MJ

Devonshire

The UDFA rookie will compete for a backup role on defense while moonlighting as a special teams player. He demonstrated intriguing ballhawking skills in his four years at Kansas. The Panthers correspondingly waived CB M.J. Devonshire.

Devonshire (5'10/186) was 2nd Team All-ACC with 14 pass breakups and four interceptions in 2023. He exhibits good timing and anticipation, always reading QB eyes in off coverage and will make him pay if he makes a mistake. Devonshire is a natural playmaker with the ball in his hands and can make a house call at any time, having returned four interceptions for touchdowns over the past two seasons. Though he only gave up completions on 25-of-55 targets (45.5%), he allowed a troubling 435 yards and 17.4 yards per reception with four penalties. His versatility of man and zone coverage should draw interests from NFL coaches late in the NFL Draft.

Devonshire (5'11/170) is headed back home for the next step in his college career, with the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania transferring to Pitt after two years at Kentucky. The redshirt freshman appeared in a total of 11 games while at Kentucky, three in 2019 and eight this season. Devonshire, who will have four seasons of eligibility remaining at Pitt, tallied six total tackles and two passes defensed as a Wildcat.

Devonshire (5'11/170) was deciding between Kentucky, West Virginia and Pitt. The Panthers were charging hard for the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, native -- viewing him as their top remaining target -- to no avail. While there is some variance as to his ranking (he lands as a three-star pledge on the 247Sports composite), Rivals views Devonshire in the four-star vain and slots him into the proceedings as their No. 6 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania for the 2019 cycle.

Devonshire (5'11/170) was once considered a favorite to land at West Virginia, but now the Panthers have come into the lead, with Kentucky and Ole Miss also possible landing spots. He just took an official visit to the Wildcats, and Cassidy and Friedman note that the Mountaineers can’t be counted out yet. Rivals ranks Devonshire as the sixth best player in the state of Pennsylvania, and the 32nd best corner that will sign in 2019.

Devonshire (5'11/170) came away with the MVP honors after -- per Rivals analyst Josh Helmholdt -- he “eventually separated himself from a deep group at his position by consistently batting down footballs because he was always in great position.” The analyst additionally notes that Devonshire makes up for a slight lack of size via his length and the fluid, quick nature of his playing style. Rivals ranks the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, native as the No. 38 corner prospect in the 2019 class.

While Helmoholdt and Friedman like West Virginia as the landing spot for the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Devonshire, this shouldn’t be considered a slam dunk. That’s because one very large program has been showing him interest -- that would be Ohio State, which he has visited “countless” times, per the two analysts. Devonshire will be checking them out again on the camp circuit later this summer. Stay tuned. Speaking of the camp circuit, Devonshire was named defensive backs MVP at the Rivals 3 Stripe camp in Columbus over the weekend. We love the quicker elements of his game, as they help to alloy some of the concerns that come with a slightly undersized corner such as he.