Derrick Strait Derrick Lee Strait ( born August 27 , 1980 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League ( NFL ) for three seasons during the early 2000s . He played college football for the University of Oklahoma , and was recognized as an All - American . The New York Jets chose him in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft , and he also played professionally for the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers of the NFL . Early years . Strait was born in Austin , Texas . He attended Lanier High School in Austin , playing football for coach and former University of Texas player Wade Johnson . While in high school Strait was selected to the Texas Top 100 by the " Houston Chronicle " and a Max Emfinger National Top 500 selection . Strait saw action as a quarterback , defensive back and running back during his senior season , where he rushed for 1 , 439 yards and 17 touchdowns , recording eight runs of 20 or more yards , including one of 81 yards and also threw three touchdowns . He also had , 118 tackles ( 52 solos ) , one sack , two forced fumble s , four fumble recoveries , 11 pass deflections and two interception s on defense . He returned one fumble 42 yards for a touchdown . Strait combined for more than 1 , 500 yards as a junior ( 790 passing and 712 rushing ) . He was an All - District standout as well as being selected to the All - CenTex team . College . Strait received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Oklahoma , and played for coach Bob Stoops ' s Oklahoma Sooners football team from 2000 to 2003 . He was a starter at the cornerback position all four years . Derrick was a two - time All - American , recipient of the 2003 Bronko Nagurski Trophy , and the 2003 Jim Thorpe Award his senior season . He holds a team record with five fumble recoveries in a single season . He was named to the Sports Illustrated All - Decade Team in 2009 . Freshman ( 2000 ) . In 2000 , Strait was selected as the Big 12 Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press , Freshman All - America selection by The Sporting News , an All - Big 12 third team selection by the Big 12 Coaches . Strait started every game at right cornerback and finished his first season fourth in tackles with 62 . He also recorded five tackles for loss , two sacks and 15 pass deflections . He recorded the second most deflections on the team and fourth most for an Oklahoma defensive back in a single season . Strait recorded one of his biggest deflections late in the Oklahoma State game when he broke up a pass in the end zone on fourth and goal , which helped Oklahoma secure the victory . Strait also had another key breakup in the Orange Bowl against Florida State , with he deflected a possible touchdown pass in the fourth quarter , he also had five tackles in the game . Strat had a two of interceptions , including a third quarter pick against Nebraska which he returned 32 yards for a touchdown , he was also one of five Sooners to return an interception for a touchdown . He recorded a career high 10 tackles against Texas . He also recorded five tackles , two tackles for loss and one sack a week later at Kansas State . Strait also had seven tackles and an interception in the final home game of the year against Texas Tech . Sophomore ( 2001 ) . In 2001 , Strait was an All - Big 12 Second Team selection by the Associated Press . He was also an All - Big 12 Honorable Mention selection by the Big 12 Coaches . Strait emerged as one of the better cover corners in the country . He recorded a season high nine tackles at Nebraska . Strait had at least three tackles in 11 of the 12 regular season games . Strait had eight tackles against Texas . He returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against North Carolina , cutting across the field in almost an exact replay of his TD against Nebraska the previous year . Strait did however give up the winning touchdown in the 2001 Bedlam Series against Oklahoma State to Rashaun Woods , unable to perform his game - saving magic of a year ago . Junior ( 2002 ) . In 2002 , Strait was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist , consensus All - Big 12 first team . He started every game at cornerback . He tied for the team lead with six interceptions , the No . 10 total in school history , and set a school record for return yards in a season by taking his six interceptions back for 175 yards . Strait had two interceptions at Baylor which he returned for a school record 127 yards , one for a 75 - yard touchdown . Strait had a total of 175 interception return yards for the season rank third on the team . Strait had a season high eight tackles at Texas A & M . Senior ( 2003 ) . Following his 2003 senior season , Strait won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy , and the Jim Thorpe Award , and was recognized as a unanimous first - team All - American . On February 9 , 2004 , state senator Debbe Leftwich , praised Strait on the Oklahoma Senate floor when she presented him with Senate Resolution 36 . Professional career . National Football League . Strait was selected with the 13th pick in the 3rd round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the New York Jets . After spending two seasons primarily as a backup defensive back , Strait was traded to the Cleveland Browns on August 14 , 2006 for running back Lee Suggs . Suggs , however , failed his physical , and both he and Strait returned to their respective teams . On October 11 , 2006 he was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , but was released a week later . On November 8 , 2006 , he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears . On December 9 , 2006 he was released by the Bears . On December 11 , 2006 he was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers . On September 1 , 2007 , he did not make the final cut down , and was released by the Panthers . Arena Football League . In 2008 , Strait joined the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League . However he was waived on February 13 . Canadian Football League . On March 4 , 2008 , Strait signed with the Edmonton Eskimos . On March 6 , 2009 , he was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but was released at the beginning of training camp . College Coaching . In March of 2012 he began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant for his alma mater Oklahoma University under Head Coach Bob Stoops .