Derek Slywka

Derek Slywka, SAF
Ithaca

  • Ht: 6’3”
  • Wt: 215 lbs.
  • Hometown:
    Waterloo, NY
  • Born: February 3, 2001

Scouting Report:  Long, athletic Safety…Student of the game…Has potential to excel as a standout special teams player…Former basketball player converted to defensive back…Disruptive, physical defender…Possesses intangibles of strong work ethic, high character, intelligence, and competitive toughness.

Highlights

Career Summary

2023: AFCA Second Team All-American…D3football.com First Team All-American…Cliff Harris Award Finalist…D3football.com Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year…D3football.com Region 2 First Team…Liberty League First Team…Liberty League All-Academic…Liberty League Honor Roll – 11/20…Finished the season with 51 total tackles, six interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two blocked kicks and a forced fumble and recovery…Slywka had two tackles against Johns Hopkins… Recorded three total tackles including two solo tackles, and one breakup against Endicott… Slywka made two tackles against Alfred… Slywka had a pair of pass breakups to go along with his three tackles against Hobart… Recorded ten tackles and blocked an overtime field goal against RPI… Slywka had two tackles, an interception, and broke up a pass against Union…Slwka had three tackles against Rochester…Slywka had one solo tackle and an interception against Buffalo State…Made four tackles at St. Lawrence with an interception…Recorded six tackles, an interception and pass breakup against Cortland…Notched six tackles, including two for a loss, and forced fumble at Springfield…Concluded the season with eight total tackles at Randolph-Macon.

2022: Liberty League First Team Defense… CSC Academic All-District… Liberty League All-Academic… Starting in all 13 games at safety, Slywka finished the season with 54 total tackles to go along with five tackles for loss, one interception, seven pass breakups, and one blocked kick… Recorded two total tackles in the Bombers victory over Bridgewater State (9/03)… Notched four total tackles and one pass breakup in the Bombers 24-0 shutout over SUNY Brockport (9/10)… Made two total tackles, including one tackle for loss and a pass breakup against Alfred University (9/17)… Recorded one interception against Hobart (10/01)… Made seven total tackles against Rochester (10/08)… Notched three total tackles including a tackle for loss in the Bombers’ shutout over St. Lawrence (10/15)… Recorded five total tackles, two pass breakups, and one blocked kick against RPI (10/29)… Made three total tackles and one pass breakup against Union (11/5)… Notched seven total tackles with half a tackle for loss against Cortland (11/12)… Recorded five total tackles against UMass Dartmouth (11/19)… Made 10 total tackles with one and a half tackles for loss and one pass breakup against Springfield (11/26)… Notched six total tackles with one tackle for loss and one pass breakup against North Central (12/3).

2021: Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week – 9/13…D3football.com Team of the Week – 9/13…College Football Network Defensive Player of the Week – 9/14…Had 14 total tackles, two pass breakups, one blocked punt and four interceptions with 59 return yards and one TD on the season.

Prior to Ithaca: Played basketball at Finger Lakes Community College.