The Humble Demon

Darius Poullard possesses many attributes that make him an impact football player.
The 5-foot-10, 173-pound safety for the Northwestern State Demons has the closing speed to deflect a pass on a quick out, the strength to stand up a running back at the line of scrimmage and the intelligence to recognize a last-second audible by the quarterback.
Yet the one attribute that separates Poullard from others may very well be his humility.
Poullard had a career season in 2015 as he finished the year second on the team in tackles (75), tied for second with tackles for a loss (5), and tied for first in sacks (3) and forced fumbles (3).
“I was comfortable out there and the game slowed down tremendously,” Poullard said. “It wasn’t moving 1,000 mile per hour. I could break it down (the plays) and digest them before it happened.”
Yet the former Ville Platte High star’s name was no where to be found on the Southland Conference’s postseason awards list, nor was it found on the SLC’s 2016 preseason awards list. Three of his teammates De’Mard Llorens, Shakeir Ryan and Terrance Boyd were picked to the preseason second team.
So how does Poullard feel about not being recognized for his efforts on the field? He couldn’t be happier.
“I have a lot of great teammates on my team and they deserve those awards,” Poullard said. “I am just here to contribute and help this team get a conference championship for our program.
“There are guys on our team and every team in our conference that are just as good as me or better than me.”
The redshirt senior may not be inclined to heap praise onto himself but others do not hesitate, including NSU Defensive Backs Coach De’Von Lockett.
“He made plays early last season, and we didn’t know exactly what he was going to be,” Lockett said. “But he’s that ol’ country guy that’s always around the ball. He has a knack for just being around the ball. After the fifth game, we realized how much of a playmaker he was. We started putting our blitz where he was to give him an opportunity to make more plays. After Week 5, he became that dude.”
Poullard, who grew up idolizing New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister, needed a little time to become as Lockett said “that dude.”
At Ville Platte High, Poullard earned all-district honors three of his four seasons as he was a multi-team weapon for the Bulldogs lining up at running back, wide receiver, defensive back and kick-punt returner.
Along with teammate and close friend Cody Jones, Poullard signed with NSU in 2012 but while Jones saw playing time that first season, Poullard was redshirted. A decision Poullard believes was the correct one.
“I needed it,” said Poullard, who credits his grandfather and mother for his work ethic. “At first I didn’t want to be redshirted but after I went through camp I thought it would not be a bad thing. It gave me the time to catch up to the academic standards of being in college, plus I wasn’t ready to play at that level. It gave me the time to watch and understand the nuances of the game.”
Poullard though had a decision to make following that season as Bradley Dale Peveto was replaced by Jay Thomas as the Demons head coach. Would Poullard stick around to be part of the transition? Would he transfer out to another school? Would the new coach want to replace Poullard with one of his own recruits?
Poullard never once thought of not remaining as a Demon, and knew he had what it took to impress his new coach.
“I always trust my work ethic,” Poullard said. “No matter who came in as our team’s head coach I felt I was going to get a fair shot because of my work ethic.”
That proved to be true as Poullard played in 12 games (starting in three) in 2013 for a Demons defense that suffered multiple injuries in the secondary. The highlight of that year was a 31-28 win over Central Arkansas in which Poullard piled up 10 tackles and a fumble recovery.
“I went into spring that year thinking that I was going to be a cornerback and then I got moved to safety,” Poullard said. “I maybe had three snaps at safety my entire high school career. So I told myself that I am going to study film and work the best as I can.”
After taking more of a reserve role in 2014, Poullard was back at being a full-time starter last year and enters his final season at NSU as the projected starter at safety. Poullard is hoping to help the Demons win a conference championship, after going 6-6, 6-6 and 4-7 the past three seasons.
NSU’s fall practice begins on August 5th and the season opener is at Baylor University on September 2.
“We want that conference ring,” Poullard said. “That would be step one, and after that we want that national championship. For me personally, I want to assume a leadership role for the younger guys.”
That role is something Lockett is looking for Poullard, as well as fellow safety Adam Jones, to take on this season.
“I always tell him that he has to get these guys going,” Lockett said. “He leads by example, not a rah-rah type of guy. He’s going to go out there, give you everything he has. And he’ll tell you when he plays well and when he doesn’t. I try to make him and Adam (Jones) give a little wisdom to the younger guys. They’ve played a bunch of snaps in their careers.”
Poullard should have plenty of experience helping out younger people as he just wrapped up working at the Ville Platte Boys & Girls Club. That was just the most recent example of Poullard giving back to his hometown, as he has helped the city and the mayor’s office with projects every summer the past five years.
“I just like to give back,” Poullard said. “I have worked with the Boys and Girls Club, I helped with Section 8 inspections, put up the new French street signs and helped with abandoned house programs. I have enjoyed my time with the city and doing those projects for Mayor (Jennifer) Vidrine.
“Working at the Boys & Girls Club has taught me more patience. I have never had worked with kids that young but there are some really good kids and it has made me a better man.”
Poullard is set to graduate this December with his Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Exercise Science. The former Bulldog has already done an internship in the field he wants to pursue, becoming a chiropractic, which he was inspired to follow after using a chiropractor to help with a back injury back in high school.
What advice can Poullard give to those walking the halls at his alma mater?
“For the kids coming in to VPHS now, make sure you do good in school and everything else will handle itself,” Poullard said. “So many of them want a scholarship so they can go to college. But if you have the grades then you don’t have to find them (college football programs) they will find you.
“If you don’t have that college degree then you’re not going to live how you want to live in the years and decades to come.”