While most babies spend their nights sleeping peacefully, young Darrien Molton was busy planning his next escape out of his crib.

His tiny seven-month-old arms and legs fearlessly pulled himself out of his crib each night in his Temecula, California, home. Shocked and confused, his parents Kevin and Sarah did everything they could to contain their audacious baby boy.

“I wanted him to be in his crib,” Darrien’s father Kevin said. “We put blankets out on the floor and tried everything, but somehow he still got out.”

Since then, the sophomore starting cornerback for WSU hasn’t changed. His size has never been a factor in his performance. Darrien’s energy and mental toughness is what sets him apart from the field.

“He was a very strong, happy, energetic kid and always been physical,” Kevin said. “He did things that other kids weren’t able to do or just wouldn’t do.”

Darrien began his athletic career playing soccer and t-ball, went to the Junior Olympics to compete in the long jump and played Pop Warner football as a Golden Kodiak. He was one of the Golden Kodiak’s best talents, but was set back because of the programs weight limit policy.

“When he was told he couldn’t move up with his team, he was real hurt by that,” Kevin said. “Kids were growing up and he was behind the growing curve. I told him ‘don’t worry about it’ because he was strong for his size and he hits like a Mack Truck.”

Kevin coached Darrien from when he was only three years old up until high school.

“My inspiration comes from my father because he has been big time with sports, with me growing up and has always pushed me so I’ve always try to make him proud,” Darrien said.

Darrien remembers being in high school as a sophomore when he began his training in camps, with his father there guiding him every step of the way.

“I was training real hard,” he said. “We were going to camps, I was playing seven-on-seven and he was just really driving me to be my best.”

Darrien attended Chaparral High School in Temecula, California. As a junior, he earned First Team All-State, First Team All CIF Southern Section and First Team All-Southwestern League honors. As a senior, he was named the No. 141 prospect in Preseason Scout.com’s Weston 150.

Darrien suffered from Osgood-Schlatter disease his senior season, a childhood injury that causes a painful lump below the kneecap, which cut his final year of high school ball short.

Like many parents, Kevin and Sarah were worried about Darrien leaving for college at such a young age. But he proved he could handle the pressure in his freshman year.

Darrien started in 11 games last season as a true freshman and was named by Pro Football Focus as one of the top true freshmen cornerbacks in 2015. He recorded 44 tackles and one tackle-for-loss, one interception, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Darrien also had a career-high of eight tackles in the Cougars 20-14 Sun Bowl victory over Miami.

As an underclassman starter this season, on a team riding an exciting three-game winning streak, Darrien stays grounded through his family and faith.

“Family is always first,” Darrien said. “I couldn’t be any more blessed to have the siblings that I have, it was great growing up with them.”

Kevin reminds Darrien to start his day with God and end his day with God, because everything that Darrien has been able to do is because of Him.

“The boom is coming,” Kevin said. “The best of Darrien has yet to be seen.”