Derrick Dockery

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Derrick Dockery
Date of birth September 7, 1980 (age 26)
Place of birth Flag of United States Garland, Texas
Position(s) Guard
College Texas
NFL Draft 2003 / Round 3/ Pick 81
Statistics
Team(s)
2003-2006
2007-present
Washington Redskins
Buffalo Bills

Derrick Dockery (born September 7, 1980 in Garland, Texas) is an American football player who currently plays offensive guard for the Buffalo Bills.

[edit] High School Career

In Texas, Dockery was coached by Alton Hill at Lakeview Centennial High School and was tabbed a 1998 second-team All-USA offensive lineman by USA Today. He was named second-team 5A all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association in 1998. He was a two-time first-team all-district performer at offensive tackle.

[edit] College Career

Dockery was recruited by the University of Texas at Austin. In 1999, Dockery served as a backup guard but saw action in all 14 games, including the Cotton Bowl, at both guard spots and on special teams. In 2000, Dockery played in all 12 games, including the Holiday Bowl. He helped pave the way for a UT offense that averaged 38.6 points per game (eighth NCAA), 439.0 yards per contest (14th NCAA/6th on UT’s all-time list) and a school-record 293.5 passing yards per game (14th NCAA). He was a key member of a young line that opened holes for UT’s sixth consecutive 1,000-yard rusher (Hodges Mitchell/1,118 yards). He helped set the tone for UT to rush for 1,206 yards (201 ypg) during the final six games of the regular season. He helped lead the way for UT’s 637 yards of total offense (fourth in school history) and 396 rushing yards at Kansas and shared UT’s Offensive Player of the Week honors with two other linemen for his efforts against Baylor. In 2001, Dockery played in all 13 games, including the Holiday Bowl, and started nine contests at both guard spots, also seeing action at tackle. He helped UT score a Big 12-best 39.2 points per game (sixth in NCAA) and tally 162.3 yards rushing, 250.3 passing and 412.6 total yards per contest. In 2002, Dockery started all 13 games, seven at right guard and six at right tackle and became UT’s 40th consensus All-American (15th offensive lineman) after earning first-team honors from The Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America and Walter Camp Football Foundation. He also earned fourth-team All-America accolades from The Sporting News and was an Outland Trophy semifinalist. Dockery was a consensus first-team All-Big 12 selection and was named to the Lombardi Award’s preseason watch list. He shared UT’s Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award and was a key member of a UT offense that ranked fifth in the Big 12 and 16th nationally in scoring offense (33.8 ppg.). He helped open holes for UT’s eighth consecutive 1,000-yard rusher in sophomore Cedric Benson (1,247 yards).

[edit] NFL Career

Dockery was drafted in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. In 2003, he began his rookie season as a backup at several positions along the offensive line, including left guard and right tackle. He was inserted into the starting lineup in Week 4 against the New England Patriots at left guard, which was his first career NFL start. He would go on to start the final 13 games of the regular season at left guard. In 2004, Started all 16 games at left guard for the Redskins, teaming with left tackle Chris Samuels to form a solid tandem on the left side of the offensive line. He finished the season with 29 consecutive starts at left guard, even though he is one of the league leaders in false starts.

On March 2, 2007, the Bills signed Dockery to a 7-year, $49 million contract with $18 million signing bonus, theh third largest in NFL history at his position. He will become their starting left guard.