About Derek

Derek Thomson Sheely​

Derek Thomson Sheely was a strong, extremely healthy, and smart 22-year-old honor student who played fullback and linebacker in pee wee, high school, and college football for nine years. Derek was a two-time academic all-conference selection in college. 

On August 22, 2011, during football practice for his senior season at Frostburg State University, Derek suffered a traumatic brain injury and died one week later on August 28, 2011. 

Derek was smart and witty, silly and sarcastic, caring and passionate, teasing and comforting, leading and driven. He had a big heart, warrior willpower, a beautiful smile, a strong hug, a sharp wit, and amazingly warm blue eyes. 

Derek wore number 40.

"You must earn everything worthwhile in life"

When Derek started Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland he hadn’t played
football since he was nine years old. None of the coaches knew who he was. Derek wasn’t
big, or strong, or fast. But he did follow one of his favorite mottos, nothing comes for free,
you must earn everything worthwhile in life. 
 
During summer conditioning before his freshman year, the varsity head coach told Derek he liked his work ethic, and if Derek kept it up he would be on varsity by the end of the year. It seemed impossible that this short, skinny, slow kid had a chance to make varsity for one of the best teams in the state. But Derek was supercharged by his coach’s challenge and he kept working hard. At the end of the year, the coach kept his word and Derek was one of the freshmen pulled up to varsity.  
 
 

During high school, Derek was a National Honors Society member who played on a state champion football team. His senior year he was elected captain of the football team; he was awarded a scholarship as the football player with the highest grade point average; and he was voted by his teammates the Jaguar Award winner for excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Derek also ran indoor and outdoor track and played on the lacrosse team.

...a true student-athlete...

Derek was a true student-athlete, a dean’s list student majoring in Political Science and History and the starting fullback on the football team. During his freshman, sophomore, and junior years at Frostburg State University, Derek started 22 games at fullback and was named academic all-conference his sophomore and junior years.

"If you're not going to give 100%, then you need to keep your hands off 'The Rock'”

Derek’s passion for football and his teammates was captured in a video about Frostburg football traditions when he was asked about the Frostburg tradition of touching “The Rock” before every game and practice. Derek’s response was very sober and very stern: 

If you’re not going to give 100%, then you need to keep your hands off “The Rock.”

...a natural leader...

Derek was a powerful, smart, passionate, and confident person who was drawn to helping others. His college professor described Derek as a force on the football field and in the classroom who hid behind no one. Derek’s professor said, ‘this tough, macho-looking guy, stood up for the little guy, convincingly making the case for a better society that was compassionate and looked after the most vulnerable.’”

Derek was a natural leader who did so by example, a dedicated warrior who pushed himself, a passionate and loyal friend and brother who always seemed to know when to give you a sarcastic tease or a big hug.

Derek generously donated his organs – always helping others. So rest assured that Derek’s loyal heart of a champion will beat on, Derek’s warrior passion will help others live, and Derek’s beautiful blue eyes will continue to see into the future.