Dwight and Adrienne played a significant role in the NFL success DaRon enjoys today.
Highlights
- DaRon Bland’s parents are Dwight Bland and Adrienne Topkins. Dwight used his years of experience as a youth coach to train and guide DaRon from an early age.
- DaRon’s brother, Keane, ran track at LSU.
- DaRon excelled in both offense and defense at Central Catholic High School, earning the Valley Oak League Defensive Player of the Year award in his senior year.
DaRon Bland, the standout cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL, was born on July 12, 1999, in Modesto, California, to his parents, Dwight Bland and Adrienne Topkins.
Raised alongside his older brother, Keane, DaRon grew up in a family that valued education and athleticism.
His father, Dwight, pursued studies in Culinary Arts at the Institute of Technology and Modesto Junior College.
Dwight was DaRon’s first coach, nurturing his love for football from a young age using his passion for the game and years of experience as a youth football coach.
His mother, Adrienne, works as an Administrative Assistant at UC Cooperative Extension.
Adrienne attended Beyer High School, where she graduated with a computer science diploma.
Keane Bland, also an athlete, ran track at Fresno State and Louisiana State University.
DaRon Had An Illustrious High School Football Career At Central Catholic HS
Attending Central Catholic High School in Modesto, DaRon excelled in both offense and defense, contributing to the team’s success over three varsity seasons.
As a cornerback, he was known for his defensive skills, which earned him recognition and accolades.
DaRon was named the Valley Oak League Defensive Player of the Year in his senior year.
Daron Bland played on FCS level at Sacramento State before a final season at Fresno State.
— Craig Haley (@CraigHaley) November 24, 2023
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For his high school football exploits, he earned a football scholarship from Sacramento State, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school, which was the only scholarship offer he had.
After playing for the Sacramento Hornets for three seasons from 2017 to 2019, he transferred to Fresno State for his final season, where he continued to excel and caught the attention of NFL scouts.
He completed his college career with impressive stats, including 137 tackles and five interceptions.
DaRon Was Made His NFL Debut Against Tampa
In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected DaRon in the fifth round.
He made his NFL debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 of the 2022 season.
Throughout his rookie season, DaRon demonstrated reliability and composure on the field, attributes he credits to his family’s influence.
In an interview, he said,
My parents and my family just always made sure, whenever the opportunity comes, just be ready. Nobody in my family ever let me be complacent or be still. I’m always trying to be better.
dallascowboys.com
Additional Information
- DaRon entered the NCAA transfer portal in spring 2021 after his senior season at Sacramento was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- On November 23, 2023, during the victory against the Washington Commanders, Bland intercepted a pass from Sam Howell and returned it for his fifth touchdown of the season, setting a new NFL single-season record for interception returns for touchdowns.
