Derrick is an easy pick for #1 defensive lineman in the class.

I most recently watched Derrick at the 2024 State Championship, and he played incredibly well. He only had 3 tackles that game, but that’s because ND Prep barely ever ran the ball inside- probably a good choice on their part.

Derrick has a few rare & elite traits. First, his size is absolutely ideal for B1G 10 football. He’s a well-built, dense 6’3″ 270. Needless to say, he’s an incredibly explosive athlete. Derrick sometimes doesn’t have the best reaction time when the ball is snapped, but he’s able to make up for that with an elite first step. Once he engages with an offensive lineman, he’s able to simultaneously move his hands and feet. He does an excellent job at quickly shedding blocks, and he’s got enough bend to beat those elite power linemen, and enough power to anchor down and fill the inside run. The more I talk about Derrick the more I think #5 may be too low for him.

I don’t know much about Derrick’s character. I regret not watching him more closely on the sideline during the state championship, but I have absolutely zero reason to believe he’s anything but a good teammate.

Put him at DT, and watch him shine. If he keeps an elite worth ethic throughout college, there’s zero reason why Derrick can’t be an NFL talent. Can’t wait to watch him tear offensive lines apart in East Lansing!

It’s not often that a Power 4 Prospect plays in a D5 State Championship game.

Needless to say, Derrick is going to have a massive effect on this game. ND Prep is super successful running the football between the tackles, and Derrick’s presence alone should change the way ND Prep calls plays.

No matter how much ND Prep chooses to run plays away from Derrick, I still expect him to get into the backfield, rush the passer, and make a few game-changing plays.

I wish the GRCC offensive line luck, because they’ll surely need it.

Derek is fun to watch. Against other small schools, Derek consistently dominates.

Above all else, Derek is physical. He’s explosive off the snap and has a few elite block-shedding moves to get into the backfield. His push-pull is especially impressive. You rarely see a defensive lineman with elite size and physicality at such a small school- but Derek is that at Frankenmuth.

I’d highly recommend anyone reading this take a look at Derek’s tape!

The MSU commit and his Frankenmuth squad are looking as good as expected and have been rewarded with another trip to the semifinals. They’ll need another great performance this week, but through these playoffs so far it appears he has just been a force! Derrick is a powerful kid with the ability to rip through blocks with speed and great moves to be a stopping force in the run game, and his pass rush is nothing to overlook as well! There’s a reason a P4 school has attached themself to Simmons, and it’s because of his incredibly high ceiling. This is one of the best defensive players we have in this state!

As I said above, the linemen don’t get as much attention. In Derek’s case, he’s a PHENOMENAL defensive lineman but doesn’t get as much attention in part because he’s a small-school player outside of any major city. Watch his tape, and you’ll see why Derek is committed to Michigan State.

When it comes to skill, Derek is among the best I’ve seen from a defensive tackle. Time and time again on his highlight tape, Derek explodes out of his stance, pancakes the opposing offensive lineman, and annihilates whoever is carrying the ball. That said, Derek has rare strength and one of the most explosive getoffs I’ve ever seen from an interior defensive lineman.

Lastly, I’ll touch on his size. 6’3″ 270lbs is absolutely perfect for an interior defensive lineman. Derek’s size doesn’t only make him a high-upside player in College, but a potential NFL contributor as well.

Derek is another extremely obvious new addition to the 2025 rankings. He’s one of those freak athletes that we see every year from a few small schools. On the O-Line, Derek is able to pancake practically anyone put in front of him. Defensively, Derek is an elite defensive tackle. Right off the bat, Derek explodes out of his stance and overpowers every lineman taking him on 1v1. In addition, Derek has a motor that I see from very few DTs. A ton of DTs can give good effort for a few seconds, but struggle stopping anything that isn’t an inside run. Not Derek. Rushing the passer or defending an outside run, Derek is able to explode in any direction and make a big play in the backfield. Love the effort, love the athletic traits, and the potential is through the roof. I look forward to seeing what Derek is able to do at Michigan State.