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#66 OL Derrick Sarosi
2000-04, 6'6", 295 lbs.
Career Stats: Derrick Sarosi is one of the very few USF football players (maybe the only one) to have played and started every game they could have possibly played and started. After redshirting in 2000, Sarosi made 44 consecutive starts at tackle -- right tackle in 2001, and left tackle from 2002-04. He pass protected for Marquel Blackwell, run blocked for Andre Hall, and helped carry the Bulls from the very beginning of their FBS existence all the way to the edge of their BCS era. There are a lot of former players who I wish could have played in a bowl game, and Sarosi is right up near the top of my list. He was a rock.
How He Came To USF: Sarosi played at Astronaut High School in Titusville, where he appeared on a Class 4A all-state team and captained the War Eagles. Derrick also stood out in track and field. He was twice a state runner-up in the discus, and finished fourth in the shotput in his senior year. He joined USF's 2000 recruiting class.
Recruiting Rankings: No one was ranking USF football players back then.
His Best Game: I'm tempted to pick Andre Hall's 275-yard rushing night at UAB in 2004, but Hall did most of the heavy lifting that night. So instead we'll pick USF's landmark win against Pittsburgh. Sarosi and the offensive line did not allow a single sack on any of Marquel Blackwell's 65 pass attempts. He completed 37 of them for 343 yards and four touchdowns in the 35-26 stunner. That picture at the top of this story is Sarosi after the game, as it ran on the front page of the Tampa Tribune sports section the next day. After limiting all-Big East defensive end Bryan Knight to a mere two tackles in only his second collegiate game, Derrick certainly earned his celebration.
Did You Know: Speaking of astronauts, since when does it cost 50 damn dollars to visit Kennedy Space Center? This has nothing to do with Derrick Sarosi. I just wanted to complain.