50 greatest college football players this century, ranked
- Dick Butkus Award (2004)
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2004)
- 2× Consensus All-American (2003, 2004)
- Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2004)
- 3× First-team All-Big 12 (2002, 2003, 2004)
In a long line of greats on the defensive side of the ball from Texas, Derrick Johnson is second to none.
During his 3.5 years as a starter, he had three straight 120-tackle seasons totaling 458. Johnson is one of the most athletic defenders in the history of college football which he demonstrated by consistently dominating against both the pass and the run.
In 50 games, he had 69 tackles for a loss and 11 forced fumbles to go along with nine interceptions and 30 passes broken up. His best season came in 2004 as a senior when the Longhorns finished with a record of 11-1 and beat Michigan 38-37 in the Rose Bowl to finish the year. Johnson had 130 tackles (10.8 per game), 19 tackles behind the line, a pair of sacks and nine forced fumbles. He was named a consensus First-team All-American and took home both the Butkus and Bronko Nagurski Awards.
Johnson was selected 14th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2005 NFL Draft.
Bonus Facts: Johnson had one of the most impressive combines a linebacker has ever had with a 4.5 40-yard dash and 37.5-inch vertical a 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds.