Overview
Derrick is one of the most athletic and speedy receivers in the country – 40% of all his touches senior year went for touchdowns. He is draft-eligible for the 2011 NFL draft (please contact Russ Giglio in the league office with questions about Derrick’s elibility).
Due to personal decisions over the years that he now realizes were not always positive, Derrick went from powerhouse programs USC (signed letter of intent but never enrolled) and Oregon (played two years) to the California University of Pennsylvania for his senior season.
Atlas Strategies maintains a strict ’character’ requirement and expectation regarding its clients. In December of 2010, Derrick and Atlas President Mark Magazu met in Long Beach, CA, to discuss Derrick’s potential as an NFL receiver – and the personal commitments it will take to earn that opportunity.
”Derrick’s athletic abilities have never been questioned. He is unquestionably one of the fastest men in America and his championships in track prove that – and you don’t get recruited heavily by programs like USC and Oregon if you’re not an impact receiver,” Mr. Magazu commented. ”The questions I had before we would invest in Derrick are the same ones that NFL teams will have – what caused Derrick to bounce from program to program, and has he used those experiences, both positive and negative, to grow and mature. His troubles were never anything overly dramatic, just poor judgments on occasion and difficulty with decisions beyond his control. I believe he has matured; and I believe he will channel his personal history to ultimately become a better person and football player.”
Biography
Derrick’s Timeline
2004: Graduated High School and signed letter of intent with USC. Was never formally admitted into the school, however.
2005: Admitted to Oregon, but must take math and english courses BEFORE enrolling. Does so during 2005
2006: Enrolls at Oregon, runs 3rd leg on 4X100 Pac-10 Champion track team, and plays football
2008: Leaves Oregon in Spring ’08. Issues mainly centered around immaturity. Only notable legal issue was a failure to appear regarding traffic tickets.
2009: Takes courses at Long Beach City College
2010: Enrolls at California University of Pennsylvania, racks up 11 tds and a 26 yds/catch average as a senior
2011: Graduates from California University of Pennsylvania in May of 2011
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:
As a junior in 2007-08, returns as team’s fastest sprinter in the 100 meters (10.44), based on personal bests. Also one of the football team’s top receivers, he shined in his debut track season in ’06. In that late season run, he helped the 4x100m relay to its first-ever Pac-10 title and its second straight All-America honor (and fourth in the school history). Did not compete in track in 2007. As a prep, was a five-time California high school state track champion (200m-1, 4x100m-1, 4x400m-3) for one of the West Coast’s most famous track and field sprint units – Long Beach Poly. Was also a near unanimous All-America prep football selection as a senior when he racked up 49 catches for 930 yards (19.0 avg.) and 11 touchdowns.
Fall 2007: Showed flashes of his tremendous athletic ability at various points of fall football campaign. Ranked sixth on the squad in receptions (19, 10.5 avg., 2 TD) and played nine games. Had a season long 61-yard scoring catch in win at Michigan and finished with 75 receiving yards on the day. Added another 10-yard TD catch vs. Washington State. During the season, carried ball three times on ground and had a season-long 25-yard scamper at Tucson. Also posted 75 yards on four kickoff returns early in the season.
2006-07: Did not compete in track. Saw limited action in football because of injuries, missed last six games of the fall. Appeared in four early season games and had one catch for nine yards vs. Arizona State.
2005-06: All-American (4x100m Relay). Concentrated his athletic focus solely on the oval in May after he focused on spring football early in the outdoor season. At home in mid-May, ran third leg on the 4×100-meter relay that won Oregon’s first-ever Pac-10 Conference relay title (39.74), and a month later finished seventh in the NCAA Championships (seventh, 39.48; 39.45-p). In the NCAA West Regional at the end of the May the 4x100m relay squad finished top-four for the second straight season (third, 40.10). Altogether competed on 4x100m relay in its last six appearances of the year – including four of the fastest 10 in school history (39.45 (#4), 39.48 (#5), 39.74 (#6) and 39.86 (#10)). Competed once individually in the 100m in the Pac-10 Championships (13th-prelims, 10.71, w:1.2), and was .12 seconds from the final qualifying spot for the final. Did not compete indoors.Personal/Season Bests: Outdoors – 100m – 10.71-p, w:1.2, Pac-10 Championships, Eugene, Ore. (5/13/06).
Prep: In California state meet, claimed state titles as a senior in the 200m (21.10, w:1.7) and 4x400m (3:13.74), as a junior in the 4x400m (3:14.35), and as a sophomore in the 4x100m (40.63) and 4x400m (3:12.90). Also scored additional top-eight finishes as a senior (100m, fifth, 10.62, w:1.6; 4x100m, second, 41.40), junior (4x100m, second, 41.94) and sophomore (100m, fifth, 10.79, w:1.5; 10.61w-prelims (w:2.6); 200m, fifth, 21.45, w:0.6; 21.40w-prelims (w:2.3)). Owned the following season bests – senior (100m 10.47w/10.50; 200m 20.97), junior (100m 10.44; 200m 21.3) and sophomore (100m 10.58; 200m 21.24). Ran on top-10 nationally-ranked relay units as a senior (4x400m, eighth, 3:13.74), junior (4x400m, fifth, 3:11.22) and sophomore (4x100m, second, 40.63; 4x400m, second, 3:12.1). On the football field, received near-unanimous All-America acclaim from the likes of SuperPrep and PrepStar following his senior season, as well as Best in the West first-team accolades (Long Beach Press-Telegram), Western One-Hundred (Tacoma News Tribune), Fab 15 first-team (Orange County Register), all-Southeast/South Coast (L.A. Times) and Dream Team (Long Beach Press-Telegram) tributes. Hauled in 49 catches for 930 yards (19.0 avg.) and scored 11 touchdowns as a senior in 2003, including three scores returning kickoffs and punts. Led the Jackrabbits to the CIF Division I championship contest his final prep campaign. His junior year was just as impressive, converting 39 receptions into 1,479 yards (37.9 avg.) and 16 TDs (not including five additional scores coming via kickoff returns). High School: Long Beach Poly 2004.
Personal: Undeclared major.
Personal Bests
100 meters – 10.44 (Prep)
200 meters – 20.97 (Prep)
He earned 2003 Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team, Lemming Top 100, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State second team, All-CIF Southern Section second team, All-CIF Division I, Los Angeles Times All-Southeast/South Coast and Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team first team honors as a senior wide receiver and defensive back at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High…He caught 49 passes for 930 yards (19.0 avg.) and scored 11 TDs, including 3 on kick and punt returns, in 2003…Long Beach Poly was the CIF Division I finalist in 2003…As a junior in 2002, he was a Student Sports Junior All-American, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass first team, All-CIF Division II, Los Angeles times All-Southeast/South Coast and Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team first team selection…He had 39 receptions for 1,479 yards (37.9 avg.) with 16 TDs (he also scored 5 times on kickoff returns)…He also was on the track team at Long Beach Poly, with bests of 10.44 in the 100 meters and 20.97 in the 200..He won the 200 at the 2004 California State meet (in that meet, he also was fifth in the 100 and ran legs on the victorious 1600-meter relay and the runnerup 400-meter relay)…He won the 100 and 200 at the 2004 CIF Division I meet and at the 2004 CIF Southern Section Masters meet…He was named the 2004 Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team Track Athlete of the Year…He was a 3-time (2002-04) Moore League champion in the 100 and 200
NCAA Championships Performances
2007 – 4x100m, 7th, 39.48 (prelims-39.45), (Del Rincon, Scherer, Jones, Kent)
West Regional Championships Performances
2006 – 4x100m, 40.10, (Huske, Scherer, Jones, Kent), 3rd, (prelims-39.86)
Pac-10 Championships Performances
2006 – 4x100m, 1st, 39.74 (Del Rincon, Scherer, Jones, Kent
