Derrick Atterberry facts for kids
| No. 8, 23 | |
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| Position: | Defensive back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | November 1, 1972 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | John H. Patterson (Dayton) |
| College: | Vanderbilt (1991–1994) |
| Undrafted: | 1995 |
| Career history | |
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| CFL status: | International |
| Player stats at ArenaFan.com | |
Derrick D. Atterberry, born on November 1, 1972, is a former American football player. He played as a defensive back, a position that helps stop the other team from scoring. He played college football for Vanderbilt University. Later, he played professionally for teams like the Memphis Mad Dogs in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Nashville Kats in the Arena Football League (AFL). He was also part of the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL).
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Derrick Atterberry's Early Life and College Football
Derrick D. Atterberry was born in Dayton, Ohio, on November 1, 1972. He went to John H. Patterson Career Center for high school in Dayton. He finished high school in 1991. While in high school, he earned special honors from the Dayton Daily News for his football skills.
Atterberry played for the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt University. He was part of the team from 1991 to 1994. In 1991, he was "redshirted," which means he practiced with the team but did not play in games. This allowed him to gain experience without using up a year of his college playing eligibility.
He earned a "letterman" title in both 1993 and 1994. This means he played enough to earn a special award, often a letter jacket, from the university. In 1994, Atterberry started one game as a cornerback. He graduated from Vanderbilt in 1995.
Derrick Atterberry's Professional Football Career
After college, Derrick Atterberry began his professional football journey. He played for several teams in different leagues.
Playing in the Canadian Football League
On April 12, 1995, Atterberry signed with the Memphis Mad Dogs. This team was part of the Canadian Football League (CFL). During the 1995 season, he played in six games for the Mad Dogs. He made two tackles on defense and two tackles on special teams.
Time with NFL Teams
On March 19, 1996, Atterberry signed a two-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League (NFL). However, the Colts released him on July 21, 1996.
He then had a tryout with another NFL team, the Miami Dolphins, on February 13, 1997. He later signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins. It was reported that the Dolphins planned to send him to NFL Europe to play for the Amsterdam Admirals. However, he never played for the Admirals. The Dolphins released Atterberry in April 1997.
Playing in the Arena Football League
After his time in the NFL, Atterberry joined the Nashville Kats. This team played in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played in four games for the Kats during the 1997 season. He played as a defensive specialist. During this time, he made 12 solo tackles, forced one fumble, and broke up one pass.
He signed with the Kats again on January 21, 1998. But he was released on April 13, 1998, just a few weeks before the 1998 season began.
Atterberry later signed with the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL for the 1999 season. He started the season on injured reserve. This means he was unable to play due to an injury. He never played in a game for the Storm.
Derrick Atterberry's Coaching Career
After his playing days, Derrick Atterberry became a football coach. In 2000, he was the defensive backs coach for the Alabama State Hornets. He left that team after the season. He then joined the office of the CIAA. Later, he became an assistant football coach at Springfield High School in Springfield, Ohio.
