Derrick Dockery facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Derrick Dockery

Dockery with the Washington Redskins in 2006
No. 66, 75, 76
Position:	Guard
Personal information
Born:	(1980-09-07) September 7, 1980 (age 45) Garland, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:	325 lb (147 kg)
Career information
High school:	Lakeview Centennial (Garland)
College:	Texas
NFL Draft:	2003 / Round: 3 / Pick: 81
Career history
Washington Redskins (2003−2006) Buffalo Bills (2007−2008) Washington Redskins (2009−2010) Dallas Cowboys (2011−2012)
Career highlights and awards
Consensus All-American 2002) First-team All-Big 12 (2002)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 141 Games started: 115 Fumble recoveries: 4
Player stats at PFR

Derrick Dewayne Dockery, born on September 7, 1980, is a former American professional football player. He was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). Derrick played for teams like the Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Texas Longhorns.

Early Life and High School Football

Derrick Dockery was born in Dallas County, Texas. He grew up and went to Lakeview Centennial High School in Garland, Texas. There, he played football for the Lakeview Patriots team.

In 1998, during his senior year, Derrick was recognized as a top offensive lineman. USA Today named him to their second-team All-USA list. He was also a two-time first-team all-district player. This means he was one of the best players in his local area.

College Football Career at Texas

Derrick Dockery earned a football scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin. He played for the Texas Longhorns football team from 1999 to 2002. Their coach was Mack Brown.

Starting His College Journey

In 1999, as a freshman, Derrick was a backup offensive guard. However, he played in all 14 games that season. This included the Cotton Bowl Classic, a big college football game. He played at both guard positions and on special teams.

Becoming a Key Player

By 2000, his sophomore year, Derrick became a starter. He started all 12 games at guard, including the Holiday Bowl. He helped the Longhorns offense score a lot of points, averaging 38.6 points per game.

In 2001, his junior year, he played in all 13 games. He started nine of those games at guard and even played some tackle. His strong play helped the Longhorns lead the Big 12 Conference in scoring. They averaged 39.2 points per game, which was sixth-best in the NCAA.

All-American Senior Season

Derrick's senior year in 2002 was outstanding. He started all 13 games, playing both right guard and right tackle. He did not allow a single sack, which is a big achievement for an offensive lineman.

He was named a first-team All-Big 12 player. He also became a consensus first-team All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college football players in the entire country. He helped the Longhorns offense rank high in scoring.

During his time at Texas, the team had a great record of 40 wins and 12 losses. They had two seasons with 11 wins and 2 losses. Derrick played in 52 games in a row and started 31 of them.

In 2018, Derrick Dockery was honored by being inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor.

Professional Football Career

Washington Redskins: First Time Around

The Washington Redskins picked Derrick Dockery in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. He was the 81st player chosen overall. As a rookie in 2003, he started as a backup player.

In Week 4, he got his first chance to start in an NFL game against the New England Patriots. He played left guard. He then started the last 13 games of the season at that position. In 2004, he started all 16 games at left guard. He and left tackle Chris Samuels formed a strong duo on the offensive line.

Playing for the Buffalo Bills

In 2007, Derrick signed a big contract with the Buffalo Bills. He was a starter at left guard for two years, playing in 32 games. The Bills' offensive line was known for being very tall and heavy. In 2008, the team had some trouble protecting their quarterback. Derrick was released by the Bills in 2009.

Washington Redskins: Second Time Around

Derrick Dockery returned to the Washington Redskins in 2009. He signed a new contract with them. He started all 16 games at left guard that season. In 2010, his streak of playing in 116 straight games ended. He was injured during a game against the Tennessee Titans. He was released by the Redskins in 2011.

Time with the Dallas Cowboys

On September 4, 2011, Derrick Dockery joined the Dallas Cowboys. He started in his second game with the team, filling in for an injured player. However, he also got injured in that game. He recovered and returned later in the season as a backup guard. In 2012, he was signed again as a backup guard. He was not re-signed after that season.

Derrick finished his NFL career having played in 141 games. He started 115 of those games. He had an impressive streak of 109 consecutive starts from 2003 to 2010.

Life After Football

After retiring from professional football, Derrick Dockery and his wife, Emma, went to George Washington University. They both earned their Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees.

Derrick has worked for several important people in the United States government. He helped members of Congress like Jason Chaffetz and Paul Ryan. In 2016, Speaker Paul Ryan hired Derrick to help build connections with state and local governments and businesses.

Derrick is married to Emma, and they have three children. Famous ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman gave Derrick a fun nickname: Derrick "Hickory Dickory" Dockery. Derrick's brother, Cedric, also played college football for the University of Texas.