Kyle DeVan

Having received All-Pac 10 Conference and Academic All-Pac 10 honorable mention in each of his last three seasons, DeVan went on to start his last 38 games for the Beavers. The line's grizzled veteran, his drive blocking skills were one of the main reasons OSU featured a 1,000-yard rusher (Yvenson Bernard) in each of the center's three campaigns in the starting lineup. With his initial quickness off the line, DeVan's pulling ability helped the Beavers improve their running attack to an average of 174.9 yards per game in 2007, after averaging just 118.2 yards the previous season. The two-time Rimington Trophy (nation's top center) nominee, he allowed just five sacks on the last 777 pass plays he was involved in. At Vacaville High School, DeVan was a two-way starter during his last three seasons. He competed as an offensive tackle all three years, and at tackle on defense as a sophomore and junior, and defensive end as a senior. A first-team All-Monticello Empire League selection on offense (tackle) and defense (tackle) as a junior and senior, he was named the league's Most Outstanding Lineman in each of his final two seasons. DeVan was chosen first-team All-Northern California, All-Sacramento area and All-Solano County, all on offense, adding Prep Star All-Region honors. He recorded 88 tackles as a senior, including 14 sacks. On offense, he had a school-record 59 pancake blocks that year. He also lettered in wrestling and won the CIF 275-pound title as a senior on the campus of the University of The Pacific. He compiled a 39-1 record as a senior, adding the Monticello Empire League and San Joaquin Sub-Section titles to his resume. DeVan red-shirted at Oregon State in 2003 and played in every game as a reserve at center and offensive guard in 2004. He took over center duties in 2005, earning All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention while posting 71 knockdown blocks. He helped OSU average 419.0 yards per game, including 296.5 yards passing. As a junior, DeVan added All-Pac 10 Conference second-team accolades. He delivered 86 knockdowns, participating in all but five offensive snaps. The Beavers went on to average 360.6 yards per game. In 2007, DeVan earned All-Pac 10 honorable mention. He posted 75 knockdowns, along with seven touchdown-resulting blocks, paving the way for the offense to generate 4,831 yards.

positives

Has a squatty frame with natural strength, but must control his weight, as he gets very heavy-legged playing past the 300-pound range...Has better lower body power than upper frame strength, but needs to anchor better (gets narrow in his base)...Plays hard until the whistle...Recognizes coverages quickly and does a good job making all the blocking calls...Moves better off the snap at a lighter weight and plays with bulldog toughness...Gets out quickly on short-area pulls and has the initial step to reach or scoop (needs to do it more consistently)...Has some snap on contact, but must keep his balance better to move defenders out...Not a bulldozer, but will put his face on the target and generate adequate leg drive...Runs his feet to stay engaged, position or seal...Gets some decent movement on double teams and is efficient at washing out slanting defenders...Even though he doesn't move defenders out, he has adequate hip roll to hold his position...Takes good angles to the second level, but struggles to adjust and land on moving targets...Not always quick to arrive, but has improved when chipping and fitting up...Anchor is soft, but works hard to stay in front of the defender in his pass protection...Uses his upper body strength adequately to control and steer the defender, but would be more effective if he can improve his punch (gets his hands up quickly, but does not generate power behind them).

compares to

SEAN MAHAN-Pittsburgh...DeVan plays better at 300 pounds, as the additional weight makes him appear too heavy-legged and bend at the waist. He is an aggressive short-area puller, but his feet do die going long distances. He has good upper body strength, but is more likely a position type blocker, as he fails to generate much pop with his hand punch. He is not effective making adjustments to defenders on the move, but does work well in combination with his guards to widen the rush lanes.

negatives

Has just adequate muscle definition with shorter than ideal arms and extra girth and midsection softness that causes him to struggle some to get out of his stance in a timely fashion...Needs to add more bulk, but when playing at a heavier weight in the past, he looked sluggish and heavy-legged...Struggles to adjust in space and is too slow to explode into defenders coming off the snap, struggling to move his man off the ball... Lacks an overpowering hand punch and has just adequate upper body strength...Works hard to sustain, but some balance issues see him fall off blocks and he needs to be more consistent trying to finish...Does not have the loose hips or change of direction agility to make proper body adjustments on the move...Needs to plant his foot into the ground and anchor better, as all the sacks he gave up came as the result from a bull rush and the defender riding him right back into the pocket...Lacks a hand punch to jolt and needs to do a better job of latching on to a defender's jersey without getting caught...His feet tend to die after getting into the second level.

1999: Suffered a right ankle dislocation during his high school freshman year. 2006: Underwent left shoulder arthroscopic surgery in May.

Campus: 5.38 in the 40-yard dash

1.84 10-yard dash

3.04 20-yard dash

350-pound bench press

450-pound squat

30 7/8-inch arm length

9 1/2-inch hands

Right-handed

26/47 Wonderlic score. Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Attended Vacaville (Cal.) High School, playing football for head coach Fred Jones

Two-way starter during his last three seasons

Competed as an offensive tackle all three years, and at tackle on defense as a sophomore and junior, and defensive end as a senior

A first-team All-Monticello Empire League selection on offense (tackle) and defense (tackle) as a junior and senior, he was named the league's Most Outstanding Lineman in each of his final two seasons

Chosen first-team All-Northern California, All-Sacramento area and All-Solano County, all on offense, adding Prep Star All-Region honors

Recorded 88 tackles as a senior, including 14 sacks

On offense, he had a school-record 59 pancake blocks that year

Also lettered in wrestling and won the CIF 275-pound title as a senior on the campus of the University of The Pacific

Compiled a 39-1 record as a senior, adding the Monticello Empire League and San Joaquin Sub-Section titles to his resume

Class president as a sophomore

Won a National Football League/College Football Hall of Fame scholar-athlete scholarship for Solano County as a senior

Member of the National Honor Society

Graduated with a 3.65 grade point average.

Graduated in December 2007 with a degree in Business Administration, as he earned Academic All-Pac 10 Conference honors in each of his last three seasons

Involved in community service projects in Corvallis

Son of Ralph DeVan and Sherene Chandler

Born 2/10/85

Resides in Vacaville, California.