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D'Vonta Derricott |
Position: Linebacker Previous College: Garden City Community College Projection: Second-String Status: On Scholarship |
D'Vonta J. Derricott (b. April 22, 1993) is a late-arriving JUCO linebacker who has the potential to be the next Arthur Brown, but only if he can pick up our system quickly and make up for a summer lost to playing academic catchup.
He has been clocked at 4.45 in the 40-yard dash and has the kind of end-to-end speed we need in our defensive system. But I predict his extremely late arrival will hold him back, which is why I have him just behind the starters.
Derricott played two seasons at Garden City Community College, including the 2013 campaign under head coach Matt Miller, a former Kansas State quarterback and assistant coach.
He also was tutored by defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Kelly, another former Wildcat great.
Derricott was ranked No. 3 nationally among junior college outside linebackers by ESPN and was named a first-team All-Jayhawk Conference performer in 2013 after finishing with 67 tackles, including nine for loss, one sack, three interceptions, and four pass breakups. He also forced a fumble and returned another 80 yards.
He registered a team- and season-high five tackles for loss against Highland Community College, which featured incoming defensive back Jesse Mack, and totaled 48 tackles with one pass deflection as a freshman in 2011.
Derricott played under head coach Patrick Kane for Hermitage High School in Virginia, helping the team to earn a 12-1 record and an appearance in the Virginia state semifinals. You can watch all of his highlights here.
He had nothing but great things to say about K-State and Manhattan in this update with GoPowercat.com:
"The fans, they're just really in it," explains the 230-pound Garden City product. "People there show they care about K-State and the second time really showed me that."