M.J. Devonshire, CB Pittsburgh: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Devonshire was a three-star recruit from Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School in Aliquippa, Pa. in the class of 2019

Pittsburgh cornerback M.J. Devonshire is a redshirt senior flying under the radar as a potential top 100 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. His speed and arm length are above-average. Devonshire posted some nice reps against Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Cedric Tillman in 2022.

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M.J. Devonshire, CB Pittsburgh: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt senior outside cornerback from Aliquippa, Pa.

Background: Devonshire was a three-star recruit from Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School in Aliquippa, Pa. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 494 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 532 for On3.com. Devonshire was an unranked four-star recruit for Rivals. He transferred from Kentucky to Pittsburgh for the 2021 season. Devonshire was a three-sport athlete in high school, starring in football, basketball, and track. He played defensive back, wide receiver, and returned kicks during his high school career. As a senior, Devonshire led Aliquippa to a 14-1 record and the WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A championships. That year, he totaled 27 receptions for 571 yards and scored 24 total touchdowns in four different ways. He also intercepted eight passes, including three in the state title game. Devonshire’s eight kickoff or punt return touchdowns fell one short of the national high school record. Unfortunately, he had five return touchdowns nullified by penalties. Devonshire was the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 3A Player of the Year, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Co-Player of the Year, and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review High School Athlete of the Year. He averaged more than 17 points per game in basketball and won two PIAA track titles (100 and 200 meters). His brother, Keir Jeter, played football at Edinboro University. Devonshire was born on Sept. 12, 2000.

Injuries & Off-Field: Underwent wrist surgery in 2019 for a broken right wrist, missed one game in 2021

Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-ACC (CB), 2022 Second Team All-ACC (Returner)

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, and field goal block units, significant contributor as a punt returner in 2022, cut down on penalties from six in 2021 to two in 2022, arm length appears to meet NFL-standards, acceleration and burst, impressive acceleration and top speed, elite linear athlete, one-armed stab in press, gave the much larger Bryce Ford-Wheaton a few nice battles (2022), willing to get physical and fight back against larger receivers like Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Cedric Tillman, compresses outside releases along the sideline, excellent use of inside leverage against vertical routes vs. WVU (2022), not threatened vertically at all by WVU’s receivers (2022), doesn’t fall for double moves or hesi-gos, flashes ball skills and instincts when allowed to read the QB’s eyes from zone, closing burst, times his contests well at the catch point, willing tackler who goes low and wraps up, reliable tackler who plays with control

Cons: One season of ball production, lean throughout frame, some false steps when mirroring release in press, out-muscled by wide receivers at the line, effectiveness in press is limited by his play strength, bumped around mid-route by bigger players, transitions out of his half turn are awkward, footwork was sloppy and left him on the ground against WVU (2022), balance changing direction at the top of the stem is poor, allowed WRs into his blind spot when in a half turn, awareness in half turn man vs. WVU (2022) led to easy separation on comeback routes, limited to no awareness of what’s going on behind him, a step slow to drive on in-breaking routes, examples of being grabby at the top of the stem, a little late to gear down and crash on comeback routes, doesn’t get head around for the ball when carrying receivers vertically, subtle push offs displace him at the catch point, late to recognize WR screens and takes poor angles on these plays, play strength limits ability to defeat blocks

Overview: Devonshire has special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, and field goal block units. He was a significant contributor as a punt returner in 2022 and could continue that role in the NFL. Last year was Devonshire’s second season as a starter. He showed some growth by cutting his penalties from six to just two despite playing more than 160 additional defensive snaps. Devonshire has a lean frame but sports NFL-caliber arm length. His acceleration, burst, and speed pop on tape and suggest he’ll test at the level of an elite linear athlete. The redshirt senior occasionally deploys a one-armed stab in press coverage. Despite being significantly outweighed, he gave much larger receivers like Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Cedric Tillman physical battles in 2022. However, his limited play strength sometimes negatively impacts him in press coverage and leads to receivers pushing him around at the line or mid-route. Devonshire takes some false steps when mirroring releases in press. He compresses outside releases along the sideline and is excellent at using inside leverage to take away vertical routes. The punt returner uses his speed to carry receivers vertically with little fear of being stacked. He doesn’t fall for double moves or hesitation moves. The Pennsylvania native shows flashes of instinctive play when allowed to operate in zone, but his physical abilities make him a good fit for man coverage and press assignments. Devonshire uses his closing burst and timing to contest receivers at the catch point. He is a reliable tackler who approaches the ball carrier under control and wraps up. Unfortunately, his play strength limits his ability to defeat stalk blocks. Devonshire spent some time in 2022 operating out of a half-turn, but his footwork and awareness while using this technique were insufficient. He lost his balance when attempting to transition out of the half-turn and showed little awareness of receivers behind him when he allowed opponents into his blind spot. Devonshire’s footwork needs to be retooled. Right now, his balance changing directions at the top of the stem is poor. He is a step slow to drive on in-breaking routes. There are examples of Devonshire being grabby at the top of the stem and a little late to gear down and contest comeback routes. The All-ACC return man doesn’t get head around for the ball when carrying receivers vertically and is negatively affected by subtle push offs at the catch point.

Overall, Devonshire needs to adjust his footwork and continue to refine the core elements of his technique, but he possesses the athletic traits to be a plus man corner and return man in the NFL. It might take Devonshire a year to adjust to life in the pros, but he can contribute on special teams while learning to maximize his gifts.

Role & Scheme Fit: Outside corner in a man-heavy scheme and punt returner

Round Projection: Third Round

Size: 5'11", 190 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 08-19-23