Since the day Art Briles was suspended with intent to terminate in May, the eyes of Texas have been on Sachse wide receiver Devin Duvernay. The Under Armour All-American was free of any obligation to the letter of intent due to a clerical error on the part of the Baylor staff. Once the news was out, schools from all over the nation contacted Duvernay to get back in on his recruitment. In the end it came down to Texas, TCU, and Oklahoma. Duvernay was sold on a role in the Texas offense, and the staff received an assist from many of the freshmen on campus to close the deal. Duvernay will join a dynamic receiver class already enrolled in Austin.
What’s unclear at this point is the future of Devin’s brother Donovan who signed a letter of intent with Baylor. While Donovan is still awaiting a decision from Baylor regarding his release, we believe that he will eventually be let out of his scholarship and free to join his brother in Austin. Devin is a perfect fit for the new Texas offense, and he possesses tools not currently present on the Texas roster. Before signing with Baylor, Duvernay held offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn, Clemson, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Stanford, and Texas A&M among many others. Duvernay ranked fifth overall in the 2016 HornSports Top 50, and 36th in the nation according to the 247 composite.
Film Analysis:
Duvernay has ideal size for a slot receiver at 5’11 195 lbs. His compact frame is built well in the lower half, and he resembles a running back with powerful legs and narrow hips. He is an incredibly explosive athlete that timed 4.38 in the 40 and reached a vertical of 38 inches. Duvernay was an accomplished track star in high school who clocked a 10.27 100m time at the state championship meet, and a 21.32 200m at the district track meet. Duvernay plays primarily out of the slot, and his quickness allows him to exploit players in space. Duvernay is at his strongest when the offense gets him the ball quickly, but he is also a solid route runner with an ability to work all areas of the field. Duvernay is strong in the open field, but he doesn’t show a ton of wiggle in the open field. Duvernay’s explosive speed makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the field and blow the top off of opposing defenses. He shows great body control and excellent hands to go along with nimble feet and great balance. Duvernay exploits defenses in the screen game with natural vision and serious yards after catch ability. Duvernay also displays great ability in the return game where he could contribute immediately at the collegiate level.
Final Verdict:
While Texas signed a strong class in February, they never could have imagined they’d get the chance to land a player like Duvernay. What Texas has is an athlete that could instantly add punch to a high-powered offense. Duvernay’s polish at the position and explosive athletic tools give Texas a weapon they didn’t expect in this class. Typically a player with his ability has a high ceiling, and learning the finer points of the game could elevate him to an all-American with a chance to be drafted high in the NFL.
