WATCH: Devin Duvernay returns opening kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown

Devin Duvernay is a playmaker.

Devin Duvernay is wasting no time making an impact for the Baltimore Ravens this season. After catching two touchdowns in the season opener last week, Duvernay took a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown to start Sunday’s game.

The former Texas wide receiver took just 13 seconds to give his Ravens a 7-0 lead over Miami early on.

This marks Duvernay’s second career kick return for a touchdown. He had a 93-yard house call against Kansas City in his rookie year. Teams are going to start thinking twice about kicking the ball to Duvernay.

Baltimore is finding more and more ways to get Duvernay involved in their offense. He is setting himself up for a potential breakout season at the NFL level. Lamar Jackson is getting comfortable with Duvernay as one of his go-to targets.

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Michigan wide receiver Tarik Black heading to Austin

Michigan Wolverines’ wide receiver Tarik Black will transfer to the University of Texas.

Michigan wide receiver Tarik Black was a player that the Texas Longhorns were reportedly interested in. After losing Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay there  were a lot of questions surrounding the group. Who would start and replace the production by this duo? Apparently Black could be one of those answers.

Tarik Black will be heading to Austin to continue his football playing career. Previously 247 had his transfer crystal ball at 100 percent to Boston College. Black only caught 25 passes for 323 yards and one score in 2019. Mostly a product of poor quarterback play. The former four-star recruit provides the Longhorns with a little more experience at the position.

Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay meetings at NFL Combine

The NFL Combine is underway and Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay has seen his fair share of attentions, met with four teams so far.

At the NFL Combine, players get an opportunity to meet with a plethora of teams. One of those players that will be talking to a bunch of teams will be Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay. According to Texans Wire Editor Mark Lane, Duv is already seeing plenty of action in those meetings.

The teams that Duvernay has met with:

  • San Francisco 49ers
  • New York Giants
  • Houston Texans
  • New England Patriots (Prior to NFL Combine)

According to Lane, Devin Duvernay stated that he will lift at the Texas Pro Day in Austin. Growing up in the state of Texas, a lot of kids grow up Cowboys fans but for Devin he was more of a Steve Smith Sr fan. He also stated that he hasn’t met with the Dallas Cowboys.

When discussing his strengths on playing out of the slot is running after the catch. Something that will serve him well at the NFL level. He also mentioned that he “ran angry”due to his competitive nature and passion for the game. Both he and Collin Johnson have been pushing each other through this offseason according to Lane.

The wide receiver drills will begin on Thursday, February 27th starting at 3 pm central time. Tune into NFL Network to watch Duvernay and Johnson.

Texas is reportedly interested in Michigan’s Tarik Black

According to Brian Dohn of 247, the Texas Longhorns have interest in Michigan grad transfer Tarik Black to help at wide receiver.

For the Texas Longhorns offense in 2020, they are losing plenty of experience at wide receiver with their top two receivers leaving for the NFL. The top names to remain on the roster are Jake Smith and Brennan Eagles who provided six touchdowns a piece and a combined for 796 yards in 2019. There is also Malcolm Epps who could split time at receiver and tight end for the Longhorns in 2020.

So should the Longhorns address their wide receiver issues through the transfer portal? According to Brian Dohn of 247, the Longhorns are interested in Michigan grad transfer Tarik Black. His numbers weren’t exactly eye popping in 2019. He played in 11 games for the first time in his college career with 25 receptions for 323 yards and one score.

The former four-star wide receiver never seemed to put it all together in Ann Arbor but a change of scenery and a new voice in his ear could just be what the doctor ordered. The Longhorns obviously like receivers with size that they can use in matchups against smaller defenders and Black fits that to a “T”, The 6’3″ wide receiver could fit right in and bring experience to a relatively young wide receiver group.

There are obviously concerns with his inability to put everything together at the Big House but Texas should kick the tires on a potential prospect who can lock down the spot as an outside wide receiver.

2020 NFL Draft: Devin Duvernay Ranks No. 1 In Yards After Catch

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Devin Duvernay leads all draft eligible wide receivers in yards after the catch per Pro Football Focus.

Texas Longhorns’ wide receiver Devin Duvernay shows up on top of most metrics in terms of how a wide receiver is graded by Pro Football Focus. According to PFF, Duvernay leads all draft eligible receivers with 719 yards after the catch. Roughly 51.9 percent of his entire yardage total. Just goes to show you that when he gets the ball in his hands, good things happen.

Yards after the catch is just one of the ways that Duvernay can win at the next level, as the numbers indicate that Devin was one of the best in college football. Using his speed, Duvernay is able to get behind defenses which allows him to rack up the yards. It should be on full display in the NFL.

2020 NFL Mock Draft: Three Longhorns In Top 120

2020 NFL Mock Draft that has Devin Duvernay, Brandon Jones and Collin Johnson over the first four rounds of the NFL Draft.

With the Super Bowl right around the corner and the post season bowl games all wrapped for the college athletes, Longhorns Wires look at a mock draft that revolves around the Texas Longhorns who will be looking to continue their football careers on the grandest stage of the NFL.

The three most often mocked Longhorns are safety Brandon Jones and the wide receiver duo of Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay. As it sits now, all three players are viewed as top 120 players with Jones the highest rated of the trio at this point.

Devin Duvernay Ranks 2nd In First Down Receptions

According to Pro Football Focus, Devin Duvernay was second among draft eligible WRs in first down receptions.

Devin Duvernay was such a valuable asset to the 2019 Texas Longhorns football team and he will be missed when the team takes the field for the first time in 2020. According to Pro Football Focus, Duvernay was a top the leaderboard for most receptions resulting in a first down.

With 68 receptions for first downs, that would put his first down percentage at 64.1 percent. That is high efficient numbers. Jefferson finished just ahead of Duvernay with 64.8 percent for first downs.

Duvernay was a big play receiver for Texas but he was also one of the more efficient receivers in the country. He uses his reliable hands to bring down almost any ball throw his way so it should come as no surprise of how well he played in 2019 and why the sky is the limit for Duv in the NFL.

PFF Ranks Devin Duvernay 3rd In Most Forced Missed Tackles

According to Pro Football Focus, Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay is the third-best wide receiver in forcing missed tackles.

Without question Devin Duvernay was must watch television in 2019. The Longhorns leading receiver climbed the ranks in Texas history with a monster season that was second best to Jordan Shipley but a season that the Longhorns needed with Collin Johnson missing time due to injury.

Recently Pro Football Focus reported that Duvernay forced the fourth-most missed tackles in college football during the 2019 season.

Duvernay can be a force to deal with when he gets in open space and his 23 forced missed tackles proved that, right on par with top wide receiver prospect Justin Jefferson. Duvernay is currently viewed as a third to fourth round prospect but with the scouting combine and pro days still to come, it is a situation to watch as draft seasons moves towards the 2020 NFL Draft.

Where does Devin Duvernay rank all-time at Texas?

Was former wide receiver Devin Duvernay one of the top three all-time receivers at Texas?

Former Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay didn’t miss a single game in his four-year collegiate career.

That’s only one of the many reasons that set him apart from the rest. He was also one of the fastest players in college football and seemingly never dropped a football thrown his direction. He could throw it, too.

Duvernay started all 14 games as a junior in 2018, but was third on the team with 41 catches for 546 yards and four touchdowns. His breakout year came as a senior, one of the top seasons by a receiver in Texas history.

Although Duvernay earned First-Team All Big 12 honors and was honorable mention for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, he was shockingly snubbed from any major postseason awards after his remarkable senior year.

The former Sachse High School All-America, two-time all-state athlete finished the 2019 regular season leading the nation in total receptions. Duvernay was also atop national rankings in receptions and receptions per game.

Former Longhorn legend Jordan Shipley was the only receiver in Texas history to have more catches or reception yards in a single season (2009). Shipley remains the top receiver to ever play at Texas, as his versatility was such a major force in the return game as well.

In terms of single season statistics, Duvernay would sit right behind Shipley. When you calculate a players entire collegiate career, other former receivers such as Roy Williams come into question.

Williams leads all Longhorn receivers in receiving yards (3,866) and touchdowns (36). As a true dominant No. 1 wide out, Williams is arguably the top all-time receiver in Longhorns history.

Sitting below Shipley and Williams, Quan Cosby, Limas Sweed, and Mike Adams are worthy considerations for mentions on the Top Five list.

Duvernay was simply underrated. He wasn’t used as consistently throughout his collegiate career as Shipley and Williams, but his senior year is one for the record books. That performance alone should garner a spot as one of the top five receivers in Texas history.

This will remain a debate for many years to come, depending on whether you look at career or single season statistics. Regardless, Texas is blessed to have witnessed these great receivers as one of their own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devin Duvernay does not make the cut as a Biletnikoff semifinalist

Despite the outstanding season, Devin Duvernay was not named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff. The snub was “shocking” to Tom Herman.

The Biletnikoff semifinalists were announced on Monday morning and Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay did not make the cut. Only one receiver from the Big 12 made the cut and it was Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb.

To this date, Duvernay has 87 catches and 1,017 receiving yards. Both of those numbers lead the Big 12 and are ahead CeeDee Lamb. Outside of the conference, his 87 catches rank second in the country and his receiving yards are eighth. Here is how he stacks up to the other semifinalists:

What he does not have like most of the other receivers is receiving touchdowns. All but four of the Biletnikoff semifinalists have double-digit touchdowns receptions, while Duvernay only has seven.

“You’re telling me he’s not one of the 20-best wideouts in the country? That’s a shame,” Head Coach Tom Herman said.

Herman also added that it is “shocking” that Duvernay was left off the list. While it is shocking, everyone knows how important he has been to this team this season. With other star wide receiver Collin Johnson missing time throughout the season, Duvernay has stepped up and become one of the best players for Texas.

Duvernay will need to step up big time again on Saturday, as the Longhorns have the chance to spoil Baylor’s College Football Playoff dreams.

Texas will face Baylor on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST on FS1.

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