He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2003.
He attended Lanier High School in Austin, playing football for coach and former University of Texas player Wade Johnson.
Derrick was a two-time All-American, recipient of the 2003 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the 2003 Jim Thorpe Award after his senior season.
He recorded the second most deflections on the team and fourth most for an Oklahoma defensive back in a single season.
Strait also had another key breakup in the Orange Bowl against Florida State, with he deflected a possible touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, he also had five tackles in the game.
Strait also had seven tackles and an interception in the final home game of the year against Texas Tech.
He returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against North Carolina, cutting across the field in almost an exact replay of his TD against Nebraska the previous year.
Strait did however give up the winning touchdown in the 2001 Bedlam Series against Oklahoma State to Rashaun Woods, unable to perform his game-saving magic of a year ago.
In 2002, Strait was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, consensus All-Big 12 first-team.
Following his 2003 senior season, Strait won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Jim Thorpe Award,[1] and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.
[11] On March 6, 2009, he was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but was released at the beginning of training camp.