From playing the tuba to playing football, a Caveman’s attempt to make the NFL roster
Former American Fork Caveman Jordan Devey runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Memphis offensive lineman Jordan Devey runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Former American Fork Caveman Jordan Devey runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Former American Fork Caveman Jordan Devey runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Former American Fork Caveman Jordan Devey runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Former American Fork Caveman Jordan Devey runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Leave it to the NFL to build an entire weekend’s television programming around college football’s best players doing sprints and bench presses: A former Caveman was spotted among the 333 players who had impressed enough of the right people to earn an invite to the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis last weekend.
Jordan Devey may not be the most prominent offensive lineman, but he was given an opportunity to compete against all those big-name guys he’s been watching on television the last few years.
What’s even more unusual is that Devey did not play football at American Fork High School. Instead, he played the tuba.
He stopped playing football after suffering from Osgood-Schlatters when he was in middle school, in American Fork. So, he joined the band when he became a freshman in high school, happy to play the tuba next to his older brother Marlin, who was a senior.
Because Devey excelled, he was offered several music scholarships, which he turned down to serve an LDS mission in Costa Rica.
His knee condition subsided, and he went on to play football at Snow College. Devey started every game as left guard during his freshman season in 2009 before transitioning to left tackle in 2010. Following the 2010 season, he was named the team’s Offensive Player of the Year and earned all-region and all-conference honors. He transferred to the University of Memphis, where he played every snap of his career — 1,558 plays. He and his wife, Linsey, married in July 2011.
Devey scored enough point during the workout drills this weekend to be considered for the NFL, a kid’s dream come true.
But his score of 52% puts him in the “long-term potential” category. He is a prospect “with the ability to make team as a backup player,” according to the scouts.
Should he have taken the music scholarships after high school and choose a different path? “It’s too late for music,” Devey said. “Part of me will always have a tie to that because of the time I spent, but I made a decision to play football and I can’t look back. I’m all in for football.”
Devey drills results:
40-Yard Dash: 5.25 sec (Best 4.27 seconds, Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas).
Bench Press: 21 reps (Best: 38 reps, Margus Hunt, DE, Southern Methodist University)
Vertical Jump: 24.0 INCH (Best: 43.0 inches, Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M)
Broad Jump: 98.0 in. (Best: 11’4″, Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee)
Three Cone Drill: 7.91 sec. (Best: 6.53 seconds, T.J. Moe, WR, Missouri)
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.77 sec. (Best: 3.96 seconds, T.J. Moe, WR, Missouri)