Derrick Strait facts for kids

Derrick Lee Strait was born on August 27, 1980. He is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons.

Derrick played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. In 2003, he was named a unanimous All-American, which is a very high honor. The New York Jets picked him in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers in the NFL.

Early Life and High School Football

Derrick Strait grew up in Austin, Texas. He went to Lanier High School in Austin. There, he played football for coach Wade Johnson.

During his time in high school, Derrick was a top player. He was named one of the best 100 players in Texas by the Houston Chronicle. He played in many different positions. These included quarterback, defensive back, and running back.

In his senior year, he ran for 1,439 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. He also made 118 tackles on defense. He even returned a fumbled ball 42 yards for a touchdown!

College Football Career

Derrick Strait received a scholarship to play football at the University of Oklahoma. He played for the Oklahoma Sooners football team from 2000 to 2003. He was a starting cornerback for all four years.

Derrick was named an All-American twice. In 2003, he won two big awards: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award. He also holds a team record for recovering five fumbles in one season.

Freshman Year (2000)

In 2000, Derrick was named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year. He was also chosen as a Freshman All-America player. He started every game as a right cornerback.

He finished his first season with 62 tackles. He also broke up 15 passes, which means he stopped the other team from catching the ball. One important play was in the Orange Bowl against Florida State. He stopped a possible touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. He also had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown against Nebraska.

Sophomore Year (2001)

In 2001, Derrick was named to the All-Big 12 Second-team. He became known as one of the best "cover corners" in college football. This means he was very good at guarding opposing players.

He had nine tackles in a game against Nebraska. He also returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown against North Carolina.

Junior Year (2002)

In 2002, Derrick was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He was also named to the All-Big 12 first-team. He started every game at cornerback.

He had six interceptions, which was tied for the most on his team. He set a school record by returning his six interceptions for a total of 175 yards. He even returned one interception for a 75-yard touchdown against Baylor.

Senior Year (2003)

After his senior season in 2003, Derrick Strait won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award. He was also recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American. This means all major selectors agreed he was one of the best players in the country.

Professional Football Career

National Football League (NFL)

The New York Jets chose Derrick Strait in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. He spent two seasons mostly as a backup player.

In 2006, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns. However, the trade did not go through, and he returned to the Jets. Later that year, he played briefly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers. He was released by the Panthers in September 2007.

Arena Football League (AFL)

In 2008, Derrick joined the Columbus Destroyers in the Arena Football League. He was with the team for a short time.

Canadian Football League (CFL)

In March 2008, Derrick signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League. In 2009, he signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but was released before the season started.

Coaching Career

In March 2012, Derrick Strait began his coaching career. He became a graduate assistant coach for his old college team, the University of Oklahoma. He worked under head coach Bob Stoops.

See also

• List of Arena Football League and National Football League players