M.J. Devonshire hasn’t spent much time at the professional level, but he’s certainly making an impact during that time with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Devonshire — a 5-foot-11, 190-pound cornerback from Aliquippa, Pa. — was selected with the 229th pick (seventh round) in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Raiders. He’s primed for an early impact, and Pat Narduzzi is confident in his ability to adapt to the next level.
“M.J. is prepared for the NFL because we put him out there on an island his entire career,” Narduzzi said when Devonshire was drafted. “He knows how to handle that responsibility and pressure. There’s a reason M.J. had all those pick sixes at Pitt—he has excellent instincts, great hands and game-changing speed. He continues the great tradition of Pitt and Aliquippa defensive backs going to the league.”
Devonshire made a splash play for the Raiders in camp, picking off a quarterback who wasn’t shown on tape.
Devonshire may have been the last Panther selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, but that didn’t damper his excitement for the NFL. His excitement was palpable. And now he’s one of the top choices to make an impact this season.
“I hear it in your voice, man, come on,” Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said over the phone.
Devonshire held a large draft party with his friends and family, which was attended by former Pitt and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker SirVocea Dennis, and he finally heard his name called on Day 3 — following former teammates Matt Goncalves (Indianapolis Colts) and Bub Means (New Orleans Saints).
Devonshire was one of the top Pitt prospects entering the 2023 season, following a standout season in 2022, and while he experienced his fair share of ups and downs, he showcased a blend of speed, playmaking and improved press coverage ability that appealed to NFL teams.
In his Pitt career, following his first two seasons at Kentucky, he finished with 83 tackles (51 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) and 21 pass breakups. He was an All-ACC punt returner in 2022. And he was also one of the most iconic — and impactful — defensive backs in recent memory.
Pitt has a handful of defensive backs selected to the NFL over the last few seasons, including the likes of Damar Hamlin, Dane Jackson, Jason Pinnock, Avonte Maddox, K’Waun Williams, Damarri Mathis, Jordan Whitehead, Brandon Hill and Erick Hallett.
M.J. Devonshire is just the latest in a long line of former Pitt defensive backs.
