Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Corker Looks Ahead to Life After Football
10/23/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football
Oct. 23, 2002
By Josh Magill
SIU Media Services
Growing up, Derrick Corker had many questions about life. He was curious why bad things happened to him, why good things never seemed to come his way. Living in a single-parent home with his mother in urban Fort Lauderdale, Fla., he endured hardships and challenges that most kids never face.
"Everyone goes through trials and tribulations," says Corker, who prefers not to detail his childhood struggles. "That's just life. But I've been through that a lot."
Corker says he's had every reason to give up, to quit school, and forget about life's challenges. But the steadying influences of his mother, grandmother and extended family, as well as football, have helped him persevere.
 |  "My hardships have taught me how to be a man. I've learned that responsibility and discipline will lead to a happy life. That's what I want for my son - a happy life." Derrick Corker |
As a prep All-American coming out of Plantation High School, Corker was ranked among the top 20 cornerback prospects by Bluechips Recruiting Service. In 1998 he signed with the University of Florida, under defensive coordinator Bob Stoopes.
After being redshirted his freshman year, the team hired a new defensive coordinator, and Corker saw limited action during four games in the 1999 season. Feeling he had more to offer, Corker asked the Florida coaching staff for more playing time. When that didn't pan out, he decided it was time to transfer.
Corker, along with two other Gator teammates, Ian Skinner and Teddy Sims, decided to stick together and all transfer to the same school. The decision came down to Western Illinois and Southern Illinois. After meeting with former NFL standout and SIU assistant football coach, Adrian White, they picked Southern Illinois University.
 Corker transferred to SIU from the University of Florida | |
Corker expected to have another big year in 2002. But his hopes were dashed during the third game of the year when he suffered a shoulder injury at Murray State while making a tackle early in the game. The injury required surgery, and now he is dealing with the prospect of never playing college football again.
Yet his desire to succeed remains unchanged, though his focus now is solely on acquiring his degree.
"Derrick never misses a class," says SIU assistant coach Jay Sawvel. "He can feel proud of the fact that he's gone to college and will soon get his degree."
"He is always upbeat and excited about school," says Director of Student Services Kristina Therriault. "Derrick has done more academically than we ever anticipated."
 Corker started 25 straight games for the Salukis before hurting his shoulder | |
Despite the career-threatening injury, Corker views his decision to transfer to SIU as the best move he could have ever made. He will be the first person in his family to graduate from college, raising the bar for his 46 cousins to try to achieve.
"I realized the time to get my education was now," says Corker. "Graduating will be a great accomplishment for me."
As a recreation major who hopes to give back to the Ft. Lauderdale community he grew up in as a young boy, Corker has spent time as a counselor and event programmer for the park and recreation department in his hometown. Supervising a group of 10-12 year old boys last summer was an honor that he will never forget. Corker believes he is being given the opportunity to shape and inspire the lives of today's youth.
"Those kids look up to you and call you 'coach'," says Corker. "I like being able to give them advice that will help them make the right decisions in life."
Both Sawvel and Therriault say Corker is wonderful with children and has become a great example and loving father to his son, Devon. Corker is open, outgoing, and prepared for his future.
"I'm having a lot of fun in my life right now," says Corker. "No one can ever take away the education I've obtained here. I hope to be able to use that knowledge to help others."
Corker says he has learned from playing football that there are four areas which are essential to being successful, whether on the gridiron or in daily life: talent, goal-setting, structure, and discipline. Corker believes everyone has a talent they must find. In his own life, he has established a list of reachable goals and disciplines himself to achieve them.
Corker believes he has become more than just a football player.
"My hardships have taught me how to be a man," says Corker. "I've learned that responsibility and discipline will lead to a happy life. That's what I want for my son - a happy life."
Derrick Corker has overcome many obstacles in his life and plans to continue that trend after graduation. Though he may not play college football again, Corker can't wait for the day he will walk down the graduation aisle with his peers and classmates at SIU.
"He walks in December," says Sawvel. "I'll be there when he walks. He's earned his diploma."
