Inside The Panthers

M.J. Devonshire Says Goodbye to Pitt

Pitt Panthers cornerback M.J. Devonshire made his departure from school official.
Stephen Thompson|
M.J. Devonshire Says Goodbye to Pitt
M.J. Devonshire Says Goodbye to Pitt

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Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- He hinted at it with the announcement that he would participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl this winter, but former Pitt Panthers cornerback M.J. Devonshire made his decision to declare for the NFL Draft official this week. 

Devonshire penned a heartfelt goodbye to his hometown school on Twitter when he announced that he would forgo his final season of eligibility at Pitt and try his luck in the NFL Draft. 

"The journey has been a crazy but fun one and it is far from over," Devonshire said. "I am grateful 

Devonshire gave a shoutout to his former school, Kentucky, where he spent the first season of his college career, and Pitt, where he truly put his stamp on college football as a two-year starter.  

"My teammates and brothers I can't thank y'all enough for everything. Brothers for life," Devonshire said. "And to Coach Duzzi, the entire staff and the city of Pittsburgh, thank you for bringing me home and making me who I am today. 

Devonshire, an Aliquippa native, one-upped his breakout 2022 campaign. He set career-highs in tackles for loss (0.5), interceptions (4) and passes defended (10). He ends his Pitt career with 83 tackles. 1.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions. 

He won an ACC Championship, was named an All-ACC honorable mention at cornerback and second-team selection at punt returner in 2022 and capped his collegiate career with second-team all-conference honors as a cornerback. But no moment will ever stand out as boldly from Devonshire's career at as the 56-yard "Pitt Six" that was the deciding play in a win over West Virginia during the 2022 revival of the Backyard Brawl. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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