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DeVall Commits To School

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: February 18, 2009

PLANT CITY - One football player going on to join a national champion is impressive. But last week, Durant made it No. 2.

Although not nearly as eye-popping as teammate Cole Gilliam's plans to head to the University of Florida, Austin DeVall is also going to a school with a phenomenal tradition. DeVall has committed to Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio.

Mount Union has won 10 national championships in Division III football, and those have all come in the past 16 years. In the past four seasons, the Purple Raiders have been to the title game, playing Wisconsin-Whitewater each time and winning three of those meetings, including the most recent title game Dec. 22.

DeVall, the 6-foot-3-inch, 225-pound leader along the defensive line for Durant, must have really impressed Mount Union coaches because they have made very few signings from Florida. Last year's roster had two players from Winter Springs High and another from Pahokee.

"I know Mount Union was at a recruiting fair that I attended, but they never spoke to me at all, so this was a pleasant surprise," Durant head coach Mike Gottman said.

In his senior year, DeVall made All-Western Conference honors and had 26 tackles, helping Durant to a 6-5 record and playoff berth.

Gilliam recently confirmed his "preferred walk-on" status at Florida. He chose the opportunity to perhaps get a football scholarship with the Gators over a sure-fire full ride at Division I-AA Liberty University in Virginia.

"When I met with Gators head coach Urban Meyer, that pretty much did it," Gilliam said last week.

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