Tag: Kyle DeVan

Buffs center Noah Fenske raves about new OL coach Kyle DeVan

Noah Fenske said new O-line coach Kyle DeVan has been a “blessing” for him

The new coaching staff in Colorado is already off to a hot start, and offensive coordinator Mike Sanford is catching the attention of some of the players.

Another Buffs assistant catching waves is offensive line coach Kyle DeVan, who has a world of experience, including time with the New Orleans Saints, USC Trojans and the Michigan Wolverines.

Center Noah Fenske spoke about DeVan and how this year’s offensive line has improved (h/t Jake Schwanitz of DNVR).

“He’s just raised the standard. He’s not going to settle for anything less. He came from [a] Joe Moore Award [winning program] and from the very first day he’s like, I want to go win that. I don’t want to win that next year, I want to win it this year, right now. He’s not looking to be good in three years, he’s looking to be good right now. And I think what makes him so special is his ability to coach different personalities… I think that’s a really good quality to have and not a lot of coaches have that and there’s not a guy in our O-line room that hasn’t gotten significantly better this camp… He’s been a blessing for me, I’ve become so much better of a football player.”

Those are some huge words from Fenske and DeVan has already been preaching a lot to this offensive line group. The Buffs aren’t expected to win very many games in 2022, but if the offensive line can take a giant step forward and give Brendon Lewis or JT Shrout some room to work with, they just could shock some people this season.

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Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan noticing improvement in key areas for O-line

With some first-team reps now under his belt, there’s a good chance we could see Tank rolled out more often this season

When the 6-foot-10, 325-pound Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan joins the huddle,  it’s noticeable. His presence brings a size advantage to nearly any matchup.

Although Christian-Lichtenhan is a projected third tackle, I’m still confident we’ll see “Tank” rolled out more often in 2022. Due to a few minor injuries to expected starters, Christian-Lichtenhan has already been getting some first-team reps, only furthering his development.

The O-line in its entirety has also taken a step forward under new position coach Kyle DeVan, according to Tank.

“We trust a lot more of our pass pro (protection), our hands, our vision of where we’re going,” said the sophomore Christian-Lichtenhan. “We kind of have a better idea of what’s going on. (There’s) a lot more communication within the line group, so it’s really nice. We’re all on the same page now.”

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New Buffs OL coach Kyle DeVan already making a difference

New offensive line coach Kyle DeVan is making an impact early in his tenure

The Colorado Buffaloes coaching staff is full of new faces heading into the 2022 college football campaign.

Karl Dorrell stuck around as head coach, but a ton of new coaches made their way to Boulder, including offensive line coach Kyle DeVan, who took over for Williams Vlachos, who was the interim after Mitch Rodrigue was fired in late October.

So, another year, and another new offensive line coach — although the Buffs may have hit a home run by bringing DeVan over from Michigan.

With spring ball kicking off, DeVan has already made a difference on the offensive line, and he is excited that the players are buying into his philosophy and demeanor (h/t Brian Howell of Buffzone).

“We want to own the line scrimmage,” DeVan said. “We want to win up front and they have to learn how to do that. They’re buying into the way I teach things, the way I coach things. I really like where we’re at right now.”

Some strong words from DeVan early on, and that should be more than encouraging for Dorrell and the entire offensive group.

DeVan is trying to bring over that tough Big Ten mentality from his time with the Wolverines, and the hope is that it pays off in a big way after a mediocre year on the offensive line.

So far so good for the Buffs and their quarterback protection.

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Colorado hires Michigan analyst Kyle DeVan to become Buffaloes offensive line coach

Karl Dorrell hires Kyle DeVan as CU’s offensive line coach

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A critical coaching vacancy has been filled for the Colorado Buffaloes. Kyle DeVan, who will complete Michigan’s 2021 College Football Playoff run as the Wolverines offensive analyst, was hired by Karl Dorrell on Tuesday to become the Buffaloes offensive line coach.

The 36-year-old DeVan will replace interim O-line coach William Vlachos, who took over for Mitch Rodrigue in late October.

As an offensive analyst with Michigan, DeVan worked primarily with its offensive line. On the very same day DeVan was hired by CU, the Wolverines received the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best O-line.

Prior to Michigan, DeVan was most recently Arizona’s O-line coach/run game coordinator from 2019-20.

“Kyle came highly recommended to me by several people,” Dorrell said in a statement. “He is a rising up-and-comer in the coaching ranks, has a great personality and a lot of energy, and is someone his players enjoy playing for. He knows the Pac-12 from being a player and coach, and also has five years of NFL experience he brings to the position. He will be a great addition to our staff.”

A former All-Pac-10 offensive lineman at Oregon State, his NFL career began when he signed as an undrafted free agent with Washington in 2008. After a brief stint in arena football, he returned to the NFL and started at right guard for Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

DeVan began his coaching career at Oregon State in 2013 as a graduate assistant/tight ends coach and since then, he has coached offensive lines at Ball State, USC and the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

If Dorrell and newly-hired offensive coordinator Mike Sanford’s run-first attack is going to work, a strong O-line led by DeVan is going to be necessary.

“I want an (offensive line) room full of players who play smart, fast and physical,” DeVan said in a statement. “And above all, we will be a tough unit. It all starts in the trenches.”

FROM WOLVERINES WIRE: Michigan football analyst departs for Power Five on-field job

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Michigan football analyst departs for Power Five on-field job

He definitely earned a big role given how good Michigan football’s offensive line has been!

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When you have success as a program, these types of things are bound to happen. You’re going to lose coaches, especially those behind the scenes.

Kyle DeVan was the Arizona offensive line coach before former Michigan assistant Jedd Fisch took over the program there, and he came to Ann Arbor to be an offensive analyst, working specifically with the offensive line. The line just won the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best O-line unit as a whole. The same day, Tuesday, DeVan was announced as the new offensive line coach at Colorado.

From the Buffaloes official press release:

Kyle DeVan, who has offensive line coaching and playing experience both in college and the National Football League, has been named offensive line coach at the University of Colorado, head coach Karl Dorrell announced Tuesday.

As with all hires of this nature, it is subject to the approval of CU’s Board of Regents.

DeVan, 36, comes to Colorado from the University of Michigan, where he was an offensive analyst this fall, working particularly with the offensive line.  He helped create weekly game plans for the run game, protection plans in the passing game, and worked with the coaches on game day field adjustments.  He will join CU in January following the No. 3 Wolverines run in the College Football Playoff, with UM set to play Georgia in a semifinal on New Year’s Eve.

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As noted, it’s important to see that DeVan will remain with the team until the Wolverines’ postseason run has concluded.

DeVan had a long NFL playing career with Washington, the New York Jets, the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans before hanging up his cleats in 2012. He started coaching in 2013, first as a grad assistant at Oregon State and USC before becoming an assistant offensive line coach with the New Orleans Saints. He spent three seasons as the offensive line coach at Ball State (where he also was the assistant head coach) before spending two years with the Wildcats.

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Michigan football adds offensive analyst with NFL pedigree

Having coached offensive line in college, as well as having NFL experience, Michigan football hired Kyle DeVan as an analyst.

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The trade for Don Brown appears to be complete. (Kidding, of course.)

While the former Michigan football defensive coordinator landed in Tuscon with the Arizona Wildcats, the offensive line coach with the Pac-12 program is making his way to Ann Arbor. Kyle DeVan had a long NFL playing career, playing with Washington, the NY Jets, the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans before hanging up his cleats in 2012. Then he started coaching in 2013, first as a grad assistant at Oregon State and USC before becoming an assistant OL coach with the New Orleans Saints. Then he spent three seasons as the offensive line coach at Ball State (where he also was the assistant head coach) before his two at Arizona.

According to his Twitter, he has been hired by the Wolverines as the team’s newest offensive analyst.

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Given his experience as well as tagging offensive line coach Sherrone Moore, it can be presumed that DeVan will be working with the offensive line in some capacity. Considering Moore, a former Oklahoma offensive guard, has only coached tight ends, it’s a quality addition, bringing aboard a coach who has experience actually working with the unit firsthand.

DeVan originally played college football at Oregon State.

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