Derrick Johnson earns top honor at men's academic awards banquet

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas All-America linebacker and Nagurski (nation's top defensive player)/Butkus (nation's top linebacker) award winner Derrick Johnson achieved a life-long goal on Saturday when the Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the first round of the NFL Draft. On Monday, the Chiefs learned they have an even better idea of the quality individual they chose as a future star of their franchise, when Johnson was honored for everything he achieved in four years at UT as a leader on campus and in the community. Johnson was named the recipient of The Texas Exes Leadership Award at the Longhorns annual Men's Academic Awards Banquet in the Lone Star Room of the Erwin Center. The event honored more than 100 UT student-athletes.

"The University of Texas has been such an important part of my life and this honor means the world to me," Johnson said. "It's pretty hard to top the feeling of being a first-round draft pick, but with so many great athletes and people at Texas, receiving such a significant honor is right up there. No matter where I go and what I do one of the proudest things for me will be that I am forever a part of the Longhorn family. It was the greatest four years of my life."

Johnson was in Kansas City meeting with his new team and was unable to attend the event, so his mother, Beverly, accepted the award on his behalf.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there to accept the award, but my mother played such a huge role in my life by instilling strong values, teaching me the importance of working hard on and off the field as well as setting a good example in the community, that she actually deserves to be the person receiving this honor."

The Texas Exes Leadership Award is presented annually to the UT student-athlete who embodies the attributes that are valued in alumni leadership. Those attributes include academic excellence, unselfish team play, desire to excel, service to the community, and respected leadership.

"You'd be hard-pressed to find a better example of everything that makes up a successful student-athlete than Derrick Johnson," said Mack Brown. "He achieved a great deal both on and off the field, was a tremendous leader on his team and in the community and is one of the most respectful, caring and thoughtful people I've been around. He's an excellent choice for the Texas Exes Leadership Award."

The Texas Exes Leadership Award was presented by John Adkins, the President of the Texas Alumni Association, and was accompanied by a lifetime membership to the Texas Exes.