I feel like I'm starting a lot of threads about former Aliquippa four-star/Kentucky transfer MJ Devonshire, but I don't want things to get buried in other threads, so here we are.
All along, it has seemed like Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia were the three main schools of focus for Devonshire. Pat Narduzzi and Archie Collins were in touch pretty soon after Devonshire went into the transfer portal, laying out why they want him and how he would fit into the Panthers' defense. Penn State's first contact was through assistant coaches who seemed to say that the depth chart had quite a few returners, but a follow-up conversation with James Franklin changed the tone of those conversations and made Devonshire feel like a priority. And West Virginia spoke with Devonshire's father but didn't speak to MJ himself before Christmas.
Fast-forward to today and things are getting interesting. Penn State landed South Carolina cornerback transfer Johnny Dixon this morning; the staff has told Devonshire that they plan to take two transfer DB's, but that obviously makes the room a little more crowded. And as a few minutes ago, WVU's staff still hadn't spoken to Devonshire himself.
You can see where the arrow is pointing here. I haven't liked Pitt's chances since Devonshire went into the transfer portal, but as events have transpired and the situation has developed, it's looking more and more like the Panthers have a real chance of landing him. Devonshire is set to have a Zoom call with the Pitt staff early Tuesday morning; he wants to decide this week, and I think he'll pick between Pitt and Penn State at some point pretty soon.
I might go so far as to call Pitt the favorite right now. We'll see how it shakes out.
All along, it has seemed like Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia were the three main schools of focus for Devonshire. Pat Narduzzi and Archie Collins were in touch pretty soon after Devonshire went into the transfer portal, laying out why they want him and how he would fit into the Panthers' defense. Penn State's first contact was through assistant coaches who seemed to say that the depth chart had quite a few returners, but a follow-up conversation with James Franklin changed the tone of those conversations and made Devonshire feel like a priority. And West Virginia spoke with Devonshire's father but didn't speak to MJ himself before Christmas.
Fast-forward to today and things are getting interesting. Penn State landed South Carolina cornerback transfer Johnny Dixon this morning; the staff has told Devonshire that they plan to take two transfer DB's, but that obviously makes the room a little more crowded. And as a few minutes ago, WVU's staff still hadn't spoken to Devonshire himself.
You can see where the arrow is pointing here. I haven't liked Pitt's chances since Devonshire went into the transfer portal, but as events have transpired and the situation has developed, it's looking more and more like the Panthers have a real chance of landing him. Devonshire is set to have a Zoom call with the Pitt staff early Tuesday morning; he wants to decide this week, and I think he'll pick between Pitt and Penn State at some point pretty soon.
I might go so far as to call Pitt the favorite right now. We'll see how it shakes out.
