Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Garden City Community College inside linebacker D’Vonta Derricott announced his intention to visit Manhattan in September as part of the recruiting process last month. He apparently didn’t need to wait that long to make his decision, taking to Twitter to announce his decision to verbally commit to K-State last night. Derricott was succinct in his announcement, simply announcing his intention to come to Manhattan next year.
I just verbal to Kansas st
— Isaiah Derricott (@dvonta20) August 8, 2013
As discussed on this site in July, Derricott is a phenomenal pick-up who had the opportunity to pursue an education while playing football at several schools, including Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, and Oklahoma State. He was heavily involved in discussions with Wisconsin, although word on the street is that he did not qualify academically for the Badgers. South Florida and West Virginia were also among his top four options, along with K-State, although the deep coaching connections between Garden City CC and K-State helped sway him to the Wildcats.
Derricott is a three-star linebacker who brings an enviable combination of speed and strength. At 6’1″ and 230 pounds, he runs a 4.45 40 and benches 330 pounds according to Rivals. He played in just eight games last year but recorded 55 tackles and an interception. The 247 Sports Composite, which averages the rankings of various recruiting sites, has him as the #1 inside linebacker in this junior college class, the fifth best JUCO player playing in Kansas, and number 25 overall nationally. With Blake Slaughter set to graduate in 2014, the inside linebacker spot will be wide open and Derricott anticipates competing for it. Additionally, standout Tre Walker will also be graduating next spring leaving open an outside linebacker spot should the coaching staff feel more comfortable moving Derricott to that position. Either way, this is an excellent pick-up for the Wildcats and should ensure another player with proven production can step up and immediately fill any voids created by graduation in 2014.