A two-year letterwinner for the Lions on defense, Derek Tranchina returns this fall ready for a big finish after a slow start. He came to TCNJ as a wrestler, but has concentrated on his football career instead. He first appeared in only one game as a rookie in 2003, but quickly found his spot in the lineup and saw time in seven games in 2004, mostly on special teams.
As a junior, Tranchina played in all ten games and exploded for a career-high 42 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss (-40 yards.) He added an interception and a pair of pass breakups to his resume as well. A tenacious player, he has a knack for finishing the big plays and will be looked to this fall to elevate his play for the defense this fall after proving his metal last year.
 A National Honor Society student at Piscataway High School, he excelled in three sports, football, wrestling and track during his scholastic career. A team captain in both football and wrestling, he is the second member of his family to play football at TCNJ as he is following in the footsteps of his older brother, Nick, a 2005 football assistant coach and 2005 graduate of the College.
A one-time volunteer fireman in West Trenton, Tranchina is a Dean’s List student majoring in criminal justice at TCNJ having earned recognition to the 2005-2006 NJAC Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll and TCNJ’s Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll as well. He will be a candidate for the 2006 ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-America Team.
Year By Year Statistics
Year      G   UT  AT   Tackles    TL-Yds.  Sack –Yds.   PD  INT (Yds)   Fumbles   Blks.
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0Â Â Â Â Â 0 (0 )Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â 7Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â 5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â 0 (0)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0
2005Â Â Â Â 10Â Â Â 17Â Â Â 25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 42Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9.5-40Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2.5-24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â 1 (5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0
Totals  18    19   31      50       9.5-40          2.5-24        3    1 (5)              1              0            Â
