Derek Ibekwe
Linebacker
New Mexico State
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Derek Ibekwe: I am 6’0, 236 and a 4.59 right now.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Derek Ibekwe: I spent eight weeks at RXN Athletics in El Paso, Texas. I finished it up. I am doing things on my own right now because my pro day is right around the corner. I just need to focus and deliver on that day.
Alex Khvatov: When is your Pro Day? What are your expectations for that day?
Derek Ibekwe: It is next Tuesday on March 12th. I have set goals. I want to run in the mid to low 4.5’s in the forty. I want to get over 10-inches on the broad and 36 or 37 inches on the vert. I am looking at running under 7.00 in the L-drill and 4.1 in the shuttle. Those are attainable goals.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Derek Ibekwe: My sophomore year of high school, I was ranked 96 out of the top 100 in Texas. During my junior year, I got hurt. I had ligament reconstruction surgery. I played the whole season in pain. I didn’t have a good junior year. TCU, UTSA, UTEP and Nebraska had a lot of interest. Going into my senior year, a lot of schools dropped me. I was focused. I wanted to have the best time of my life my senior year. I wanted to play as a hard as a I could and just live with the outcome. My first offer came on Halloween in 2013. It was from Prairie View A&M and then I got an offer from Stephen F. Austin. I was watching New Mexico State against UNM one day with my brother. On December 3rd, the recruiting coordinator gave me an offer. Then UTSA and UTEP came around later, but I stuck with New Mexico State.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose New Mexico State?
Derek Ibekwe: They wanted me to be there. I was a priority for them.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Derek Ibekwe: I have very high IQ. I am agile and versatile. My best attribute is my change of direction skills. I am aggressive. I don’t shy away from contact. I love hitting people.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Derek Ibekwe: I have been working on passing situations. People have questions whether I can cover. I have been working on my hip fluidity and coverage.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
Derek Ibekwe: Freshman year, I was third on the depth chart. I ended up beating guys in front of me. Coach Martin said that we were all going to play. We were
2-10 the year before. The goal was to change the program. We did pretty well. I was an all-conference honorable mention. I had over 100+tackles that year. I actually played better my sophomore year, but my numbers weren’t the same. I had over 90+tackles. I led the team in tackles. Junior year, I had sports hernia injury. I had surgery midway through camp. I missed four or five games and I wasn’t productive. I wasn’t ready. Senior year, the same thing happened again. During camp, I broke and tore a ligament in my hand. I sat out the season. I had to take a redshirt year. I came back for my fifth year and contributed on special teams. I didn’t get the starting spot.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Derek Ibekwe: The first play of my highlight tape. I hit the QB from UTEP. He had to stop playing the game after that. I solidified my spot on the team because coaches still had some doubts about me. It was a forced fumble on third down. I knocked the QB out of the game.
Alex Khvatov: What is your biggest accomplishment in college that you are most proud of?
Derek Ibekwe: Majoring in accounting and doing football at the same time. I had a lot of long nights where I was doing homework and preparing for the exams. It was hard for me. I wanted to quit and do something that is easier. Something that will be more applicable to my schedule, but I stuck it out. I would be able to leave school and get a good job. My parents preached to me the importance of education at a young age. I will manage to finish and get my accounting degree in May.
Alex Khvatov: What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?
Derek Ibekwe: The experiences that I learned from them prepared me for the real world. You have to be accountable in everything you do. Showing up on time every day. Being respectful to your elders. Accomplish your goal and put in the extra time. You are only as good as your last statement. What you are currently doing now to make the team better.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Derek Ibekwe: I was born in Houston, Texas, but I moved to Sugar Land, Texas. I like the Steelers. I like the black and gold. My favorite RB is Le’Veon Bell and my favorite WR is Antonio Brown.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Derek Ibekwe: I enjoy watching Von Miller and Aaron Donald. The way they get to the QB. I played a little DE at New Mexico State. I was just trying to get some tips from them. It is amazing how easy they make it look.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a LB?
Derek Ibekwe: Accountability. You have to do your job. You make the calls for the defense. You have to be in the right spot at the right time. You are in the middle of the defense.
Alex Khvatov: Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that you are looking for from the offense?
Derek Ibekwe: I am getting the defensive call from the sideline. I am aligning to the right position. I look at the formation. I am watching the O-linemen. I am adjusting my linemen. Typically, the OG tells me everything. Basically, you go off that. You go over the reads.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Derek Ibekwe: Jason Huntley is a star RB. DE Cedric Wilcots, CB Komotay Koffie should make some noise, CB Ray Buford is very good and Ray Lopez is our top DL.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the toughest player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Derek Ibekwe: Leonard Fournette my freshman year. It was my first big time game. It was exciting playing at Baton Rouge. This is what I dreamed about. You can’t beat playing in front of 90,000 people.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Derek Ibekwe: I enjoy the excitement it brings everyone. Just to see what it does to grown people. There is no other sport like it. You have to have a great mindset.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Derek Ibekwe: I am a movie fanatic. I think that I can be a movie critic.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite movie?
Derek Ibekwe: Inception and the Clovehitch Killer.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Derek Ibekwe: I am not sure. I want to open up a restaurant or an amazon business. Accounting would be my last option.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Derek Ibekwe: Man of God, accountable, respectful, competitive and genuine.
