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Andrew Devlin had 6 catches, including a touchdown. |
Virginia tight end Andrew Devlin played in an offensive scheme at Mount Lebanon High School that didn’t emphasize the passing game. After all, he led the team in receiving his senior year with 9 receptions for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. In fact, he had just 21 catches his last two seasons of high school. It took just one outing as a Cavalier to show how his tight end life has changed.
Devlin pulled in 6 catches for 58 yards and 1 TD during the Hoos’ spring game scrimmage action. Only wide receiver Kris Burd caught the ball more frequently with 7 receptions. At least one Hoo wasn’t surprised by Devlin’s success: his roommate.
“Devlin is actually my roommate so I’m kind of partial to him. I think he’s a great player,” Cavalier quarterback Peter Lalich said. “I think he’s real tough on the seams because he’s a big body and he has great hands in traffic.”
Big body? You could say that. At 6-6, 258 pounds, he is already bigger than senior tight end John Phillips . Virginia coach Al Groh said Devlin has shown signs this spring of stepping into the third tight end role this fall behind Phillips and Joe Torchia .
The Sabre caught up with Devlin after the spring game to see how things went after his first spring practice as a Wahoo.
Was it a fun spring, and, in particular, spring game for you?
Yeah. We worked hard all spring and it was just nice to be able to step up and take care of the opportunity with [John Phillips ] only playing 10 reps. It was a nice feeling to get in there and show what I can do for the team.
What are you learning from those guys, John Phillips and Joe Torchia ?
They’re unbelievable. They’ve taken me under their wing since day one. They’ve been trying to teach me on some points and they show me what I need to do to be at their level but I’m not their yet.
Peter Lalich is your roommate. He says you have good hands and catch the ball well.
We’re always joking around. He’s got to be saying something like that. I do what I can. He throws the ball and I catch it.
Part of the reason you came here was so you could get a shot at tight end, right?
Some of the schools recruited me as a tackle and some recruited me as a D-end, but Coach Groh and his staff said I could play tight end here or at least get a shot. I’m just trying to take advantage of the shot they’re giving me.
What did you see on your touchdown catch in the scrimmage?
The linebacker just came out and followed me. My read is if he follows me then to just cut back inside. I just did what Coach Mike [Groh] told me to do and it worked.
Was it a pretty easy pass to catch?
Oh yeah. [Marc] Verica put it right on my numbers so it was real easy.
What have you seen from the three quarterbacks?
All three of them are solid quarterbacks. They all have the ability to lead the team. It was nice to see them all step up and have good games.
Do you think the competition is good for the team?
Competition makes everyone better. It makes everyone step up to their best, to their next level.
Can you talk about the blocking aspect of playing tight end? How different is it at this level?
Oh man, it’s unbelievable. In high school, you’re just the biggest guy out there so you can just bowl people over. Here, everyone is as a good as you; for me, people are better than me. You just have to go with the fundamentals and your form and that’s what Coach [Bob] Price is working with me on.
Do you like Coach Price?
He’s unbelievable. He knows all his stuff. He has so much experience and he’s made me so much better.
What’s been your favorite non-football part of Virginia so far?
Probably, just all the guys and hanging out with all the guys. When I come in here, I feel like they’re my boys from back home and they really have turned out to be unbelievable. Chris Long called me the other week and is prank phone-calling me and just messing with me. That kind of stuff. The camaraderie and all that stuff.
