Welcome back to 104.9 The Horn, your FM station in Austin for the latest in sports. We're joined today by Kolby Deringer, a four-year linebacker in town at Texas and a prospect in the upcoming NSFL Draft. Deringer completed a standout rookie season for the Kansas City Coyotes, culminating in a narrow one-point loss in the development league's championship game to the Tijuana Luchadores. Kolby, we're glad to have you on with us to talk and to see you come back home to Longhorn country for a spell.
Well, it's been great to come back through and take back in my roots here, in Marshall and across Louisiana, back to Slidell. Whether I stay in the DSFL for another crack at the Ultimini or if I'm called up right away to the NSFL, I wanted a good chance to revisit some of these places.
I hear you on that. So, let's start with the regular season. You finally got into action in Week 4, and you came out for blood. Six tackles in that game, but what also stands out is you caused a fumble and recovered it in that game, too. I was watching that and I was hollerin' so loud, my wife came to see what'd happened. I pointed you out on that replay and she just kinda rolled her eyes. She would have done the same thing I did if you were an Aggie.
If I were an Aggie, I would've been checked in on for signs of having joined a cult. That aside, though, I had a bit pent up from missing those games, and getting that chance unlocked something in me in that one play. We still ended up losing, though it wasn't by that much and it was in an earlier time when we were in a slump anyhow. Next game on, we took off and only lost once to San Antonio the rest of the regular season.
And did you ever take over down the stretch on defense, too. Five of the last six weeks of the regular season, including the last four in a row, you were named defensive player of the game. Just looking this over, it amazes me you put these figures together in a season, let alone one where you weren't in the first three games. You were getting in there and making plays in the backfield alongside the linemen.
If Ramadan Steve didn't get there quick, you could be seen hoppin' over and getting after the passer. If you and Steve had gone to school together - and they could have, with Baylor having been on your radar out of high school - y'all might have broken the Big 12.
We accepted and relished the challenge to be the best defense in the DSFL last season, and I think we accomplished that. It took a lot from other guys in that unit, too. Steve, as you mentioned, though also D'Attoria, Hamil-Tonn, Hendrix, Garrett, Miles...and we had to to get Showbiz every chance he could to lead the offense. DSFL rookie QB's struggle, and we knew that. He's been good with that considered, and he's had good teammates on that side of the ball, too. All in all, we had a good thing going with a slow game, playing the clock on offense and playing an aggressive pass rush on defense.
Which we got to see quite a bit of down the back end, especially working in your favor in your semifinal match against Portland. And it dang near worked out that way for y'all in the final, too.
Yeah, that one was a roller coaster ride we fell off of right at the final gun. I'd built up a lot of confidence making plays in the Ultimini, too. I did a little of everything in that one - tackled for loss, sacked, batted a pass away, even blocked a punt that led to a touchdown drive with a short field.
On that final drive, we wanted to slow them hard, though Tijuana found a good rhythm and targets for the time they had left. They used their timeouts well enough, too. And even though on that field goal to win it for the Luchadores, I tried to do what I did on the punt block, even just to get anything on it, couldn't get through. Corbett hit it just right and it would have taken a lesser line than theirs for anyone to have intervened.
It took me a couple of days to want to talk about that game, to be honest. All that season long, we worked up to this point and it was on us to hold the line until the end, and we got beat right at the end. Felt like someone ran me through with a dagger when they called it good. I understand if I have to go up because the NSFL team who drafts me will have that option to call me up right away. If they don't need me just yet, I've gotta settle that score next season.
Speaking of the draft, what place do you think you'll go?
Hard to say. I've been told the first round, though I'd have to sit down and try to understand each team's needs before I could get an answer. I've talked with a few teams so far about possibly playing for them, and they seem pretty excited. I can hope one of them will want me for their first choice, though the Draft doesn't decide everyone's fate. Still have to perform to the expectations that come with being picked at all.
Before we go, we have also seen in the media, your name came up as a frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year in the DSFL. If I had a ballot in that vote, I'd put you down without another question. How do you feel about that?
I'm honored to be mentioned in that discussion, though I do admit it's a tough case to name me over the others. Ludvig and Barnes have made some pretty massive plays during the season, and they've still been in just the right place even during mundane sequences. With as big as their presence has been in the corners as well, I'd pin them as closer to favorites than me.
Well, you'd have my vote, and I'm sure a lot of folks would peg you for the honor as well. Good luck this coming Friday and we hope to hear your name called as soon as possible. That was Kolby Deringer, linebacker of the DSFL Kansas City Coyotes, coming soon to an NSFL team near you. Up next, we look back at the Texas Longhorns' NCAA Tournament run that, sadly, ended a short ways in in Omaha. We'll be right back on 104.9 The Horn after a word from our sponsors.
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Well, it's been great to come back through and take back in my roots here, in Marshall and across Louisiana, back to Slidell. Whether I stay in the DSFL for another crack at the Ultimini or if I'm called up right away to the NSFL, I wanted a good chance to revisit some of these places.
I hear you on that. So, let's start with the regular season. You finally got into action in Week 4, and you came out for blood. Six tackles in that game, but what also stands out is you caused a fumble and recovered it in that game, too. I was watching that and I was hollerin' so loud, my wife came to see what'd happened. I pointed you out on that replay and she just kinda rolled her eyes. She would have done the same thing I did if you were an Aggie.
If I were an Aggie, I would've been checked in on for signs of having joined a cult. That aside, though, I had a bit pent up from missing those games, and getting that chance unlocked something in me in that one play. We still ended up losing, though it wasn't by that much and it was in an earlier time when we were in a slump anyhow. Next game on, we took off and only lost once to San Antonio the rest of the regular season.
And did you ever take over down the stretch on defense, too. Five of the last six weeks of the regular season, including the last four in a row, you were named defensive player of the game. Just looking this over, it amazes me you put these figures together in a season, let alone one where you weren't in the first three games. You were getting in there and making plays in the backfield alongside the linemen.
If Ramadan Steve didn't get there quick, you could be seen hoppin' over and getting after the passer. If you and Steve had gone to school together - and they could have, with Baylor having been on your radar out of high school - y'all might have broken the Big 12.
We accepted and relished the challenge to be the best defense in the DSFL last season, and I think we accomplished that. It took a lot from other guys in that unit, too. Steve, as you mentioned, though also D'Attoria, Hamil-Tonn, Hendrix, Garrett, Miles...and we had to to get Showbiz every chance he could to lead the offense. DSFL rookie QB's struggle, and we knew that. He's been good with that considered, and he's had good teammates on that side of the ball, too. All in all, we had a good thing going with a slow game, playing the clock on offense and playing an aggressive pass rush on defense.
Which we got to see quite a bit of down the back end, especially working in your favor in your semifinal match against Portland. And it dang near worked out that way for y'all in the final, too.
Yeah, that one was a roller coaster ride we fell off of right at the final gun. I'd built up a lot of confidence making plays in the Ultimini, too. I did a little of everything in that one - tackled for loss, sacked, batted a pass away, even blocked a punt that led to a touchdown drive with a short field.
On that final drive, we wanted to slow them hard, though Tijuana found a good rhythm and targets for the time they had left. They used their timeouts well enough, too. And even though on that field goal to win it for the Luchadores, I tried to do what I did on the punt block, even just to get anything on it, couldn't get through. Corbett hit it just right and it would have taken a lesser line than theirs for anyone to have intervened.
It took me a couple of days to want to talk about that game, to be honest. All that season long, we worked up to this point and it was on us to hold the line until the end, and we got beat right at the end. Felt like someone ran me through with a dagger when they called it good. I understand if I have to go up because the NSFL team who drafts me will have that option to call me up right away. If they don't need me just yet, I've gotta settle that score next season.
Speaking of the draft, what place do you think you'll go?
Hard to say. I've been told the first round, though I'd have to sit down and try to understand each team's needs before I could get an answer. I've talked with a few teams so far about possibly playing for them, and they seem pretty excited. I can hope one of them will want me for their first choice, though the Draft doesn't decide everyone's fate. Still have to perform to the expectations that come with being picked at all.
Before we go, we have also seen in the media, your name came up as a frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year in the DSFL. If I had a ballot in that vote, I'd put you down without another question. How do you feel about that?
I'm honored to be mentioned in that discussion, though I do admit it's a tough case to name me over the others. Ludvig and Barnes have made some pretty massive plays during the season, and they've still been in just the right place even during mundane sequences. With as big as their presence has been in the corners as well, I'd pin them as closer to favorites than me.
Well, you'd have my vote, and I'm sure a lot of folks would peg you for the honor as well. Good luck this coming Friday and we hope to hear your name called as soon as possible. That was Kolby Deringer, linebacker of the DSFL Kansas City Coyotes, coming soon to an NSFL team near you. Up next, we look back at the Texas Longhorns' NCAA Tournament run that, sadly, ended a short ways in in Omaha. We'll be right back on 104.9 The Horn after a word from our sponsors.
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[OPTION]S27: 16 GP | 164 Att, 675 Yds, 8 TD | 35 Rec, 234 Yds, | 22 PC, 3 SA
[OPTION]S28: 16 GP | 176 Att, 743 Yds, 6 TD | 38 Rec, 311 Yds, 1 TD | 34 PC, 1 SA
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]ISFL Postseason Stats
[OPTION]S24: 2 GP | 28 Att, 103 Yds, 1 TD | 4 Rec, 16 Yds, 1 TD | 3 PC
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]ISFL Postseason Stats
[OPTION]S24: 2 GP | 28 Att, 103 Yds, 1 TD | 4 Rec, 16 Yds, 1 TD | 3 PC
[OPTION]S25: 3 GP | 56 Att, 225 Yds, 1 TD | 3 Rec, 39 Yds | 3 PC
[OPTION]S28: 3 GP | 44 Att, 222 Yds, 3 TD | 9 Rec, 72 Yds | 6 PC
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]DSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S20: 14 GP | 241 Att, 1176 Yds, 14 TD | 9 Rec, 62 Yds | 10 PC, 3 SA
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]DSFL Postseason Stats
[OPTION]S20: 1 GP | 14 Att, 74 Yds, 1 TD
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]Awards and Honors:
[OPTION]Ultimus Champion: S24, S25, S28
[OPTION]ASFC Champion: S24, S25
[OPTION]DSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S20: 14 GP | 241 Att, 1176 Yds, 14 TD | 9 Rec, 62 Yds | 10 PC, 3 SA
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]DSFL Postseason Stats
[OPTION]S20: 1 GP | 14 Att, 74 Yds, 1 TD
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]Awards and Honors:
[OPTION]Ultimus Champion: S24, S25, S28
[OPTION]ASFC Champion: S24, S25
[OPTION]Ultimus Offensive Player of the Game: S28
[OPTION]NSFC Champion: S28
[OPTION]DSFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: S20
[OPTION]DSFL Pro Bowl: S20
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]Career Events
[OPTION]S20: Selected 38th overall by the Kansas City Coyotes
[OPTION]S21: Selected 32nd overall by the San Jose SaberCats
[OPTION]NSFC Champion: S28
[OPTION]DSFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: S20
[OPTION]DSFL Pro Bowl: S20
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]Career Events
[OPTION]S20: Selected 38th overall by the Kansas City Coyotes
[OPTION]S21: Selected 32nd overall by the San Jose SaberCats
[OPTION]S28: Announced retirement, traded to Yellowknife Wraiths