Speed and big plays are the name of the game when it comes to successful offense in today’s NFL. If your favorite team is looking for a pass-catcher who excels at both, Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay is the man for the job.
An electrifying playmaker who can score every time he touches the ball, Duvernay recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, why he loves beating defenses deep, and what kind of impact he’ll have at the next level.
JM: What was your overall experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
DD: I had a phenomenal experience out there. It was a dream come true honestly. I had a great time. I was just glad to have that experience.
JM: You ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash, and all of the other drills also went well for you. What do you think is the overall impression you left out there?
DD: I think that my love for the game of football really came through. My love is genuine and I believe that it shows. I had a lot of fun doing what I was doing out there.
JM: Did you have a lot of formal or informal interviews in Indianapolis?
DD: I met with a lot of teams out there. As for the teams that I did meet with, I prefer to keep that private at this time.
JM: Do you have any private visits or workouts lined up, or are you just focused on your pro day right now?
DD: Everything will happen after my pro day. That’s where my focus is at right now. My pro day is going down April 1st. We’ll see from there.
JM: Do you plan on doing everything at your pro day?
DD: I plan on participating in the on-field receiver drills and some of the shuttles, as well.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
DD: Honestly, I didn’t get anything too crazy. I didn’t get any questions that were too far off the wall. I wasn’t asked anything at all that threw me off guard or even raised my eyebrows a little bit. I guess I’ve been pretty well behaved (laughs).
JM: What were teams most interested in talking to you about?
DD: They were interested in getting to know me better as a person. They wanted to know what motivates me to keep going. Most of them just wanted to talk about football, though. We just talked football, for the most part.
JM: Do you have a favorite route to run?
DD: I enjoy running the post routes, an out route, things of that nature. Those are the routes that are fun to me. I enjoy getting the ball in my hands and doing something with it. Let’s go score a touchdown.
JM: Say you have the defensive back on an island and you get to choose your route. What are you running?
DD: I feel confident in my ability to run anything. If we’re talking about my go-to route, I can easily win on a deep ball. I love running a quick slant, as well.
JM: Do you approach route running differently depending on if you have a bigger, more physical corner covering you versus a smaller, more shiftier one?
DD: In a way, I guess. It kinda depends on the guy. It’s really a case-by-case basis. It depends on how aggressive that defensive back is. I’ve gone up against smaller defensive backs that were very aggressive, and I’ve gone up against bigger defensive backs that were more finesse and give you some space to work with. I know that most people think of it as a vice versa thing, so it always comes down to my film study and what I’m seeing out there. The film room will help expose that.
JM: Who are some of the best cornerbacks that you’ve gone up against?
DD: I went up against a lot of safeties this past season, because I was playing in the slot all year long. Baylor had some great defensive backs. They stepped it up this year. Every good defense we played had some good defensive backs out there.
JM: You’re a big-play guy, but what do you prefer: Scoring a 75+ yard touchdown, or making 4-5 catches on a long drive that still results in a touchdown catch?
DD: I’d probably have to go with the deep ball. The deep ball is always a lot of fun. You feel that big rush of energy go through your body when you score a big one. There’s just so much excitement that comes with it. It’s always fun to open up your body, run deep and catch a big one in stride. It’s an exciting feeling.
JM: You’ve had so many great teammates throughout your time at Texas, but if you were going into battle tomorrow and could only bring one with you, who would it be and why?
DD: I would bring Malcolm Roach with me. He’s one of my good friends. We share a great bond. We’ve been through so much together. I know that he’s gonna leave it all out on the field for me and for the rest of our team. I would do the same for him. We’re two like-minded guys that are team-oriented. We both wanna do whatever it takes to win. That’s the same friendship that we have off the field as well. It makes our bond that much stronger.
JM: What’s the biggest lesson any coach at Texas ever taught you?
DD: I was always taught to pay attention to the details. The little details matter. It can change the whole outcome of a game. It doesn’t matter how small the detail, I’ve never been the type of guy to just say “Oh, that’s not a big deal, I don’t need to worry about that.” I take every aspect and every detail of this game very seriously. Every detail matters.
JM: When a team uses a draft pick on Devin Duvernay, what kind of guy are they getting?
DD: They’re getting a dedicated, hard working guy. I’m gonna do whatever it takes to win. I’m always gonna work to better myself and the guys around me. I’m a team-first guy. I’m gonna work my butt off at every practice and workout. I feel like that’s the most important thing I can do for any team; to give it my all and approach practice with that same mindset.
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