1998: Darrin Chiaverini WR, 6-2, 210, Sr., 3L Corona, Calif. (Corona)
1998 Media Guide Bio:
College-This Season: CU’s starter at the slot position, and is a candidate for the Biletnikoff Award, presented to the nation’s top wide receiver. College Sports News has selected him as a preseason All-American (honorable mention) and he’s almost a unanimous preseason first-team all-Big 12 choice (Football Action, Lindy’s and The Sporting News). He comes into his senior year ranked 33rd all time receiving yards at Colorado with 569, and his 45 career receptions has him ranked 23rd on that list.
1997: He earned honorable mention all-Big 12 honors from the coaches, as he was fifth in the league in receptions per game (3.2) and seventh in yards per game (41.9). He played in all 11 games and started nine, finishing second on the Buffs with 35 catches for 461 yards, averaging 13.2 yards per. He had a very balanced stat line, catching 13 balls on first down (earning nine first downs), and his 10 third down receptions (for eight first downs) led the team in that category. His biggest reception of the year came against Wyoming, as his 21-yard catch from John Hessler set the ball at the I-yard line, where two plays later, Jeremy Aldrich kicked an 18-yard field goal for the 20-19 win. He had five receptions against Oklahoma State and Iowa State, with his top yardage games against Texas (69, on four grabs) and the Cyclones (63). Following spring ball, the coaches selected him as the offensive winner of the Fred Casotti Award, which is presented to the top junior-to-be.
1996: He saw action in 11 games including the Holiday Bowl (no starts), catching seven passes for 61 yards. He had his first career touchdown reception at Texas A&M. He had his “coming out party” against Washington in the bowl game, catching seven passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. The coaches named him one of three winners of the Most Improved Player Award on offense because he learned to excel at all four wide receiver positions (X, Y, Zand slot), and improved on his blocking techniques. He had four downfield blocks that paved the way for four touchdowns in the season.
1995: He saw action in 11 games including the Cotton Bowl, as he was one of only four true freshmen to play during the course of the season. He caught three passes for 47 yards, with his top game against Northeast Louisiana, when he made two receptions for 39 yards.
High School-As a senior, he earned Blue Chip and USA Today (honorable mention) All-America honors, as BC! had him ranked as the No. 5 receiver in the West Region. Prep Football Report had him on its all-West team, and he was named to the Tacoma NewsTribune’s Western 100 squad. He also earned first-team all-Mountain View League, all-Riverside County, all-CIF, all-CIF Combined and allstate honors in leading the state of California in receiving for 1994. He caught 88 passes for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior, when he also rushed 30 times for 330 yards and three TDs playing occasionally at slotback. As a junior, when he was first-team all-league, all-county, all-CIF and all-state (underclass), he caught 70 passes for 1,116 yards and 10 touchdowns, with four interceptions playing free safety. He was all-league as a sophomore as well, with 20 catches for 340 yards and two scores. All told, he had 178 career receptions for 2,698 yards and 22 touchdowns. Corona was 9-3 his senior year, winning the Mountain View League title before losing in the state semifinals on the 4A level, with an 8-3 mark his junior year and a 9-3 record his sophomore year under coach Stu Hom. He also lettered in baseball, as he batted .415 with 25 stolen bases as a junior when he earned all-league and all-county honors.
Academics-Majoring in communication at Colorado. Owned a 3.5 grade point average in high school and was a two-time Academic All-Mountain View League team member.
Personal-Born Oct. 12, 1977 in Orange County, Calif. Hobbies include hockey, both roller and ice; he led his roller team to a 14-0 record and led the league in scoring as a junior. An uncle, Tony Chiaverini, lost by TKO in the seventh round to Sugar Ray Leonard for the middleweight title in the 1980s. His twin brother, Ryan, is eight minutes older than him and joined him on the CU football team last season as a walk-on. Last name is pronounced “shevv-er-re-knee.”