Derik LeCaptain

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Position:
LB
Ht./Wt.:
6-2 / 235
Hometown:
Gardner, Wis.
High School:
Southern Door
Years in College / At Minnesota:
7 / 7
Remaining Eligibility Entering 2025 Season:
1 year
Letters:
5
Class:
Graduate Student

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS:
Academic All-Big Ten (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020)
CSC Academic All-District Team (2024)
Special Teams Scout Player of the Year (2019)

2025: Competed against Buffalo • recorded two tackles against Northwestern State • returned one kickoff for 15 yards at Cal • returned one kickoff for five yards against Rutgers • saw action at Ohio State.

2024 • SENIOR SEASON: Played in all 13 games, mostly on special team • made one tackle and blocked one punt. Game-by-Game: Competed against North Carolina, Rhode Island, Nevada and Iowa • played at Michigan and competed against USC • notched one tackle at UCLA • saw action against Maryland • competed at Illinois and at Rutgers • blocked one punt against Penn State • played at Wisconsin • competed against Virginia Tech.

2023: Missed the season with an injury.

2022 • JUNIOR SEASON: Played in all 13 games, seeing action on special teams, defense and offense (played fullback near goal-line situations) • made 12 tackles and broke up one pass. Game-by-Game: Played on offense, defense and special teams against New Mexico State • played on offense, defense and special teams against Western Illinois and made three tackles on defense • played on offense, defense and special teams against Colorado and made three tackles and had one pass breakup on defense • played at Michigan State and against Purdue • competed at Illinois and returned one kickoff for 17 yards • saw action at Penn State • totaled two tackles against Rutgers • played at Nebraska • competed against Northwestern • made one tackle against Iowa • recorded two tackles against Syracuse.

2021 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Played in all 13 games on special teams • made one tackle • moved from linebacker to running back during the season as Minnesota dealt with injuries to the running back position • rushed three times for 31 yards and one touchdown • caught one pass for 11 yards. Game-by-Game: Saw action against Ohio State, Miami (OH), at Colorado, against Bowling Green, at Purdue, against Nebraska and Maryland • saw action on special teams and also rushed three times for 31 yards and one touchdown at Northwestern • competed on offense and on special teams against Illinois • had one tackle at Iowa • saw action at Indiana • competed against Wisconsin • caught one pass from Tanner Morgan - first reception of his career - for 11 yards against West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

2020 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in all seven games on special teams and made one tackle against Purdue.

2019: Redshirted • played in four games on special teams • made collegiate debut at Iowa • competed at Northwestern, against Wisconsin and in an Outback Bowl win versus Auburn.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Southern Door High School and is from Gardner, Wis. • wore No. 33 for the Eagles • two-time All-State linebacker • named 2019 Wisconsin High School Male Athlete of the Year • recorded most yards from scrimmage (passing, rushing and receiving) in Wisconsin high school football history • ran for 5,199 career rushing yards and had 100 career touchdowns • made more than 400 career tackles and tallied 10 career interceptions • also lettered in basketball and baseball.

PERSONAL: Son of Kris and Mark LeCaptain • has one brother (Nick) • uncle, Dave Jahnke, played football for NDSU, uncle, Tom LeCaptain, played football for Mt. Scenario and father, Mark, played football for UW-Whitewater.