Former Nebrask Cornhusker and CFL star Dahrran Diedrick has died at the age of 44 after battling cancer. The native Jamaican grew up in Toronto before playing his college ball in Lincoln, Nebraska. The bruising tailback was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer during the 2014 season, which was his last in the league.
The 6-foot, 225-pound running back broke out during the 2001 season for the Cornhuskers. He rushed for 1299 yards and 15 touchdowns, both of which led the Big 12 Conference. His stellar play was the key element that drove the Huskers to the national championship game before being defeated in the Rose Bowl by the Miami Hurricanes.
Diedrick finished his college career with 2,745 yards rushing on 502 carries with 26 touchdowns. Former coach Frank Solich said: “Great kid. Huge heart in everything he did. I enjoyed being around him, I enjoyed coaching him and I think the players enjoyed being around him. He was a warrior. The perfect I-back to have a fullback in front of you. You could run I-formation all day long with that combination. He was a true I-formation tailback. He’d give you everything he had.”
Solich is, of course, referring to the style of offense Diedrick was accustomed to. The “I-back” formation requires a fullback to lead block and open holes for the tailback. Part of the reason Diedrick’s college success didn’t translate to the NFL was the league’s shift toward more spread offenses and away from the older, more traditional college sets.
Diedrick was drafted in the 3rd round of the Canadian Football League draft but instead returned to school. He then shifted his attention to making an NFL roster. After stints with the Chargers, Packers and one regular season game as a Washington Redskin in 2004, the bruising back took his game north of the border.
In 2005 Diedrick joined the Edmonton Eskimos and earned his first Grey Cup (the Canadian version of the Super Bowl) before being poached by the Montreal Alouettes. He played for the Alouettes from 2006-13, winning Grey Cups in 2009 and ’10.
After a one-year-stint with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2013, Diedrick returned to Montreal for the 2014 campaign. It was during that season that a rare and aggressive form of cancer called hepatosplenic gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma was discovered.
Diedrick retired but remained in the league, eventually winning his fourth Grey Cup as the strength coach with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017. Former teammate and now Montreal coach Anthony Calvillo said: “I won two championships with Dahrran, and he was a very important piece of our team. He was always in a good mood and got along with everyone in our dressing room. He leaves us far too young.”
CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie shared his thoughts on social media: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends, family, and former coaches and teammates of Dahrran Diedrick during this difficult time. Another life tragically cut short by cancer.”
Dahrann Diedrick died far too young, but his contribution to four Grey Cup victories and his impact in the locker room will be felt for some time. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
Featured image screen grab from embedded YouTube video
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