Farmer Transfers From Texas A&M
1/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 20, 2004
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack head football coach Mike Santiago announced today that Derek Farmer, a 5-11, 205-pound running back from Tyler, has transferred to SFA from Texas A&M University. Farmer will have one year of eligibility remaining with the Lumberjacks.
"We are as excited to have someone of Derek's abilities come into our program as he is about coming to Stephen F. Austin. He has the potential to add more quality to an already good football team," said Santiago. "By coming in this spring, it gives Derek a chance to go through spring practice with us, learn our system and compete."
Farmer spent the past three seasons at Texas A&M where he led the team in rushing as both a freshman and sophomore. Farmer started and played in 12 games at tailback this past season but recorded only 82 carries for 340 yards and two touchdowns. Farmer was third on the team in rushing for the Aggies and added five receptions for 34 yards in 2003.
A prep All-American by PrepStar at Tyler's Robert E. Lee High School, Farmer was a top 100 recruit his senior year and was the fifth ranked running back in the state by LoneStarRecruiting.com as a senior. Farmer originally committed to Alabama and then head coach Dennis Franchione before signing with the Aggies.
He gained over 500 yards as a freshman while appearing in eight games. His 503 rushing yards placed him seventh on the all-time freshman rushing list in Aggie history. He entered the 2003 season with six 100-yard rushing games and was the fifth fastest Aggie tailback to reach the 1,000 yard rushing plateau, achieving the mark in his 15th career game.
He averaged 4.3 yards per carry as a sophomore while once again leading the Aggies in rushing with 739 yards on 172 carries. He also led the team in rushing touchdowns with seven and posted four 100-yard rushing games as a sophomore, including a 122-yard effort against Texas and a 132-yard effort against Texas Tech.
Farmer averaged over four yards per carry in each of his three seasons in College Station.
"I decided it was time for a change in my football career. Stephen F. Austin is a good football program with a solid history. I'm looking forward to being able to come over here my senior year and help the team," said Farmer. "The fact that it's closer to my home in Tyler was also a factor for me. It will be nice that my family will have a chance to come and see me play," concluded Farmer.
