Derek Akunne

Position:
LB
Ht./Wt.:
6-null / 238
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Garland, TX
High School:
North Garland HS

2014:
• Led North Texas and Conference USA with 108 tackles (65 solo/43 assists), led NT with 8.5 TFL and ranked among conference leaders with three forced fumbles
• Team captain
• Led North Texas with 10 total tackles, including a three-yard sack vs. FAU
• Led team with eight tackles against Rice
• Had a career high 17 tackles, including 13 solo, and 1.5 TFL vs. UAB
• Led North Texas with 14 tackles, 10 solo and four assisted, forced a fumble and had a pass breakup in Southern Miss game
• Led the team with 14 tackles, 10 solo and four assisted, at Indiana
• Led North Texas with 10 total tackles against LA Tech
• Recorded one tackle for loss and one forced fumble against SMU

2013:
• Named honorable mention all-conference at linebacker
• Finished tied for second on the team with 90 tackles, tying his career high
• Started all 13 games this season
• Had 4.5 tackles for loss, 4 PBU[apos]s and one forced fumble
• Had a career-high 12 tackles and a forced fumble at No. 9 Georgia
• Had five tackles in 11 of 12 games this season and twice had 10 or more tackles
• Had a career 1.5 tackles for loss against Tulsa
• Notched 10 tackles in the road victory at Louisiana Tech

2012:
• Was the second-leading tackler on the team with 90, a career high
• Had two sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss, which was third on the team
• Played in 12 games and started the final 11 of the year
• Recorded 10 tackles against ULM
• Finished the season with two interceptions and five PBU[apos]s
• Had nine tackles against Arkansas State
• Had four tackles against MTSU along with two tackles for a loss
• At Houston he had nine tackles, one for a loss, and one PBU
• Grabbed his first career interception in the win over Florida Atlantic, to go along with nine tackles
• Had a career-high 12 tackles again Troy, one sack, and one PBU
• Tied his career high with seven tackles against LSU and again with seven tackles against Texas Southern
• Notched his first career sack against Texas Southern and had 2.0 tackles for a loss.

2011:
• Played in 10 games as a freshman bringing in 20 tackles and 2.5 for a loss
• Registered seven tackles and a 1-yard tackle for loss versus Western Kentucky
• Started the final three games of the season at middle linebacker, and had 13 of his 20 tackles in that three-game stretch

High School:
• Was a two-way talent in high school, earning first-team all-district honors as both an offensive lineman and linebacker
• As a linebacker, Akunne racked up 111 tackles, including 17 for losses and 3.5 sacks in 2010
• Son of Sylvester and Philomena Akunne