Austin native looking forward to first visit to Texas’ stadium

Believe it or not, today will be the first time Austin native Darius Darks sets foot in Texas' Memorial Stadium.

“Never been there,” said the Iowa State receiver, one of a half-dozen or so Cyclone regulars returning to their home state for the 11 a.m. match-up with No. 22 Texas.

Darks attended Connally High School and said he lived on the other side of Interstate 35, about 10 minutes away from one of the greatest landmarks in the football-crazy state of Texas. He grew playing with and against several current Longhorns players.

The junior wideout faced off against defensive backs Aaron Williams and Blake Gideon during 7-on-7 passing drills.

Tight end D.J. Grant was a middle school classmate.

Starting quarterback Garrett Gilbert was a rival at Lake Travis H.S., and beat Darks' team in both their head-to-head meetings, the first of which ended with a state title for Gilbert's team.

“I could go on and on about kids I grew up with and played against,” Darks said.

Early on this week he'd secured about 20 tickets. He could use a few more.

“I have a lot, but I still don't think I have enough,” Darks said.

Regardless, family and friends will be cheering him on, either in person or watching on a television set.

Darks took a nasty hit to the ribs during last week's loss at Oklahoma. He'll be sore, but said he should be fine to play today.

“I've taken plenty of hits. It's nothing I can't get over,” he said. “It's going to be a fun game to play in.”

Same is true for ISU defensive back Ter'ran Benton, whose hometown is Arlington, a suburb of Dallas.

He's got some buddies who'll be wearing burnt orange today.

“I know a few of them,” Benton said.

Longhorn John Chiles was a teammate of his at Summit H.S. Chiles was a quarterback as a prep and has since converted to receiver. The two almost surely will reunite on the field today.

“I'm going to be looking forward to playing him,” Benton said. “Hopefully I'll go one-on-one with him so I can talk trash. He was pretty quiet at school but on the field he was pretty talkative.”

Benton is proficient in that department. He's asked about his on-field chatter by other students while on campus.

“I get that a lot in school,” Benton said. “You see my head bobbing a lot. Football, I love the game. I take my anger out on the field.”