Derek Branch Season 2022

Honors & Awards
» Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2025)
» Academic All-Big Ten (2022, 2023, 2024)
» Five-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 was born on April 4, 2003, and he is the son of Troy Branch and Julie Jones-Branch. A management major, Derek earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in May 2025. He is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2025. Branch is one of Nebraska’s most active players in the community. He took part in the NoFilter service trip to Panama in May and has also been a part of the N-Volved Leadership Group, and the Lil Red Letters Pen Pal program.

Derek’s father, Troy, earned four letters as a linebacker at Nebraska from 1990 to 1993.