Devin Duvernay Chooses Baylor over OU, Bama: 4-Star WR to Join Twin Brother

Baylor has built a solid reputation for having electrifying skill-position players. The Bears were able to add to their arsenal Friday with a speed demon of a commitment.

Sachse, Texas, wide receiver Devin Duvernay announced via social media early Friday evening that he has verbally committed to Baylor. Duvernay, a 4-star athlete and the nation's No. 4 receiver in the 2016 class, became the Bears' 17th overall pledge for the class.

"I'm happy with my decision," said Duvernay, who had nearly 40 offers but chose Baylor over Oklahoma and Alabama. "Every time I went there, felt like place to be. Athletically and academically, I feel I can succeed there, and I trust the coaches."

Duvernay's decision also answered a budding question with his recruiting: Would he play alongside his twin brother? Donovan Duvernay, a 3-star athlete, committed to Baylor on Sept. 21, and while some speculated the brothers would ultimately end up on the same team, others wondered if Devin—the younger twin by four minutes—would blaze his own path and play out of state.

Devin admitted the decision wasn't as easy as some assumed.

"It really came down to Baylor, Oklahoma and Alabama. I liked all three and felt good about all of them," Duvernay said. "It just felt different with Baylor."

"I felt like it was a close battle with OU for sure. It came down to the wire. I had a talk with them [Wednesday] night, but I just made up my mind and wanted to go to Baylor to continue my career," Duvernay explained. "Plus, we [the twins] get to spend four more years together. I'm excited to see what's left for us."

Credit: 247Sports.com

The entire Duvernay family have thought about—and hoped for—the brothers to be college teammates, as they confirmed in August prior to Donovan committing to Baylor. The family, however, understood why Devin weighed all of his options. He took official visits to Ohio State, Alabama and Oklahoma to help clear his recruiting perspective.

Now the family, and Baylor fans, will get to rejoice.

"I knew that when I made my decision, I had to make the best choice for me and not for [Donovan]," Duvernay said. "I wanted to look at all my options and take some visits to scan everything out. But I know Baylor's the best place for me. I know they'll get the ball in playmakers' hands and spread the ball around."

Speed has become a staple for Baylor, and Duvernay defines speed. Along with being a playmaking receiver, he is also a state-champion sprinter for Sachse. As a junior, Duvernay won a state title in the 100-meter dash in Class 6A, Texas' largest classification, with a blistering time of 10.27 seconds, the third-fastest time in the nation, according to Track & Field News.

And then there's Duvernay on the football field. He led Sachse in all receiving categories, finishing with 62 catches for 1,142 yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior year. He also rushed 47 times for 520 yards and six touchdowns.

Duvernay said he's looking forward to catching passes from Jarrett Stidham, who has been solid as a freshman in replacing the injured Seth Russell. Duvernay said the two stay in touch through text messaging and social media.

Duvernay added that he plans on taking an official visit to Baylor in January. He was recruited by receivers coach Tate Wallis and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles—as well as head coach Art Briles. Duvernay said Art Briles' involvement in the process as a head coach was something he won't forget.

"That was a big impact," he said. "He's been on me a lot; it wasn't just his staff. He's been hard on me since they offered me my sophomore year. He stuck with it and kept telling me I'm a guy they needed. He said I can help the program out a lot."

Duvernay said he's looking to major in either sports management or finance. He also said he's hoping to become an all-conference receiver and be the next dynamic pass-catching option to wear a Baylor uniform. It's a list that's continuing to grow each year, from Corey Coleman and K.D. Cannon of the present to former Baylor studs Kendall Wright and Terrance Williams, who are now playing in the NFL.

He's also pretty excited about being roommates with his twin brother and best friend.

"I'm ready for it all," 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