Derek Pilkington

27

Class: Senior Hometown: Sterling, CO High School: Sterling

Last College: New Mexico Height / Weight: 6-2 / 215 Position: Safety Experience: 1V

USD: Second year player will compete with the defensive unit at the safety position... Last season appeared in 7 games for the Toreros, missing four contests due to injury... Tied for second on the team in interceptions with picks against Azusa Pacific and Dayton... Finished with 29 tackles (23 solo)... Totaled 6 tackles in three contests (Campbell, Dayton and Davidson).

College: Started collegiate career at the University of New Mexico.

High School: Attended Sterling HS in Colorado... Senior year named All-State, All-Conference and conference MVP... Totaled 50 receptions for 1,000 yards; also collected 10 interceptions on defense... Team was State runner-up... Junior year named All-State and All-Conference after totaling 40 receptions for 750 yards... Also earned 4 letters in baseball and 2 letters in basketball... Two-time All-State baseball player.

Personal: Born on January 2, 1987 in Sterling, CO... Parents are Cindy and Curt Pilkington of Sterling, CO... Chose USD for great school, football program and location... Also recruited by New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas... Notes his cousin, Ross, played at Nebraska for current Torero coach George Darlington.

Major: Accountancy.