4-Star Devin Duvernay Ready to Change the Game in Football, Track

Sachse, Texas, 4-star wide receiver Devin Duvernay doesn't say much. Unless he has down time with friends or family, no one should expect him to say more than 20 words at a time.

There are athletes who epitomize the phrase "silent assassin," where literal verbiage takes a back seat to first-class performance, whether it's on the football field, the track or wherever the athlete excels.

"I don't really say a lot," Duvernay said while lacing up his cleats to prepare for drills. "I just want to go out and work."

Duvernay isn't a talker. He's the classic doer. Ask those who try to catch him in the open field—whether it's as a versatile football standout or as a sprinter with potential world-class speed at Sachse High School.

And when he's dialed in, consider Duvernay nearly unstoppable.

At least, that's been the case so far throughout his high school career. He's compiled nearly 1,800 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns the last two seasons. He's also is averaging nearly 10 yards a rush (58 rushes, 557 yards, five touchdowns) as a varsity athlete.

And then there's his track resume. Duvernay's the reigning UIL Texas Class 6A 100-meter dash state champion. He won Texas' largest classification in the spring with a blazing time of 10.27 seconds, the third-fastest high school time in the nation.

Duvernay's athletic success is recognized with nearly 40 offers from schools from coast to coast, as well as the invitation to play in the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game in Florida in January. Recruiting-wise, Duvernay said schools like Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Oregon have peaked his interest early, but he's keeping all options open.

The key to his success? Setting a goal and doing everything possible to reach it.

Simple, right?

"I envision success," he said. "I envisioned running a 10.29, and I got a 10.27. Normally, with my visions, I expect to get them."

Credit: 247Sports

High expectations at a young age

Duvernay is the son of Henry and Zena Duvernay. He's also the twin brother of Donovan Duvernay, who is a two-way athlete at cornerback and receiver for Sachse.

Henry was a multisport athlete at Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School in New Orleans. He didn't play football but was a sprinter for the track team and also played basketball and baseball.

Zena's athletic past wasn't as decorated, but she had four brothers who were either football standouts, baseball standouts or both. Calvin Murray played professional baseball for the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Kevin Murray was an all-conference quarterback for Texas A&M who eventually signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers. His son, Texas A&M freshman quarterback Kyler Murray, led Allen High School to three consecutive state championships. Allen is currently riding a 43-game winning streak.

In short, the talent genes are there for Duvernay. But with the talent came training—tons of training.

"It didn't come overnight. It was a process," Henry Duvernay said. "Both Devin and Donovan have run track all their lives, and they know if you want to achieve something, you have to work hard at it."

"I feel like because of my genetics, I'd still be fast," Devin added, "but it's my training that pushes me further."

Zena remembers the first time the "it factor" was displayed with Devin and Donovan. They were four-year-olds playing soccer, and a basic task from their soccer coach turned into their first athletic "wow" moment.

"One of the coaches threw the ball down the field and told the players to run for the ball and bring it back," she said. "Devin and Donovan just took off, and they pretty much were on their way back with the ball before the other kids had even gotten down to where the ball was.

"Since then, it seemed like whatever they were doing, they excelled at. Even at an early age."

It's now come to the point where every time the brothers touch the football, they are expected to either score or make a big play. Devin, the nation's No. 4 receiver and the No. 40 player overall, caught 62 passes for 990 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior, according to the Dallas Morning News' stats. He also rushed 33 times for 290 yards and three scores.

Consider last year's success as routine around the Duvernay house.

"It's just a natural habit with what we've seen over the years," Henry said. "Playing in Garland peewee football, if any one of them touched the ball, something was going to happen. We expect that now with them in high school. Any time they touch the ball, we expect something positive."

"He's just so dynamic"

Kevin Murray has spent his life shaping his son and molding him to be a great quarterback at the next level, but he knows a quarterback is only as good as a reliable wide receiver.

So when he talks about his nephew's ability to be great, it's not a fluke, nor is it a nepotic bias.

"Devin and Kyler are alike in that they're introverts until you get them on the field," Murray said. "They let their actions speak for themselves. They're not attention-seekers, and from our perspective, that's kind of unusual from some successful kids this day and age.

"With Devin, I've seen him make so many plays in the open field. When he gets into space, it's bye-bye. He does what great players do."

Duvernay, in addition to the training outside of regular workouts at Sachse, gets extra work in by snagging passes at his uncle's quarterback academy. Murray runs Air 14 Football Quarterback Academy, which helped to develop Kyler Murray, Baylor's Seth Russell, LSU's Justin McMillan and Houston 2016 commit Bowman Sells.

For Duvernay, the time spent with his uncle not only gives him extra repetitions but also sound advice from someone who has made it to the professional football ranks.

"We'll catch up and have just normal family time," Duvernay said of Murray. "He's a really competitive guy, but he has that cool side to him where you can just relax with him."

The same rules apply when Duvernay is with his older cousin. Kyler Murray left Allen High School as one of the most prolific, competitive quarterbacks in Texas high school history. Duvernay, however, knows him as the guy who imparted knowledge and allowed Duvernay to bounce ideas off him in an effort to get better.

"He played in an age group above us, so we never played together, but we've always been around to watch each other play," Duvernay said.

"When we are together, everything is just chill. We talk about life, football sometimes, maybe recruiting sometimes. It's cool to just catch up with each other."

Many who follow Duvernay focus on his speed as his primary asset. After all, Duvernay did win the state track championship in the 100, and he did run the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds at The Opening last month in Oregon.

Kevin Murray, however, believes it will be his other attributes that will enhance his future star-caliber potential.

"You've got to look at his hands and his ability to catch the football and ability to run routes," he said. "Initially, I think when he was a sophomore, there was talk of him being a running back. At the high school level, you can put him anywhere you want, but his position at the collegiate level is receiver.

"He's just so dynamic."

Inseparable since birth

One advantage of having a twin brother, Devin said, is always having someone around who is equally driven. Devin and Donovan have been teammates since they were in preschool.

"We've always been competitive and always played together," Devin said. "We've always wanted to win and be great. That's something we always try to do: keep working and keep getting better."

As the oldest brother by four minutes, Donovan is a 3-star athlete with double-digit offers, including ones from Baylor, TCU, Michigan and Kansas. Much of his work came as a defensive back last season, but when called to play receiver he delivered, finishing the year with 20 catches for 452 yards and five touchdowns. In other words, Donovan averaged a touchdown every fourth reception.

The twins hold each other accountable and are competitive in everything they do, from athletics to academics to video games.

Especially video games.

"We play everything. Madden, 2K (basketball), FIFA (soccer)...and we hate losing," Donovan said. We're real competitive, but at the end of the day, we know it's just a game, so we don't get too mad about it."

While the two share that competitive fire, Zena said there's a noticeable difference in personality. While Donovan is more laid-back, Devin is always moving. It's been that way since they were toddlers.

"Devin was always the child with all the energy. He was always wired," Zena said. "They always played well together, but Devin was always my little busybody. He'd always take toys from Donovan, and I'd make him give them back. It was so funny how one was so wired, but the other was so relaxed."

That level of energy has been a catalyst for Devin during his recruiting process. You can see that second gear during the yards after the catch or 40 meters into a sprint.

It helps, Devin added, to have a brother who motivates him to find that next level. Donovan is more than a twin brother to Devin. He's a muse, a confidant and a best friend.

"We do everything together. With him, you don't have much to worry about,' Devin said. "It's like another you out there. You know what he can do, and he knows what you can do. You can trust him."

To which Donovan responded: "I'm really excited for him. He has a lot of things ahead of him with the season and the Under Armour game. He deserves it. He's earned it."

Credit: 247Sports

Picking the right school

Duvernay wants to be a record-breaking wide receiver and a legendary sprinter at the college level. Along with playing receiver, he said he also wants to return punts and kicks wherever he plays. He added that every school he's interested in has given him the green light to run track during the offseason.

So now the question is: Where will he go?

With so many options, recruiting can be a silent distraction, but Duvernay doesn't let the process wear him down. He's already pushed a decision back to after his senior season and isn't opposed to waiting until national signing day.

"I'm taking my time," he said. "I'm looking for a winning team where I can succeed and play. I want to develop and get to the next level, and I want to have fun."

Duvernay is quick to add that while he has a shortlist of interested schools, no school is out of the running. Many Texas A&M fans are hoping he will join his cousin to form a solid, one-two punch in Kevin Sumlin's offense.

Making the right decision is key for Duvernay. Part of that decision will involve his twin. He has stressed the fact that he wants to play college ball with his brother, although he isn't opposed to seeing his brother make the best decision for himself.

Don't be surprised, however, if their parents are making only one college trip each week to watch their sons line up as teammates.

"They want to go to school together, and hopefully that'll happen," Henry said. "As a parent, you want to keep them close. Every weekend, we'll be headed somewhere."

"I can't tell the future, but if it happens, it happens," Donovan added. "We're trying to go to school together, though."

Of Devin's nine interested schools, Baylor is the only one that has offered both Duvernays thus far. That can change in the upcoming weeks, as schools will get additional looks at Donovan with Sachse's regular season starting.

If they do make the same choice, the winning school will get not one but two playmakers. They'll also get athletes who understand the true definition of hard work and dedication.

And while Devin may not vocally address the masses with his intentions, look for him to make an impact that will be heard loudly.

"I just want to be someone who changes the game," he said.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles