When news broke June 2 that top-rated Baylor recruit Devin Duvernay was free to sign elsewhere after Baylor failed to submit his NLI paperwork to the Big 12 offices, the nation’ss No. 3-ranked receiver in the Class of 2016 expected to get some calls and direct messages, but the day went to another level.
“Thursday was most definitely the most hectic day of my recruitment,” said Duvernay. “… It surprised me. I expected to get quite a few calls and messages, but I didn’t expect what happened.
“From the time it got out there that I could be recruited, I got more than 40 calls and messages. It didn’t stop all day. I talked on the phone or on direct message with a lot of schools. Off the top of my head, I talked to Texas, TCU, OU, Oklahoma State, FSU, Alabama, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Miami, Washington State -- there are more I can’t think of. I told the schools I would look at things.”
Six days later, three schools remain standing for the coveted playmaker.
“I’ve just been talking to Texas, OU and TCU,” the No. 42-ranked player in the ESPN 300 said. “I’m pretty sure (the decision) will come from those three schools.”
While both Texas and TCU remain in the running, the Sooners are very much on the mind of Duvernay and have been for well over a year. Duvernay’s cousin, QB Kyler Murray, now playing a potential key role after transferring from Texas A&M to Oklahoma in January, the Sooners could be in a great position.
“When I committed to Baylor, Oklahoma was my number two so I have always liked them,” Duvernay said “Kyler is talking to me about Oklahoma now too.”
Duvernay is unsure if he will make a visit to Norman before deciding having already been on campus multiple times, including an official visit before committing to Baylor in November. Texas and TCU will likely receive visits, possibly this weekend.
Duvernay also took a call from Baylor since June 2 with the conversation officially closing the door on the Bears.
“I have talked to the Baylor receivers coach [Tate Wallis] since the news came out. He asked me if I would still consider Baylor, but I told him that I would not.”
Prior to making the visits this weekend to Austin and nearby Fort Worth, Duvernay said he is beginning the all-import process of applying to Oklahoma, TCU and Texas with plans on enrolling at the school he selects for the second summer session.
Duvernay, an Under Armour All-America alumni, accounted for nearly 5,000 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns during his career in addition to taking home the Texas 6A 100-meter title at 10.27 as a junior at Sachse (Texas) High School.