DERAC’S DEATH STILL AFFECTING ATLANTIC
Derac died in May after injuries from dirt-bike accident.
DEL RAY BEACH—When training camp began Monday, Atlantic junior defensive tackle Henry Bryant looked over to where he thought senior defensive back Marc’Allan Derac was standing.
Then, the sobering reality hit him.
Derac, 17, died in May after injuries sustained in an April dirt-bike accident. One of the area’s top defensive backs — Derac had nine interceptions last season and ranked No. 9 on The Post’s big board — and beloved by teammates and coaches, his loss is one the Eagles are still feeling nearly three months later.
“We built a bond with him,” Bryant said. “Nothing like that ever happened to us before so it is tough. We miss him.”
Derac was posthumously honored during the Eagles’ spring game against Miami Northwestern on May 22. His mother, Marie, received his state runner-up ring from several teammates.
Atlantic coach T.J. Jackson, who acknowledged he and the team have “good days and bad days” when thinking about Derac, said the school is discussing other ways to memorialize their lost friend this season.
“I think in the first game, yes, we’ll do something to honor him, again,” Jackson said. “Maybe we’ll do more throughout the season.”
Atlantic principal Tara Dellegrotti-Ocampo said at the spring game that Derac’s No. 23 will be retired this season. Jackson said that is still the case and the number may be retired during the Aug. 24 opener against Palm Beach Central.
Bryant expressed a desire for both himself and team- mates to carry on Derac’s legacy, both this season and when the team’s current players have graduated.
“Marc was a big part of our team and he was a leader of our team,” Bryant said. “So to honor him, that’s definitely the right thing to do. (We want to) keep him with us.”
Senior defensive back Kael Williams believes every Eagles team in the future will have Derac watching over them.
“You could feel his presence on the field (today),” Williams said. “We miss him and we’re just gonna play for him.”