A Bright-shining Linebacker Flares Out

[WSUCougar]

Most of you have probably never heard of Will Derting. A few may have seen his name a few times, and fewer still will have watched him play. I watched his college career with great (if bittersweet) interest and can probably safely say that I have seen him play as much as anyone outside of Pullman or a Pac-10 videotape room.

If you ever watched one of his WSU games, you surely would have heard the most famous story about him. He grew up on a cattle ranch in rural Okanogan, WA, and his house didn’t even have a phone when recruiters tried to contact him.

But he ended up at Washington State and promptly made an impact as a flying-all-over-the-field linebacker. He had phenomenal instincts, and was one of those players that was always around the ball and making plays. He was an all-conference LB as both a sophomore and junior (despite playing virtually all that season with a dislocated wrist), and was a preseason All-American candidate and potential Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year going into his senior year. Then he blew his knee and wrecked most of his final season.

He was one of those players that you love to watch, a true big time talent who actually lives up to the hype. Some schools crank out these types of players on a regular basis, but at WSU they’re a bit less common. It was especially cool because he was a homegrown, obscure talent. I had high hopes that he would recover from his knee injury and sign on as an undrafted free agent in the NFL. He was undersized by NFL LB standards (6-0, 230), but his skill-set would surely make up for that.

But it was not to be. Derting’s father just formerly announced that his son’s football career is officially over due to the knee injury. So he’s back to wrestling cows in Okanogon.

[chinaski]

damn that sucks, I always imagined him going pro and having a great career. I didnt even know he got hurt so badly. He was awesome in the Holiday Bowl when we beat Texas.

[molson]

I've never heard of a knee injury fininshing off anyone that young - is there anything else to this story?

[Franklinnoble]

Unavailable for comment

[JeeberD]

UNT!

[WSUCougar]

Here's a Seattle-Times article on Derting, with similar thoughts:

WSU Superman Didn't Need a Phone Booth

[SnDvls]

Man that's too bad. He was a great player and one you always had to look out for. The Pac-10 LBs and Defense took big hits in the NFL draft w/ some big time players not getting picked. Derting one and co-Defensive Player of the Year Dale Robinson.

I wonder if the offenses in the Pac-10 are actually hurting our good defensive players in the draft.

Anyhow, sad to see his career cut so short.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by molson

I've never heard of a knee injury fininshing off anyone that young - is there anything else to this story?

The new article suggests that he has cartilidge damage, and the injury is degenerative.

[scooter]

I was going to post that article as well. It was a great tribute to a great player. I hope he can coach somewhere on some level to pass on those great instincts on to future players.

[scooper]

I remember him from the ND game a few years back. He was a monster that day. I became a fan of his and watched for him when WSU was on around here. He was always fun to watch. I'm sorry about the way his football career turned out and I wish him well.

[judicial clerk]

Derting was a badass. His story is comparable to Emtman.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by scooper

I remember him from the ND game a few years back. He was a monster that day.

I'll never forget that game. WSU put in one of the most dominant first halves of football I've ever seen, yet still managed to lose. I almost road tripped out to South Bend to see the game, too. Looking back, I might have hurt myself afterward.

[stevew]

Guy kind of sounds like Jack Lambert. Undersized with a nasty attitude. Maybe after a year or two messing around on the farm, his knee will get better enough to play, and he'll get a shot somewhere.