/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59077383/temp_kidsy.1521433758.jpg)
My versatility and my returning ability separates me. While Playing the Z position in college, I was able to excel in playing slot and work outside as well. As a receiver, I am willing to make a cross field cut off block. I also have short term memory on a not so good play. I can bring excitement and energy to a team. At any given moment, I can make the big play or I can make that tough catch for a first down.
— Darvin Kidsy
Kidsy also joins Quinn and Pierson-El as rookies who will be contenders to back up Crowder at slot receiver. Kidsy could be a surprise winner in that competition as he is faster than and a better athlete than either Quinn or Pierson-El.
-- Gibbs4potus
Follow this link to read a Gridiron Crew interview with Kidsy from December 2017.
Career statistics
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11358609/temp_kidsy_career_rec_stats.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11358661/temp_kidsy_career_return_stats.jpg)
The film
Apparently, Northern Texas doesn’t have an ‘all-22’ video option on Youtube. Despite the grainy quality an poor camera angles, Gibbs4potus has done a lot of work on film of Darvin Kidsy.
A bit of background
Darvin Kidsy is an intriguing prospect. He posted great workout numbers but has very little film available on him. Kidsy ran a 4.46-4.50 40 yard dash. He soared to a 41.5” vertical leap and a 10’7” broad jump.
Kidsy didn’t play in 2016, probably due to an arrest for hit and run in January of that year.
For his 2017 season he transferred from North Texas to Texas Southern. I found two game tapes of Texas Southern but the footage was so grainy that I don’t recommend watching them. Kidsy had a huge game vs Houston Baptist though with 8 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown.
Blocking
Kidsy showed an eagerness to block and threw his body in front of defenders a couple of times. He could be an effective blocker in the NFL but may need to add muscle to his 6’0”, 183 pound frame to be more effective in that role.
Change of direction
Kidsy has an amazing ability to stop on a dime and change directions. This helped him be an effective slot receiver at Texas Southern. He also has very good ball tracking ability and excellent hands catching the ball.
Route running
Play 1
Kidsy showed off nice route running skills also. Here, Kidsy bends his body to adjust as the QB has thrown the ball towards the open area and away from the defender.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11322063/kidsy_1.jpeg)
Kidsy puts his hands straight up when readying to catch the ball to fool the defender.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11322111/kidsy_2.jpeg)
Kidsy is able to twist his body enough to extend his arms to catch the ball where the defender can’t get it.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11322203/kidsy_3.jpeg)
Kidsy secures the ball but goes to the ground short of the end zone.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11322313/kidsy_4.jpeg)
This was an excellent job of adjusting to the ball by Kidsy. It is a skill that is very hard to teach but very valued by quarterbacks as it increases the window in which they can throw the ball.
Even with this poor video, you can see that Kidsy has burned a defensive back and is waiting on the ball in the front corner of the end zone.
Play 2
Kidsy sets his feet as he waits on the ball.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11322537/kidsy_5.jpeg)
and makes a beautiful catch with two feet down even though the college game only requires one foot down.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11322671/kidsy_6.jpeg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11322735/kidsy_7.jpeg)
Play 3
Kidsy has an innate feel for playing receiver. On this play, the quarterback has to throw the ball high and over Kidsy’s back shoulder to prevent the safety from making a play on the ball.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11323189/kidsy_8.jpeg)
Kidsy slows down to set himself equal distance between the corner and safety.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11323227/kidsy_9.jpeg)
He spins around and high points the football.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11323229/kidsy_10.jpeg)
Then he lands and makes a quick spin to evade the tackle.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11323255/kidsy_11.jpeg)
Kidsy plants his left foot to head upfield,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11323257/kidsy_12.jpeg)
then puts on the brakes again,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11323339/kidsy_13.jpeg)
and spins out of another tackle.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11323441/kidsy_14.jpeg)
Kidsy eludes the defender to turn upfield,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11323525/kidsy_15.jpeg)
but is finally caught from behind.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11323619/kidsy_16.jpeg)
Punt & kick return ability
Play 4
The Redskins probably signed Kidsy after rookie camp not just for what he can do as a receiver but also because of his return ability. Watching his highlight reel, I saw Kidsy cut up the field quickly, stop and start to elude defenders and cut off of blocks on returns. Kidsy was most successful in the return game as a freshman in 2014 and used much less in that role in later years.
Kidsy shows all of his quickness on this punt return.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324011/kidsy_17.jpeg)
He fields the punt & eludes number 19.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324141/kidsy_18.jpeg)
Then sidesteps #38 who collides with 18.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324219/kidsy_19.jpeg)
52 gets a hand on Kidsy,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324309/kidsy_20.jpeg)
But ends up on the ground,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324427/kidsy_21.jpeg)
as does another teammate.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324489/kidsy_22.jpeg)
Kidsy turns upfield, then leans to his right to set up a block,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324491/kidsy_23.jpeg)
and back to his left,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324519/kidsy_24.jpeg)
to get by #60.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324521/kidsy_25.jpeg)
Kidsy sees two guys to beat,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324597/kidsy_26.jpeg)
so he makes a burst for the sideline where he can turn on the jets,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324709/kidsy_27.jpeg)
but he gets forced out of bounds after a terrific return.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11324847/kidsy_28.jpeg)
Play 5
Kidsy was even more deadly on kickoff returns.He has to go to his far left to field this one.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349135/kidsy_29.jpeg)
He makes a clean catch,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349215/kidsy_30.jpeg)
but has to dangerously turn toward his own goal line to avoid stepping out of bounds,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349281/kidsy_31.jpeg)
and comes very close to stepping out with a tightrope act.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349353/kidsy_32.jpeg)
Kidsy is able to gather himself and spin back around,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349429/kidsy_33.jpeg)
to sprint towards the middle of the field where his blocking waits.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349509/kidsy_34.jpeg)
Kidsy dodges a defender to get to the middle of the hashmarks,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349611/kidsy_35.jpeg)
where he has to slam on the brakes,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349687/kidsy_36.jpeg)
and cut inside of two more would be tacklers,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349757/kidsy_37.jpeg)
before continuing across the field,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349821/kidsy_38.jpeg)
and into the clear,
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349889/kidsy_39.jpeg)
for a touchdown.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11349951/kidsy_40.jpeg)
As you can see, Kidsy has a dynamic skill set as both a receiver and returner. The level of competition he had success against is not close to the top level of college football at North Texas and Texas Southern but Kidsy’s talent is undeniable.
How would he fit with the Redskins?
Return man
There are so many players vying to become the primary return man for the Redskins that it is impossible to make Kidsy a clear favorite.
Martez Carter, Greg Stroman, Danny Johnson, , De’Morney Pierson-El, Kidsy — and possibly Ranthony Texada and Trey Quinn — give the Redskins up to seven rookies, many with good returner results in college, to compete with Byron Marshall, Keith Marshall, Samaje Perine, Chris Thompson, Maurice Harris and Jamison Crowder.
Slot receiver
Kidsy also joins Quinn and Pierson-El as rookies who will be contenders to back up Crowder at slot receiver. Crowder is in the last year of his contract and the Redskins may be looking at possible replacements a year early.
The camp battle
Kidsy could be a surprise winner in that competition as he is faster than and a better athlete than either Quinn or Pierson-El.
The Redskins will have a heated battle for their punt and kickoff return spots and Kidsy will be in the middle of that competition.
I give Kidsy about a 50/50 shot of making the practice squad.
In the unlikely event that he wins the return job, or is looked at as the successor to Crowder, Kidsy would be the 6th WR on the 53 man roster.
Here are some Tweets from Darvin Kidsy’s Twitter timeline:
Thank You Texas Southern and North Texas for a Great Career and opportunity of a Lifetime ! Link in Bio ! pic.twitter.com/gjcuQpS6IF
— Darvin Kidsy Jr (@Dkidsy3) December 7, 2017
Made My Mind Up A Long Time Ago ! pic.twitter.com/P4Y8VDYJW5
— Darvin Kidsy Jr (@Dkidsy3) May 16, 2018
Jumpman, jumpman, jumpman.
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 16, 2018
: https://t.co/a07ygBYSD0 pic.twitter.com/99hM2hjhJh
The HBCU pipeline to Washington keeps on rolling. Former #TexasSouthern WR @Dkidsy3 has just signed a deal. That's not the only news from the @TXSOTigers this week. pic.twitter.com/O42yzra2ZW
— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday) May 15, 2018
I Would Like to Thank The @redskins for the Opportunity to Be a part of Such a Great Organization ! This means the world to my family, my Team, and my school @txsotigers Truly a blessing ! Can’t wait to get to work ! #HTTR pic.twitter.com/mW1atDIY9A
— Darvin Kidsy Jr (@Dkidsy3) May 14, 2018
@D__Johnson10 #MartezCarter @Dkidsy3 SWAC deep ! These 3 in one spot! @Redskins this is your future! @SouthernUsports @Grambling1901 @TexasSouthern @Onnidan @BCFHOF @RealHBCUSports @#blackcollegeexperience #hbcu #nfl #redskins pic.twitter.com/tO9P81oLQg
— Black College Exp (@BlackCollegeExp) May 15, 2018
#Redskin sign OL Casey Dunn, LB Vontae Diggs and WR Darvin Kidsy, waive WR Mikah Holder and C Sean Welsh (designated left squad).
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 14, 2018
: https://t.co/LpNUy1qxLM pic.twitter.com/aFw39ux8yt
Poll
As UDFAs go, rate Darvin Kidsy
This poll is closed
-
6%
A
-
48%
B
-
37%
C
-
5%
D
-
1%
F
Poll
How good are the chances that Darvin Kidsy is on the Redskins roster in 2018?
This poll is closed
-
2%
Pretty strong
-
15%
Above average
-
32%
50/50
-
49%
Unlikley