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M.J. Devonshire’s commitment to Kentucky came as a surprise to his mother, Theresa. She thought he’d stay home, near his native Aliquippa (Pa.), and attend Pittsburgh. She was heartbroken.

“I cried all the way back to Pennsylvania,” Theresa remembered after dropping Devonshire off in Lexington (Ky.). “My eyes were bloodshot.”

Devonshire picked Kentucky over offers from schools like Ohio State, Ole Miss and West Virginia. But after redshirting his first year, and receiving limited minutes during his sophomore season with the Wildcats, he entered the transfer portal. He opted to return to Pittsburgh, immediately becoming its top-ranked cornerback. In his third year with the Panthers, Devonshire will likely be tasked with covering Syracuse’s best receiver when both teams match up at Yankee Stadium Saturday.

Both Theresa, and Devonshire’s father, Marlin Sr., always knew he was a “different kind of cat” on the field. They remembered the naturally shy Devonshire started talking much more when it came to football. He immediately grew engaged whenever anybody mentioned the sport, Theresa said.

Devonshire became a star at Aliquippa High School. In his senior season, he played on both sides of the ball, scoring 24 total touchdowns and also nabbing eight interceptions. He received Pittsburgh Tribune-Review High School Athlete of the Year honors and head coach Mike Warfield said he was “truly a leader.”

After joining Kentucky out of high school, Devonshire struggled to carve out a role on its depth chart during his two seasons there. And once the pandemic hit, Devonshire transferred.

Entering the portal in 2020, Marlin Sr. said Devonshire’s decision was easy. Theresa remembered the moment she found out Devonshire committed to Pittsburgh. She was sitting on her couch when a friend sent her a text: “Am I going to have to get a Pitt shirt?”

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Surfing through the channels to make sense of the message, Theresa eventually found her son’s name plastered on the screen. She burst into tears and immediately gave Devonshire a call.

“He walked in the door, and we just hugged,” Theresa said, recalling her son’s return.

Devonshire fit in seamlessly with the Panthers. He was quickly taken in by his teammates. Theresa said that “they became a brotherhood that is unmatched.”

Devonshire’s homecoming also rekindled a relationship with his friend, and current graduate assistant, Eli Kosanovich. Theresa believes the two are “like brothers” and remembered that Devonshire said he would’ve “went to Pitt if Eli was going” out of high school.

At Pittsburgh, Devonshire can also enjoy extended time with family. He and Marlin Sr. now relive the same coaching sessions during postgame car rides that the pair shared when Devonshire was growing up.

“We still do it,” Marlin Sr. said. “We go over one or two things. He likes my opinions of how he played.”

It hasn’t taken long for Devonshire to reintroduce himself to the Pittsburgh community, either. Theresa fondly remembered him buying chicken wings for a young spectator when the kid attempted to pay using his own coin jar. Devonshire’s crisp, 20-dollar bill covered the charges.

On another occasion, Devonshire gifted his game-worn gloves to a fan. The gloves were from an 86-yard pick six which put Pittsburgh up late against then-No. 14 Louisville in an eventual 38-21 upset victory.

Devonshire’s return home has also brought out a new air within himself. Theresa has sensed the difference. She said it’s something that Devonshire hasn’t done in quite some time.

“I see my son smiling,” Theresa said.

Published on November 9, 2023 at 1:11 am

Contact Nick: nsjepson@syr.edu