasons, recording 330 total tackles (124 solo, 206 assisted), 27.5 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, ten pass knockdowns, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception. As a senior, Sankey earned first-team All-Big Sky honours.