Ballhawking, ferocious, special teams standout … Played in all 16 games as a rookie and both postseason games … Set the franchise-record for special teams tackles with 30, surpassing the previous mark of 25 set by Brant Boyer (1997) and Danny Clark (2000) … Had season-high six special teams tackles against Oakland on Dec. 23 … Joined safety Reggie Nelson and punter Adam Podlesh as only rookies to play in all 16 games … Selected in the seventh round of the 2008 draft after starting for four seasons at LB at Elon … Two-time consensus All-America selection …
2008
Played in all 16 games as a rookie and excelled on special teams … Set franchise single-season record with 30 special teams tackles … Had at least one tackle in 13 of 16 games … Recorded two special teams tackles on 9/9 vs. TEN and 9/16 vs. ATL … 10/14 vs. HOU: Led team with three tackles … 10/28 at TB: Tied for team-lead with three tackles … 11/11 at TEN: Collected team-high five tackles … 11/25 vs. BUF: Recorded two tackles and was credited with a punt return and a fumble when a Bills' punt hit him … 12/23 vs. OAK: Set season-high with six tackles. Set franchise single-season record with 29 special teams tackles, surpassing Brant Boyer (25, 1997) … 1/5 at PIT: Tied for team-lead with two special teams tackles in AFC Wild Card Game … 1/12 at NE: Saw action on special teams in AFC Divisional Playoff Game.
Two-time consensus All-America and All-Southern Conference selection as a linebacker… Did not miss a game in his career, starting all 45 games … Recorded school-record 414 tackles (181 solo) along with 8.5 sacks, 49.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … Started at fullback as a freshman before moving to linebacker his final three seasons … Led team as a senior with 127 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles … Ranked fourth in the nation in tackles … Was finalist for Buck Buchanan Award, given to the nation's top defensive player in the NCAA Division I-AA ranks … Named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a junior as he led the nation with a school-record 152 tackles … Moved to linebacker as a sophomore and led team with 135 tackles with 14.5 tackles for loss along with three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles … Started all 12 games at fullback as a freshman and finished with 68 carries for 307 yards and one touchdown.
Single … Resides in Hyattsville, MD … Attended Northwestern High in Hyattsville … Participated in the Washington D.C. All-Star Game, earning Defensive Player of the Game honors … Attends team-sponsored events including Operation Blessing ... Full name: Derek Chad Nkang.