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Tight end is a need position for the Pitt football program. The most recent prospect to receive a scholarship offer was 6-foot-6 inch, 245 pound Dylan Deveney. Deveney, who attended Shawnee High School in Medford, NJ, is the personification of a multi-sport athlete. The jumbo-athlete has been a standout in both baseball and basketball. He was a three-year starter and four-year varsity player in basketball and averaged nearly 16 points per game. Dylan was equally successful at baseball and was considered a top flight pitching prospect and opted to commit to Lafayette.
So what does the best baseball and basketball player in his high school attempt to do next? Yes, Dylan joined the football team in October a virtual neophyte to the game. He hadn’t played the sport since grade school. In six games, Deveney caught five passes for 81 yards. His statistics may not have been lofty but everyone watching realized his vast potential. Dylan quickly fell in love with the game of football and decided to forego his baseball scholarship. To improve his stock he decided to spend next season at The Hun School in Princeton, NJ (a post-graduate prep school). “I was introduced to Coach (Tim) Salem from Pitt. I talked to him a little bit. He saw me at a workout and he was impressed with what he saw and he offered me from there,” said Deveney. “He told me they need tight ends and they do a lot with them in the offense. I was really excited to receive the offer.”
Pitt was the first major program to offer Deveney. When asked about his thoughts on his first ‘big’ offer, he stated, “It means a lot. Pitt was the first to see the potential in me. I believe I can help them out and be a good fit with the program.”
Pitt isn’t the only school pursuing Deveny. Syracuse, Temple, Boston College, Minnesota and Rutgers have expressed strong interest in his services. Dylan’s father George was a former tight end at Temple.
When asked about his strengths at the tight end position, he stated, “I think I move really well for my size and I have very good hands. I get a lot of that from basketball. Basketball you’re always touching the ball and moving. It gives you great hand-eye coordination. Those skills translate over to the football field.”
Deveney is hoping to visit Pitt over the summer. “I really want to see what Pitt’s all about. I’m anxious to learn more about the program,” he said.
Harry Psaros can be found on Twitter at @PittGuru
