Injured center vows to be in lineup when Trojans come to town

By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Corvallis Gazette-Times

Of all the positions on the offensive line to deal with an injury, center is the most problematic for the Oregon State football team.

Junior Kyle DeVan expects to be back for Saturday’s Pacific-10 Conference game against third-ranked Southern California, but he’s taking it easy this week in practice to allow his sprained knee to heal.

He suffered it last Saturday when he was hit late and his leg was caught in a pile.

“I know people doubt me, but I’ll be ready to go,” DeVan said. “There was a lot of pain and a lot of frustration from getting hit. I didn’t feel a pop, just a burn. But (trainer) Barney (Graff) did a great job.”

DeVan has never missed a game since he started playing football in fifth grade, and vows this isn’t the week to break his streak.

He’s in his second season as the starting center, and has become the leader of the line in several ways. Making the blocking calls is his most important assignment.

“I really enjoy running the offensive line,” DeVan said. “They put a lot trust in me, and I really like that. I’m the guy who has to see that blitz first and adjust. And it’s an honor to do it.”

Specific calls must be made depending on the defensive alignment. Once he learns the play in the huddle, he looks at the defensive front seven and relays a coded message to the guards how to block, who tell the tackles.

DeVan lets quarterback Matt Moore know how the line will block and tells Moore to adjust or change the play because of what he sees. He’s even learning the pass patterns to maximize the blocking schemes.

“It’s a great position,” coach Mike Riley said. “It’s an intelligence position. It’s special in some ways. The ball starts with him and he makes most of the calls. Kyle is a heart-and-soul kind of guy with this team. I think he’s a really good player. He’s very well respected. He’s worked hard and committed a lot to the program.”

DeVan did a solid job last season, but offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh pushed him hard during fall camp. Cavanaugh wasn’t happy with his development in the spring and wanted him to reach his potential.

“He’s impacted me as a football player, and in my life,” DeVan said. “He rode me the hardest of any individual. He pushed me to the edge, and almost broke me at times. But it was worth it.”

Cavanaugh has been riding sophomore Adam Speer hard this week. If DeVan can’t go or needs a break during the game, Speer takes over.

Speer went into the Arizona game for eight plays, and didn’t miss a beat. He spent his first two seasons at OSU prepping at center, but moved to guard this season because DeVan settled into the position.

“I was impressed with what Speer did when he went in,” Riley said. “He hasn’t played much.”

With DeVan’s health in doubt, and senior tackle Josh Linehan out since Sept. 23 with a knee injury, the line’s depth is being tested.

The next set of reserves ready to play if needed are Tavita Thompson at tackle, walk-on Zach Harris at guard and walk-on Marcus Henderson at center.

“We’ll all be fine,” guard Roy Schuening said. “We’ll be the same unit this Saturday as we were last Saturday.”