AUSTIN, Texas — Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay spent the 2019 season zipping past defenders, often with ease — he’s a former Texas Class 6A 100-meter state champion who clocked 10.27 seconds, after all.
But in his final college game, in the fourth quarter of the Alamo Bowl, he couldn’t separate from Utah defensive back Javelin Guidry as he burst from his slot position and raced 15 yards upfield.
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When quarterback Sam Ehlinger fired a pass to the corner of the end zone, Duvernay broke his corner route at the goal line. He turned and shielded out Guidry. Duvernay snared the ball, maintaining possession as their bodies tumbled over the back pylon and a flag for defensive pass interference flew.
The circus touchdown grab — the final catch of his collegiate career — was fitting. Through four years, Duvernay never stopped working. His speed always gave him a fighting chance. And once the opportunity to prove his worth emerged, he made the most out of it. On Friday, the Baltimore Ravens picked Duvernay in the third round of the NFL Draft, with the 92nd pick.
“After (Tom Herman’s staff arrived in 2017), I just started working, started working hard and just put my head down,” Duvernay said after the December bowl win. “I tried to get better every day, no matter what skill set I needed to get better at, so I could be better for my team, get on the field and just produce.”
Duvernay, at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, emerged as one of the most effective and sure-handed slot receivers in the nation in 2019. His 1,386 receiving yards ranked fifth in the FBS and his 106 catches third. Both single-season totals rank second in school history only to Jordan Shipley’s 2009 figures. They topped what he’d done combined in his first three seasons, when he had 70 catches for 1,082 yards and Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson were the top options.
He got the chance to show what he could do when Humphrey departed ahead of his senior year, opening up the high-volume H-receiver role.
Duvernay was named to the All-Big 12 first team, but he was left off All-America lists and wasn’t named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, presented to the top receiver in the nation.
“I think it’s a shame that Devin Duvernay was not up for any type of postseason award,” offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator Herb Hand said. “It’s a joke, to be honest with you. … I wouldn’t trade him for anybody.”
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Duvernay was rated as the 21st wide receiver among a loaded draft class at the position, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote in his draft guide. UT’s pro day was canceled, but he took part in the Senior Bowl and ran 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Draft analysts have questioned his route running and if he’ll be limited to the inside slot role.
Duvernay has a quiet demeanor, but his teammates admired his competitiveness. Midway through the season, UT named Duvernay a team captain after offensive lineman Tope Imade suggested it to Herman.
“Devin has been a guy that every coach dreams of,” Ehlinger said in December. “There was no complaining. Obviously, he knew what he was capable of when he stepped foot in here, and he got the opportunity to do that this year, and he didn’t say a word about it, he just kept working hard. And now you see all the hard work that he’s put in.”
(Photo: Brian Spurlock / USA Today)