The Rundown Take
Welcome Back, D: A Full Defensive Two-Deep Prediction and a Fiery Call for Accountability
Devin returned from a week away to reset U Talk Live 21, opening with a Black History Month music segment before diving into a full defensive-starters projection and a fresh crop of 2021 recruiting names. A regular caller rang in on his birthday to trade predictions, and Devin closed with one of his most pointed speeches yet — no complacency, no free passes, competition at every spot.
Key Takeaways
- New 2021 names to watch: athlete Tavares Dawson (Lehigh Acres), receiver Malik Curtis (Fort Myers Bishop Verot, compared to Travis Benjamin), defensive tackle Willie Allen (Chaminade-Madonna Prep) and a pro-style quarterback prospect out of Georgia.
- Devin's defensive starter predictions: Quincy Roche and Gregory Rousseau at end, John Ford and Nesta Silvera at tackle, Zach McCloud and Sam Brooks at linebacker, Al Blades Jr. and Christian Williams at corner, Bubba Bolden and Garvin Hall at safety.
- Spring game confirmed for April 11th — but now relocated away from Hard Rock Stadium, with no kickoff time announced yet.
- A caller celebrating his birthday on air trades safety and defensive line predictions with Devin, largely agreeing on the picks.
- Devin delivers a direct message to the coaching staff: play the guys who compete every day, don't let anyone coast on a starting job, and hold the locker room accountable after last year's slippage.
Building the Defense, Level by Level
Devin called the defensive end room the deepest on the roster, locking in Quincy Roche and Gregory Rousseau as starters with Jaelan Phillips and Jahfari Harvey waiting behind them. Up front he's banking on John Ford finally breaking out in his senior year next to Nesta Silvera, with a wave of young tackles behind them — including Jordan Miller — that Devin thinks could be a real surprise this season. At linebacker, Zach McCloud is the only sure thing; Devin's picking Sam Brooks for the other spot while hoping banged-up options like Bradley Jennings and Waynmon Steed can finally stay healthy enough to contribute.
Secondary Battles and a Position Change
The most interesting subplot: Devin still believes Amari Carter is miscast at safety and should move to the striker spot to challenge Gilbert Frierson, with Keontra Smith also sliding down from safety to add competition there. At corner, he's staying with Al Blades Jr. as the steady, technically sound starter, but thinks true freshman Christian Williams pushes hard enough to start opposite him over DJ Ivey. At safety, Devin is picking Bubba Bolden and Garvin Hall, crediting Hall with a clear second-half turnaround in 2019 after early-season struggles with angles and tackling.
No More Free Passes
Devin closed with an unusually direct message aimed squarely at the coaching staff and locker room: no starting job should be guaranteed, no established name should be allowed to get complacent, and the competition has to run every single day in practice — not just when a spot is open. He pointed to players who visibly checked out last season and framed 2020 as the year Manny Diaz's staff needs to hold everyone, starters included, accountable to that standard.