At Stanford: Now in his fifth season, Derek has put himself in position to compete for the starting placekicking duties in 2007 ... After playing a reserve role for three seasons, Derek earned his first varsity letter in 2006 as the team's kickoff specialist ... Has the potential to become the team's No. 1 placekicker this season ... He joined the Cardinal football program as a walk-on in 2003.
The 2007 Season: Made 15-of-28 (53.6%) of his career field goal attempts and was a perfect 26-of-26 on extra point attempts for 71 career points ... Led the 2007 team in scoring with 71 points (5.92 ppg) and ranked sixth in the Pac-10 in field goals with 1.25 per game ... Made 15-of-27 FGA (55.6%) and was one of five Pac-10 kickers to make all of their extra-point attempts by making good on each of his 26 point after tries ... Had a huge game against San Jose State to earn Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week honors by making each of his career-high three FG attempts to mark the most FGM by a Stanford kicker since Michael Sgroi also had three at Washington State (10/16/04) ... Hit a 52-yarder that ties for 10th-longest in Stanford history and another from 50 yards that makes him just the second kicker in Stanford history to hit two FGs from 50 or more yards in a game ... Made a career-best five field goal attempts in a row spanning a four-game period from October 6-27 but then missed nine of his last 13 despite making two-of-three in the season finale versus California
Game-By-Game Statistics
The 2006 Season:Derek was the team's kickoff specialist and backup placekicker ... Earned his first varsity letter ... He had 30 kickoffs for 1780 yards and a 59.3 average ... Also had 12 touchbacks ... Missed his only field goal attempt of the season, a 47-yarder versus Arizona State on October 21.
Game-By-Game Statistics
The 2005 Season: Stanford's number two placekicker behind Michael Sgroi ... Did not play in 2005.
The 2004 Season: Did not see any game action as the team's number two place-kicker.
The 2003 Season: Did not play in 2003 as a backup place-kicker and punter.
In High School: Palomar League Kicker of the Year in 2001 and 2002 from Torrey Pines High School in San Diego ... Two-time All-San Diego North Country selection ... Hit 16 field goals in his high school career, eight coming from beyond 40 yards ... Career long of 47 yards ... Connected on 91-of-93 PATs in his HS career ... Received the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Most Valuable Player Award as a junior ... Selected to play for Team USA in the NFL Global Junior All-Star Tournament ... Kicked three field goals and was named to the All-Tournament Team ... First-Team kicker on the San Diego Union-Tribune's All-Academic Team in 2002 ... Two-year letterwinner in soccer and baseball ... Team captain for all three sports as a junior and senior ... National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete award winner ... Selected National Male Youth Leader of the Year and received the opportunity to meet President George W. Bush ... Governor's Scholarship Award winner
Personal Information: Communication major ... Member of the National Honor Society and California Scholastic Federation.
Getting To Know Derek Belch
I would describe myself as a person as: Genuine
The reason I love football is: The electricity and excitement in the air on game day
My greatest athletic moment is: Hitting three field goals in a game as a junior in high school... one was 47 yards... the last one was a game-winner with 29 seconds
The biggest thrill in my life to date is: Shaking hands with President Bush
A friend from another college football team is: Dustin Byington (Columbia)
The reason I chose Stanford University is: The combination of academic and athletic prestige is unbeatable
The best thing about Stanford is: The people you meet
The sports teams I followed when I was younger: Chargers, Padres
When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be: Jerry Rice
The athlete I admire most is: Tony Gwynn
The person I admire most is: My father
Favorite Food: Pasta
Least Favorite Food: Anything green
If I had to cook all of my meals, I'd probably survive on: Pasta
Favorite Movie: The Last Samurai
Favorite TV Show: SportsCenter
If a movie were made of my life, the actor who would play me is: Tom Cruise
My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be: Kicking a game-winning field goal in the Rose Bowl
Favorite musical group or performer: No favorite
If I were not playing college football, I would be: Playing baseball, golf
The people who had the greatest influence on my life: My mom and dad
One moment in history I wish I couldhave seen: USA beating Russia in hockey in the Olympics
The place I'd most like to visit: Augusta National Golf Club
The favorite place I've visited: Hawai'i
Hobbies: Golf, drawing, video games
Ten years from now, I'd like to be: Happy and successful
My advice to youngsters: Always be true to yourself
My most prized possession: My life
If I won $1 million, I would: Play the top 100 golf courses in the world
Last Updated: December 18, 2007