Boise State Signs Weston Derrick of Team Impact

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State football's recruiting class just got a lot stronger. Treasure Valley native Weston Derrick of Team Impact became a Bronco Thursday evening, joining the football program for the next two years (at least).

Derrick, 6, signed his "National Letter of Intent" to join the Boise State program in front of a packed house at the team room of the Bleymaier Football Center. He did so amid all the fanfare and pageantry of any other signing, complete with a backdrop, balloons and a custom-made jersey.

"This right here is our most important signee of this recruiting class," said Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson. "We've been recruiting Weston all fall and he is now officially part of our brotherhood. It means the world to me and our entire team that he will be a Bronco and we are so excited to welcome him into our family. We just made our team better today."

Native to Boise and the Treasure Valley, Derrick is a part of Team Impact, a national nonprofit that connects children with serious illnesses or disabilities with college athletic teams.

Diagnosed at the age of three but showing signs as early as 18 months, Derrick is a warrior against 4H Leukodystrophy Polr3b, a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. More commonly known as 4H Leukodystrophy, it is a group of conditions that affect the white matter of the brain. The various mutations of the disease damages the myelin sheath, which surrounds and protects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, prohibiting or degrading both fine and growth motor skills.

Derrick's particular condition is so rare, less than 200 people around the world have been diagnosed with his specific disease. As such, research is limited and there are no therapeutical or medicinal remedies, and a cure has yet to be discovered.

"We are on a journey to give him the best life he can possibly have," said Gabe Derrick, Weston's father who is Boise State University alumnus. "Opportunities like this don't come along very often. We are so thankful he has the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than himself and is able to build a connection with teammates."

Gabe Derrick is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps that returned home to Boise after serving in Afghanistan, enrolling in Boise State and earning his degree in Biology in 2014.
The recruitment of Derrick has been a long time coming. Since being paired with Boise State's football team, he has been joined by two different Broncos at lunch once a week biweekly since the beginning of the 2023 season.

"This whole team has made him feel so special," added his mother, Ashley Derrick. "He talks about it all the time."

Following his signing, Derrick and his extended family – a party of over a dozen family members and close friends – were given a tour of the Bleymaier Football Center including the team locker room, weight room and recruiting lounge, before Derrick led the whole group out on The Blue.

"We have our heavy days that are hard to handle but then there are days like this where we feel like we're experiencing an all-time high," Ashley said.

Join the Fight
Want to know more about or join the fight against 4H Leukodystrophy? Visit the Yaya Foundation at yayafoundation4hl.org to learn more. The Yaya Foundation is dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for 4H Leukodystrophy by funding and connecting critical research efforts and to providing education, support and advocacy for children and families living with 4H Leukodystrophy today.

Team Impact
Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved. The organization's mission is to guide children and teams alike in a mutually beneficial relationship of belonging, empowerment, and resilience. Learn more at TeamImpact.org.

For complete coverage of Boise State Football, download the Bronco Sports App or follow the team on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X.

--BroncoSports.com--

Boise State Athletics

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