Derrick Strait facts for kids

Derrick Lee Strait (born August 27, 1980) is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons. Derrick was known for his amazing skills in college. He played for the Oklahoma Sooners and was named an unanimous All-American in 2003. The New York Jets picked him in the 2004 NFL draft. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers.

Early Life and High School Football

Derrick Strait was born in Austin, Texas. He went to Lanier High School in Austin. There, he played football for coach Wade Johnson. Derrick was a very talented player in high school. He was even named one of the top 100 players in Texas.

During his senior year, Derrick played many different positions. He was a quarterback, defensive back, and running back. He ran for over 1,400 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. He also threw three touchdowns. On defense, he made 118 tackles and had two interceptions. He even scored a touchdown by returning a recovered fumble 42 yards!

College Career at Oklahoma

Derrick Strait earned a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. He played for coach Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners football team from 2000 to 2003. He was a starter at cornerback for all four years.

Derrick was a two-time All-American player. In 2003, he won two big awards: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award. These awards go to the best defensive player and the best defensive back in college football. He also holds an Oklahoma 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 started every game as a right cornerback. He had 62 tackles and 15 pass deflections. One of his most important plays was breaking up a pass in the end zone against Oklahoma State. This helped Oklahoma win the game. He also had a key deflection in the Orange Bowl against Florida State. Derrick also had two interceptions, including one he returned 32 yards for a touchdown against Nebraska.

Sophomore Year (2001)

In 2001, Derrick continued to be a strong player. He was named to the All-Big 12 Second-team. He was known as one of the best "cover corners" in the country. He made nine tackles against Nebraska. He also returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown against North Carolina.

Junior Year (2002)

In 2002, Derrick was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He led his team with six interceptions. He also set a school record for the most interception return yards in a season, with 175 yards. He had two interceptions against Baylor, returning one for a 75-yard touchdown.

Senior Year (2003)

After his senior season in 2003, Derrick Strait received many honors. He won both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award. He was also recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American. This means he was considered one of the best college football players in the entire country.

Professional Football Career

National Football League (NFL)

The New York Jets picked Derrick Strait in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played for the Jets for two seasons, mostly as a backup defensive back. In 2006, he also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers. He was released by the Panthers in 2007.

Other Leagues

In 2008, Derrick joined the Columbus Destroyers in the Arena Football League. Later that year, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League. In 2009, he briefly played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Coaching Career

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

See also

• List of Arena Football League and National Football League players