Game 12 Player Spotlight: Devin Studstill
NEXT GAME: USF (4-7, 2-5) at UCF (8-3, 5-2)
DAY/TIME: Friday/8 p.m.
LOCATION: Spectrum Stadium, Orlando
TV/RADIO: ESPN/USF Radio Network:
Over the Air: WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM &
Digital: Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: USF leads, 6-4. Bulla are 3-2 in Orlando.
PURCHASE TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com
GAME NOTES: USF (PDF) UCF (PDF)
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, NOV. 29, 2019 – Following valuable life advice from his late mother,
Devin Studstill has made the most of his last collegiate season and lone run with the Bulls.
Heading into Friday's War on I-4 clash with UCF, the graduate transfer from Notre Dame has already set career highs with 65 total tackles, four tackles for loss and three takeaways. All of those totals are more than the starting safety's past three seasons of accomplishments combined with the Fighting Irish.
"I'm just excited. I'm humbled, I'm fulfilled because two years ago, I was told I couldn't play at this level at my old school. Just to believe in myself, talk to my family and go through what I went through, it's been a journey," Studstill said. "To be here on this level, playing for (Coach Strong) and playing for the team, I appreciate every bit. My results are a testament to prayer, my family, not letting up and persevering."
Now truly at peace with his world, Studstill (Riviera Beach, Fla.) was far from serenity as a sophomore in South Bend, Ind.
April 27, 2017 will always be remembered as the day Studstill called his younger brother, David, who tearfully told him their mom, Sheena, had passed away.
"There were a lot of things going wrong for me at the same time," Studstill said. "Facing that fear and really having to think about things and take a step away from football really taught me so much and I appreciate everything I'm getting today."
Studstill feels blessed to now be a productive, season-long starter for the Bulls on the path to earning a master's degree in entrepreneurship. Following Friday's game, he's hopeful to play at the next level, like his father Darren, and in that quest for an NFL career, Studstill will keep following the wise words of Sheena.
"I was so good at things naturally that I would go half speed and be able to survive - school, football, everything. Her biggest thing was... give it all you got,'" Studstill said. "Ever since then, anything I put my hand, or word to, I've been giving it my all."
That includes making a major impact as a leader for many young Bulls in the secondary after earning their trust in fall camp.
"At first, I didn't want to come in and be the vocal guy because the guys didn't know me from a can of paint. How can I talk to somebody that doesn't know who I am?" Studstill said. "When I first came in, I worked on first proving myself on the field. Then, I wanted to prove myself as a teammate, being there for guys and talking to guys about my experiences, so they could learn from me."
Guiding Bulls and using his on-field experience, Studstill has helped USF's defense rank third nationally in takeaways (24) and tackles for loss (8.7 per game), and sixth in fumble recoveries (12). USF also leads The American in pass defense, allowing just 178.8 yards through the air per game.
"I wanted to be a part of an attacking mindset, something where people are gonna notice they're flying around, they're playing with passion, they're hunting. I wanna go hunt," he said. "This defense has done that and more. Takeaways, tackles for loss, turnover margin (15
th in FBS), we've put a lot of good things out there on tape."
Fortunately for Studstill, there's still one more highlight-reel opportunity left in Orlando and he plans to go all out, like Sheena said to do.
"I'm just grateful. There will be a whole bunch of emotions. It's gonna be some good, some bad, but I just want to feel everything, not hold anything back and just give it my all," he said. "I can honestly say I've done this year to the best of my ability. Wherever that takes me to is where it takes me to. I really appreciate it."
Special Bond Between Devin and Darren
Growing up, Devin was following in his dad's football footsteps as a player people in Palm Beach County called "Little Stud."
Studstill's father, Darren, threw for 3,158 yards and 27 touchdowns as a quarterback for West Virginia from 1990-93. Darren then switched to defensive back and was selected by Dallas in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He went on to play three NFL seasons, his final two with Jacksonville (1995-96), and also gained experience in NFL Europe.
"People never knew that I wanted to be so much better than my dad," Studstill said. "That's what drove me. In the back of my mind I was like, 'I'm gonna be so good that people don't remember you. They're gonna remember me.' It was a competitive thing. I told that to his face and he loved it. I just love competing and trying to be that dude."
Sure enough, Studstill made a name for himself as a quarterback, receiver and defensive back during his standout prep career at Palm Beach Gardens High School. Studstill's drive to be great helped him earn Sun-Sentinel large-school Defensive Player of the Year and Associated Press Florida All-State Class 7A Second Team honors as a senior in 2015.
Four seasons later, Studstill is shining again in his home state and Darren was there to support him at every USF game at Raymond James Stadium this season.
"He's very proud of me," Studstill said.
These days, their talks are about much more than football, especially after the passing of Studstill's mom.
"It's really been an emotional switch with him and I. It was more so, 'Ball, ball, ball, and make dad proud.' Now, it's more so, 'How I'm feeling about this. This is what's going on,'" Studstill said. "He accepts it and he talks to me about it. It's really a mentor thing now. It's much more about life than ball now."
More Devin Details
CAREER DRIVEN: Studstill was an early enrollee at Notre Dame who went on to earn a bachelor's degree in sociology while he minored in business economics. Now in his fourth football season, Studstill is pursuing a master's degree in entrepreneurship and planning on giving the NFL his best shot. "That's been my dream for a very long time," he said. "I think I wouldn't be able to live right if I didn't pursue my dreams with my full ability." Once he hangs up his pads, Studstill is pondering a path as a business owner, possibly in sports entertainment, or helping kids in lower socioeconomic situations. "Anything I do, I want to just give back to people and establish something of substance that's real," he said.- 'WISE BEYOND HIS YEARS': Off the field, you can find Studstill soaking up knowledge and lately he's riding the self-help wave. "I really like to read books and just learn about life," he said. "I like to know where I'm at and know what's going on around me." That type of mindset fits perfectly with football and providing guidance to USF's younger players. "He's wise beyond his years. If you didn't know any better, you would think he was a six or seven-year vet in the NFL," defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary said. "… He's a kid that has his life in order and really looks at football through a different scope than most guys his age. He's been a wonderful addition to the team."
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
Having completed just its 22nd season of football, and 19th at the FBS level, the USF football program has earned 10 bowl appearances, including a current run of four straight, and owns a record of 6-4 in bowl games. The Bulls have appeared in the national top 25 rankings in each of the past three seasons, including a program record run of 20 straight weeks in the top 25, and in 2018 reached the program's 150th win faster than any FBS program in state of Florida history. USF has posted a pair of 10-plus win seasons in the last three years, including a program-record 11 wins (11-2) in 2016, and logged 15 winning seasons overall. Since first taking the field in 1997, the USF program has reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings (2007), seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and 29 earn first-team all-conference selection.
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