Out on “the island,” Gabe Derricks' worst enemy is complacency, not the opposing team's best wide receiver.
“The island” is the stretch of football field between the quarterback and the receiver running the route. Derricks, USD's all-league defensive back, is out there alone and charged with patrolling that space and swatting or snatching any balls that find their way in.
Problem is, he gets only one or two chances a game.
“When you do the job he does, teams are afraid,” said USD defensive backs coach Brandon Shelby, a former All-Big 12 cornerback at Oklahoma. “But you can't become complacent. If you do, that's when that deep ball comes. And it always comes in a big game.”
That could all change this week when the Toreros travel to Jacksonville University to face the Dolphins in a Pioneer League game. Jacksonville (4-3, 2-1) enters with the league's second-best pass attack behind USD (6-0, 4-0). Freshman quarterback Josh McGregor is coming off a six-touchdown performance last week to earn offensive player of the week honors in Jacksonville's 40-9 win over Morehead State.
With USD's showdown looming next week against Dayton – which many believe will determine the league champion – Derricks is aware today's matchup has all the makings of a trap game; it's on the road, there is a three-hour time change and it's against a mid-level team that can put up points.
“Our friends and roommates are already talking about Dayton, and I just walk out of the room,” said Derricks, 20. “Every game is a championship game for us. That's the only way our coaches will let us approach it. We'll worry about next week when it gets here.”
It's that cool-headed approach that has allowed the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Derricks to excel at his position. USD leads the conference in pass defense efficiency and has allowed just five passing touchdowns in six games. Quarterbacks are completing an abysmal 43 percent against the Toreros. Derricks is third on the team in tackles (20) and first in pass breakups (four).
But it didn't always come easy for Derricks, who prepped at Oak Park High, northwest of Los Angeles. Though he earned PFL Freshman of the Year honors, he went through the usual growing pains and would get tested by quarterbacks. With freshman Al-Rilwan Adeyemi starting opposite him, he's seen opposing teams go after the youngster.
“I told him early on teams are going to want to see what he's all about,” Derricks said. “As a defensive back, you have to have that short-term memory. If you get burned, come back and shut them down for the rest of the game.”
The advice seemed to work. Two weeks ago, Adeyemi jumped a route against Morehead and returned it for a touchdown.
“(Derricks) was a freshman once and went through the same thing,” Adeyemi said. “He told me the only way to shut them up is to make a big play. That's what I've been trying to do. I see the way he prepares for games and the way he is at practice. I come to work every day and try to be like him.”
And with USD set to face the toughest passing offense it has seen this year, head coach Ron Caragher said having a steady presence like Derricks in the secondary is assuring.
“He doesn't have the statistics, but that's because people work away from him,” Caragher said. “That's the sign of a good corner, when it's nice and quiet on his side of the field.”
Injury updates
The Toreros lost another of their high-profile offensive weapons because of a noncontact knee injury. Senior tight end
Mitch Ryan (14 catches, three touchdowns) will miss the rest of the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn meniscus. He suffered the injury during practice. Running back
J.T. Rogan also suffered a noncontact ACL tear in the season opener.
USD will get back linebacker Loka Kanongataa and safety Derek Pilkington for today's game. Kanongataa has been out since Week 3 with a knee injury and Pilkington suffered an undisclosed injury against Drake in Week 4. Offensive tackle Deene Kabiling (University City) missed some practice with an ankle injury but is expected to play.
Kevin Gemmell: (619) 718-5304; kevin.gemmell@uniontrib.com
