Could Tyler Devera be the next Cole Hukutini for Louisville football?

Louisville football recruit Tyler Devera could be the next hidden gem at tight end for the Cards.

There’s certainly not as many “diamonds in the rough” in 2019 as there were, say, 10 years ago on the high school football recruiting trail. With social media exposure, hours of video highlights and interviews, and scouting experts working around the clock, it’s hard to not know a ton about the country’s top recruits. However, for Louisville and top tight end target Tyler Devera, Louisville football could have their next big thing.

Devera, who is rated as a composite 3-star (only receiving 2 stars from 247 Sports), is only seen as the 110th best at his position in the entire country. It’s impossible for “experts” behind a computer to review every tape and interview every player, but Devera has caught the eye of Scott Satterfield and his staff.

The 6’4,” 240 pound bruiser out of New Jersey is only seen as the state’s 46th best player, but many would argue that his highlight tape tells a different story. He is a big, physical run blocker, but pairs that with fluid route-running and excellent hands.

Check out his impressive senior year highlights here.

A one time Rutgers commit, Devera decommitted from the program after his brother Brendan- a stand-out linebacker for the team- was kicked off the team for fraud and money laundering. The younger Devera was told by the coaching staff initially that Rutgers still wanted to honor his commitment, but as you can imagine, the situation became a little awkward.

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“Definitely what happened with my brother and everything (was a reason for decommitting),” Tyler told newjersey.com. “He was a big factor into why I wanted to go there. None of the coaches have contacted me since he’s been removed from the team to even say we still want you or anything like that. They just kind of led me away and made me feel like I wasn’t wanted there.”

At the time of his decomittment, many teams had backed off, and his initial interest from teams like Michigan State fell by the wayside. Since then, Louisville is turning over a new leaf, and the Cards really want him in red and black. However, Colorado and Mel Tucker are also pursuing Devera heavily.

Watching Devera, the comparison that instantly comes to mind is former stand-out tight end Cole Hikutini. Hikutini was forced to take the JUCO route out of high school, and only received looks from some smaller schools before ultimately playing at Louisville for his final two seasons. Hikutini didn’t come in with high expectations, but became one of Lamar Jackson’s top targets by his senior season. He accounted for 50 receptions, 668 yards, and 8 touchdowns in his senior season, and is currently an up-and-comer with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL.

Devera has a lot of similarities to Hikutini. With a similar body type, Devera’s specialty is selling the run and then sneaking open in the opposing secondary. He can also line up and run routes like a big-bodied wide receiver. He would be much more highly sought-after if he was making the same types of plays in a bigger high school football state.

Regardless of his interest from other schools, Louisville will gladly take Devera. The Cards are extremely thin at tight end, and Devera could be a player that makes an instant impact in 2019.