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Who’s at the end of the line?

FOOTNOTES

The University of New Hampshire has one of the best defensive players in the country in defensive end Josiah Silver, who was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Defensive Rookie of the Year last season. Perhaps the biggest question regarding the UNH defense entering the 2022 season is this: Who will line up at the other defensive end?

Redshirt freshman Dylan Ruiz is listed as the other defensive end on the team’s preseason two-deep, but Pierce Devaughn is also among the candidates.

Devaughn, a 6-foor-4, 260-pound junior, spent four seasons — including the Covid year —  at the University of Connecticut before he transferred to UNH. He’s been in Durham since June 26.

“He just looks different from our other defensive ends from a size standpoint,” UNH defensive coordinator Garrett Gillick said. “We’re excited to have him.”

Devaughn played in 11 of UConn’s 12 games last season, and played in all 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 2019 (258 snaps). In addition to being an edge rusher, UConn used Devaughn on the interior of the defensive line.

Randy Edsall stepped down as UConn’s head coach two games into the 2021 season. Jim Mora was hired as UConn’s head coach in the offseason.

Devaughn,who’s from Plano, Texas, said the coaching change was among the reasons he decided to transfer.

“Once the coaches changed everything was going to be different that next year,” he said. “At that point, that’s when I thought to look for someplace else because I was already splitting playing time. I just knew that I might not have the best opportunity there to get as many plays in as I could.

“I was a pretty late transfer. Just kind of the way the dice rolled. I really like the team. Great atmosphere. No issues with committing here.

“My defensive line coach at UConn, Coach (Dennis) Dottin-Carter, he knows Coach Santos (UNH coach Rick Santos) and he kind of put in a good word for me. Opportunity came my way and I took advantage of it.”

 

 

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