CU's Devenny ready for first college start

By B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 26, 2008 at 6:15 p.m.

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Photo by Cliff Grassmick © Daily Camera

CU's Patrick Devenny attempts to catch a pass during a Buffs practice on Aug. 12. With starting tight end Riar Geer out with an injury Devenny is slated to start his first college game this Sunday against Colorado State at Invesco Field at Mile High.

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It's understandable if Patrick Devenny appears conflicted.

His work at tight end has been diligent, often exemplary, since transferring from quarterback and adding 15 pounds, then shifting back to quarterback, during his redshirt freshman season (2006) at the University of Colorado.

Now back at tight end and prepared to make it a permanent address, he's poised to start Sunday in the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado State (Invesco Field at Mile High, 5:30 p.m., FSN).

But the emotions he is feeling are poles apart. In the absence of returning starter Riar Geer, Devenny enjoyed a productive spring. He called the prospect of making his first college start "definitely exciting," but never for a moment did he believe that Geer, suspended from spring work for an off-field incident, wouldn't return.

"The way I approached it was that Riar was going to be here, no matter what," Devenny said Tuesday. "That was the biggest thing I had to battle with during (spring) practice - no matter how good I did, I knew Riar could do better. He's proved it.

"So, I planned on the first day of fall camp, Riar's going to be there like he was. And I wanted him to play because Riar's a huge help. He knows what he's doing, knows his blocking. I really wanted him there."

With his legal difficulties in resolution, Geer was set to play - until a knee injury last week called for arthroscopic surgery. He's out until at least the West Virginia game (Sept. 18), leaving Devenny, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior, and freshman Ryan Deehan (6-5, 240) as the first two tight ends position coach Kent Riddle likely will use when that set is called for against CSU.

Devenny, whose first (and only) career reception came last season against Miami (Ohio) and yielded a 3-yard touchdown, conceded the mind-sets required to play quarterback and tight end don't have much in common.

"I try to go about it the same - just be relaxed and have fun," he said. "But a lot of times, if you go with that mentality into blocking, you kind of find yourself laying on the ground. So for me, there's got to be a quick transition from being relaxed and focused for passing plays and then the aggressive side for running plays. With our offense, you need an on/off switch. . . . "

How difficult is it to find?

"Sometimes pretty difficult," Devenny said, smiling and adding that Geer, a close friend who also was in CU's 2005 recruiting class, has been helpful with blocking's finer and rougher points.

Depending on sets and the personnel grouping required, CU also can use fullbacks Maurice Cantrell and Jake Behrens as tight ends/H-backs. Cantrell can be a devastating blocker, a trait Deehan is working to acquire.

"I think I'm doing better," he said. "Coach has really been helping me with my pad level, making sure I stay down. That's probably the biggest key; if you're not low enough, you're going to get your butt kicked."

That's something neither he nor Devenny want to experience, and Riddle doesn't expect it. Both players have practiced well, Riddle said, calling Deehan "mature physically and emotionally" for a first-year player.

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