When Derek Curry enrolled as a middle linebacker prospect in August of 2000, former Notre Dame assistant head coach Kirk Doll instantly detected leadership qualities in the Sealy, Texas native.

“He seems to be a magnet,” said Doll, who instructed the linebackers then. “The first night, all the freshmen were in his room. When he was at the Texas all-star game, he was a captain. Kids gravitate to him.”

Indeed, at Sealy High, Curry was the three-time captain of the varsity basketball and baseball squads, and a two-time captain of the football team. He led the football team to two state titles, was the basketball squad’s MVP as a sophomore and junior and also a four-year letterman, plus all-district choice, in baseball, where he excelled as an outfielder as well as a third baseman and shortstop.

The initial meeting with Curry gives one insight as to why he is a magnet. His handshake is extremely firm, he looks you straight in the eye and calls you by name in a clear, confident tone.

“It just comes naturally,” Curry said of his leadership skills. “It’s kind of weird to say, but that kind of stuff — being the guy who is outspoken — that’s just my personality. I’ve always been that guy to push people and myself harder.

“The leadership role was instilled me when I was real young because all of my cousins and brothers were older than me. Because I was the littlest one, I always had to kind of try harder, rise to the occasion and be a standout to guys who were bigger than me.”

As Notre Dame’s starting Sam linebacker — known previously as drop backer, the position Rocky Boiman manned the past three years — Curry is to this year’s defense what Ryan Grant is to the offense. Grant played sparingly last year, as did Curry, who totaled just over 11 minutes of action at linebacker along with 49 special teams appearances. Now, he has been thrust into the spotlight.

Actually, Curry views himself more like senior Will linebacker Courtney Watson, who was the top unknown commodity on defense last season. Watson responded as the team’s biggest surprise in his junior season. Curry sees a similar role for himself.

“He had to replace Anthony Denman and I have to replace Rocky Boiman,” said the 6-4, 228-pound Curry. “He’s a great leader as far as helping me out because he’s been in the same situation. He red-shirted as a freshman, played a little the year after that and then he had to emerge as a starter. Courtney has had an instrumental role in helping me become the kind of player he knows we need on defense.”

Curry’s aggressiveness was on display in this year’s Blue-Gold Game, where he and Gerome Sapp were the stalwarts on defense. Defensive coordinator Kent Baer was among those who cited how Curry is one of those players whose presence is noticed.

Curry played middle linebacker his senior year at Sealy after lining up on the outside as a sophomore and junior. After starting out at middle linebacker at Notre Dame, he shifted to the outside behind Boiman in the spring of his sophomore campaign. Playing along the perimeter is more conducive to his skills.

“I like to blitz, I like to rush the passer...just be aggressive and always on the attack,” Curry said. “It’s a position where you can use that. You’re nose-to-nose with the tight end, you get to jam him up, you get to play off of him, you get to rush...At middle linebacker, it’s more like sitting back and reading the play.”

With four regulars from last year’s front seven departed, relatively green juniors such as Curry, Mike Goolsby and Kyle Budinscak have an onus on them to take on major roles, just as Watson did last season.

 “We lost great players, but I don’t think it’s a burden,” Curry said. “I look at it as a challenge to push myself to the next level and rise to the occasion. I don’t look at it as something that is really hard for me. It just comes kind of natural.”

Just as his leadership does.