Family Business: Pitt CB M.J. Devonshire Carrying Lessons From Dad, NFL Stars

Aliquippa alumni, and his father, are pushing the Pitt star cornerback.

PITTSBURGH -- M.J. Devonshire is building is own pather with the Pitt Panthers, but he still keeps his dad as involved as possible. 

Devonshire played for his father, Marlin, while at Aliquippa and never got a moment away from football. 

"I lived with him, so it was like, going home, it was never over,” Devonshire said. “If I messed up in practice, we would go over what to do and why I did it and how it was going to help me off the field. It would always translate. My dad was a big lecture guy. He would talk to me for hours and hours, but in the long run, I look back and I loved every moment of it."

Afterward, he ended up at Kentucky, where he spent two seasons away from home. After that second year, he transferred to Pitt, and his father's coaching picked up right where it started. 

Devonshire rides home with his father after ever home game, listening to hi dad's critiques during the drive. 

"Play 47,” Marlin says, “you should’ve been a little bit more physical."

"I don’t even remember play 47, but alright," Devonshire says. "I’ll see it tomorrow."

Those moments only make him better, though. 

"I took it for granted as a kid, I used to get so upset when he would do it when I was younger, but now — since I’m passionate about it and I’ve learned so much from it, I’ve realized now that, yeah, I need that,” Devonshire said. “So, that’s really why I ride with him from the games. I need to hear what you think because you got me here, so he’s always gonna be in my corner."

The Aliquippa grad doesn't just have his father rooting for him, though. Joining names like Mike Ditka, Sean Gilbert, Darrelle Revis, Ty Law and Jonathan Baldwin all coming from the high school, the football pipeline is deep. 

Being the next Aliquippa turned Pitt star in the city, Devonshire has mentors at his position that have done more than most during their careers. Revis and Law have been forward about telling Devonshire to reach out, and despite the college corner admitting he hasn't done a great job with it, he does hold onto their advice. 

“Just run your own race,” Devonshire said on advice from Revis. “Do what you gotta do to be successful and don’t get too focused on what other guys did. Whether it’s them or what other guys did in the nation. Playing corner, just do what you gotta do to be successful. Because everybody’s path is different.”

Devonshire has done just that. After spending some time at safety last season, the redshirt junior is set to play a significant role at cornerback for the Panthers. And his teammates have noticed his development.

"M.J., he’s been doing great at everything," teammate A.J. Woods said. "He’s really — I’ve seen the work he’s put in the offseason, and he was able to correct anything he had issues with. It’s shown in camp, he’s having a really good camp."

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