High School
Selected to play in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Classic...Selected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl all-star game in Ft. Lauderdale, FL following his senior season...Rated the No. 26 offensive tackle prospect in the country by ESPN.com...Ranked among the top 20 offensive linemen in the Southeast by PrepStar Recruiting Magazine in its season-ending yearbook...Considered one of the top five prospects in the state by that publication...Ranked No. 24 on the Mobile Press Register's Super Southern 120, the top-ranked offensive tackle on the list...Named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100...One of just 16 offensive linemen so recognized...Listed No. 2 on the Jackson Clarion-Ledger ranking of the top 40 prospects in the state of Mississippi, the top-rated offensive lineman...Rated the No. 5 prospect in the state of Mississippi, regardless of position, by SuperPrep Recruiting Magazine, the top-ranked offensive lineman...That publication also had him ranked as the No. 35 offensive line prospect in the country...Move to No. 4 in that publication's season-ending all-America issue, the state's top-rated offensive lineman...Named the Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year for 2006...Named to the Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen prior to his senior season...Named first-team, all-state on the offensive line in all classifications by that newspaper following his senior season...Earned first-team, all-Southeast on the offensive line in the pre-season recruiting guide by Scout...Ranked No. 38 overall in the southeast in that publication, the fourth-best offensive lineman listed...Earned first-team, all-state mention in Class 3A by the Mississippi Association of Coaches at offensive tackle...Allowed just one quarterback sack during his senior season and was credited with 32 pancake blocks...Also made 79 tackles on defense, with six quarterback sacks and four fumble recoveries...He also blocked three kicks...Credited with a 325-pound bench press max and a 30-inch vertical jump by recruiting web site Scout.com...His 5.35-second 40-yard dash time was fourth-fastest among offensive linemen at the Starkville Scout.com combine in 2005 (as a HS sophomore)...His 4.84-second run in the short shuttle and 8.16-second time in the three-cone run were the second fastest...Four-year starter on the offensive line and three-year regular on the defensive side of the ball at Caledonia (MS) HS...A three-time all-area selection by the Columbus Commercial Dispatch, including being named as both an offensive and defensive lineman his senior year...Was also a two-time, Elite 11 selection by that newspaper...Named second-team, all-state following his junior season by the Mississippi Association of Coaches...Recorded 93 tackles with four quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries during his junior season as defensive tackle...Also played basketball on the high school level...Other top scholarship offers: Florida, Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Michigan, Louisville and Ole Miss.

Personal
Born Derek Lee Sherrod, 4-23-89, in Chula Vista, CA...Son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Sherrod...Major is undeclared.