A. J. Derby only played college football at Arkansas.
He played college football at Iowa (201011), Coffeyville Community College (2012) and Arkansas (201314). 
Derby started his collegiate career at Iowa, where, after redshirting his freshman year, he was a backup quarterback in 2011. Before his sophomore year, he transferred to Coffeyville Community College, where he finished the year throwing for 1,936 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading his team to Region IV semifinals. Before his junior year, he transferred again, to play at Arkansas, where he was a backup quarterback again. 
