Furman University

Honors & Awards
2019 Southern Conference All-Freshman Team
2019 Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9)
2019 STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week (Sept. 9)

2019 — Showed solid progression in his first full season under center as a Paladin...served as Furman’s primary starting quarterback for the majority of the season, earning nods in 11 of the Paladins’ 13 games....played a key role in leading Furman to an 8-5 record, at-large berth to the FCS playoffs, and No. 16 ranking in the AFCA Coaches final poll...passed for 1,222 yards and 13 touchdowns while also rushing for 316 yards and five scores...his 1,538 yards paced the squad in total offense, as did his 18 touchdown responsibilities...was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team...won the starting job with a strong preseason...completed 14-of-20 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for a score in a 46-13, season opening win over Charleston Southern...followed that up with his best performance in his young career, connecting on 16-of-25 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 53 yards and a score in a 48-42 loss to Georgia State...his 364 yards in total offense versus GSU represented the eighth highest tally in Furman history and netted him SoCon Offensive Player of the Week and STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week honors...registered a 15-yard touchdown run against Virginia Tech (24-17 loss)...passed for 190 yards (9x16) and a score, which he combined with 52 rushing yards and a TD in a 45-10 win over Mercer...turned in a brilliantly efficient performance in a 58-14 road win over Samford, completing 6-of-9 passes for 183 yards and four touchdowns in just two and half quarters of work...scoring strikes covered 38, 17, 25, and 61 yards.

2018 — Saw action in four games and made one start (vs. Elon) in his first season in the program.. connected with Ryan DeLuca on a 16-yard touchdown strike against Clemson...start against Elon came the following week...came off the bench for an injured Harris Roberts to pass for 92 yards and a 77-yard touchdown strike to Thomas Gordon against Samford in his final action of the season... awarded a redshirt and extra year of eligibility.

High School: 2018 graduate of Conway (5A) High School...football coach was Carlton Terry...played wide receiver before making the switch to quarterback prior to his senior year...2017 season marked a complete comeback following injuries sustained in a car wreck in the fall of 2016...2017 Myrtle Beach Sun News Toast of the Coast All-First Team honoree...also named to All-Region VI-5A, WPDE All-Zone, and WBTW All-Blitz Teams..connected on 120-of-233 passes for 2,125 yards and 18 touchdowns, and rushed 115 times for 641 yards and four scores as a senior in pacing Conway to a 10-2 record, region championship, and second round playoff appearance....accounted for 307 yards in total offense and four touchdowns in a 40-14 first round playoff win over Wando...team dropped a 35-28 decision to Spring Valley in Lower State semifinals the next week in a game that saw him rush for 108 yards and pass for 174 and a touchdown...also starred in basketball.

Personal:  Full name is Darren D’Waun Grainger...born July 21, 2000, in Conway, South Carolina...son of Dwayne and Danita Grainger...has two brothers, Dwayne and Devin, and a sister Courtney...undeclared major.