Derek Branch Season 2022

Honors & Awards
» Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2025)
» Academic All-Big Ten (2022, 2023, 2024)
» Eight-Time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll
» Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar (2025)
» Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award (2025)
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
» Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society (2025)

2024 (Junior)
Derek Branch played in 12 games as a junior, recording six tackles and a half tackle for loss. He had one solo tackle against UTEP in the season opener. Against Northern Iowa, Branch had a career-high two tackles, including a half tackle for loss to post his first career TFL. Branch recorded one tackle at Indiana. He made a tackle on kickoff coverage at USC. Branch also had a tackle on kickoff coverage against Wisconsin.

2023 (Sophomore)
Branch played in one game as a sophomore. He made his Husker debut against Northern Illinois, recording one tackle on defense.

2022 (Redshirt Freshman)
Branch did not play in a game in 2022.

2021 (Redshirt)
Branch did not play in a game during the 2021 season.

Before Nebraska (Lincoln Southeast HS)
Branch joined the Husker program as a defensive back from Lincoln Southeast High School. Branch was a key member of the Knight defense in his final three seasons, helping Southeast to three consecutive state quarterfinal appearances. As a senior, Branch was the leading receiver for an 8-1 Southeast team, finishing with 18 receptions for 181 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for a score. Defensively, he had 56 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups. Branch returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown. He was named an honorary captain of the Lincoln Journal Star all-city foodball team in addition to being a first-team Super-State selection and second-team Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska pick. Branch was an honorable-mention all-state selection as a junior in helping the Knights to a 9-2 record. He had 45 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups, while adding nine receptions on offense. Branch also excelled on defense as a sophomore, making 38 tackles, while intercepting a pass and adding two breakups and two fumble recoveries. He also played basketball for Southeast. Branch is the son of Troy Branch, a Husker linebacker from 1990 to 1993. The younger Branch had interest from Ivy League schools, including Cornell.

Personal
Derek is the son of Troy Branch and Julie Jones-Branch. Derek earned his degree in management in May of 2025.

Derek’s father, Troy, was a linebacker at Nebraska from 1990 to 1993.