MJ Devonshire Bio
Marlin “M.J.” Devonshire Jr. (born September 12, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and the Pittsburgh Panthers and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and listed at 186 pounds, Devonshire has built his career on ball-hawking play in the secondary and dynamic work as a returner. After stops with the Raiders, Panthers, Ravens, and Bills, he joined Green Bay in May 2026 and continues his professional journey in the NFL.
Early Life and Background
Marlin “M.J.” Devonshire Jr. was born on September 12, 2000, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the same western Pennsylvania city that has produced generations of accomplished football players, and the local tradition of the sport shaped his early development on the field.
Devonshire attended Aliquippa High School, where he starred as a defensive back and return specialist. During his senior season, he recorded eight interceptions on defense and scored eight punt return touchdowns, performances that turned him into one of the most talked-about prospects in the region. His production at Aliquippa opened the door to major-college recruiting attention.
Following his senior campaign, Devonshire opted to play college football at the University of Kentucky, choosing the SEC program over other suitors. His upbringing in a football-driven community, combined with his high school production, laid the foundation for the next stage of his career.
Path to American Football
Devonshire began his college career at Kentucky during the 2019 season, appearing in five games and posting five tackles along with one pass deflection. In the 2020 season, his role remained limited, with one tackle and a pass deflection to his credit, but the experience inside the SEC prepared him for a larger opportunity elsewhere.
After the 2020 campaign, Devonshire entered the NCAA transfer portal and chose to continue his career at the University of Pittsburgh, returning closer to his western Pennsylvania roots. The move to the Panthers proved to be a turning point, as he quickly grew into one of the most productive defensive backs in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Across three seasons at Pittsburgh (2021–2023), Devonshire developed into a playmaker on defense and special teams, highlighted by two selections as a Second-team All-ACC performer in 2022 and 2023. His blend of coverage instincts and punt-return explosiveness elevated his NFL Draft profile, and the Las Vegas Raiders selected him in the seventh round (229th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft.
MJ Devonshire Career
Early Career (2019–2020, Kentucky)
Devonshire’s introduction to Division I football came with the Kentucky Wildcats, where he spent his first two college seasons. In 2019, he totaled five tackles and a pass deflection while learning the speed and complexity of SEC competition. In 2020, he added one tackle and a pass deflection, showing flashes that hinted at his ceiling.
Although his statistical impact at Kentucky was modest, the experience gave him a foundation in technique, strength, and conditioning. After the 2020 season, Devonshire chose to enter the transfer portal in search of a more prominent role and a scheme that suited his coverage and return skills.
Pittsburgh Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Devonshire transferred to the University of Pittsburgh ahead of the 2021 season and immediately found a footing on defense. In week eleven of that year, he recorded his first career interception, sealing a win over North Carolina, and he finished 2021 with 17 tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception.
The 2022 season was his breakout campaign. In week one, Devonshire intercepted a pass and returned it 56 yards for a score to take the lead against rival West Virginia, earning ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors. In week four, he added an 82-yard punt return touchdown against Rhode Island, and he closed the year with 34 tackles, eight pass deflections, three interceptions, two touchdowns, and 24 punt returns for 233 yards and a score, earning Second-team All-ACC recognition as a returner.
Devonshire entered 2023 as one of Pittsburgh’s top players, and he delivered one of his signature performances in week seven. Against No. 14 Louisville, he posted six tackles, five pass deflections, and an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown to help the Panthers score the upset, again earning ACC Defensive Back of the Week. He finished 2023 with Second-team All-ACC honors for the second straight year, cementing his status as an NFL prospect.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2024–2025)
Devonshire was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the seventh round (229th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was waived on August 28, 2024, and re-signed to the team’s practice squad, beginning his pro career working to earn a role on the active roster.
On January 6, 2025, Devonshire signed a reserve/future contract with Las Vegas, putting him in position to compete for a roster spot the following offseason. He was waived by the Raiders on April 25, 2025, closing his initial stint in the league’s busiest roster churn period.
Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills (2025–2026)
On April 28, 2025, Devonshire was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers, giving him a quick new opportunity. He was waived by Carolina on July 25, 2025, and signed with the Baltimore Ravens on August 9, 2025, before being waived by the Ravens on August 25, 2025.
Devonshire joined the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad on December 9, 2025, and signed a reserve/futures contract with Buffalo on January 19, 2026. The Bills waived him on May 11, 2026, setting up his next move just two days later.
Green Bay Packers Era (2026–Present)
On May 13, 2026, Devonshire was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers, where he currently appears on the active roster wearing No. 28. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for a depth role in the Packers’ secondary and on special teams.
Driving Style and Strengths
Devonshire is best known for his ball skills and instincts in coverage, traits that have produced multiple career interceptions and pass deflections at the college level. He is also a dynamic punt returner, capable of flipping field position with a single touch, and he pairs those skills with reliable open-field tackling.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Devonshire’s 86-yard interception return for a touchdown against No. 14 Louisville in 2023 and his 82-yard punt return touchdown against Rhode Island in 2022 stand out as defining plays. His consecutive Second-team All-ACC selections in 2022 and 2023 further cemented his place among the conference’s top defensive backs and returners during his college years.
MJ Devonshire Career Wins
Devonshire’s most prominent individual wins and honors include his two Second-team All-ACC selections in 2022 and 2023, a pair of ACC Defensive Back of the Week awards, and a seventh-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. His career path has also been marked by repeated claims off waivers by NFL teams.
College Highlights
Devonshire played three seasons at Pittsburgh (2021–2023) after two years at Kentucky (2019–2020). He finished his Panthers career as a two-time Second-team All-ACC pick, with his 2022 and 2023 campaigns producing the bulk of his national recognition.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his All-ACC honors, Devonshire earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors multiple times, including after his game-sealing interception against North Carolina in 2021, his pick-six against West Virginia in 2022, and his 86-yard interception return for a touchdown against Louisville in 2023.
MJ Devonshire Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Devonshire was raised in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, a city with a deep football heritage, though specific family details are not broadly documented in publicly available sources.
Personal Life
Public personal-life details for Marlin “M.J.” Devonshire Jr. are limited, and additional information about his family and relationships has not been confirmed by the sources reviewed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was defined more by movement than by on-field production. Devonshire began the year on a reserve/future contract with the Las Vegas Raiders before being waived in late April, then claimed by the Carolina Panthers and later waived in late July. A short stint with the Baltimore Ravens followed in August, after which he spent the bulk of the regular season on the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad from December onward.
Through the campaign, Devonshire’s playing time was limited by the constant churn of practice-squad moves and waiver transactions, and he did not register regular-season defensive statistics. His progression remained tied to special teams and depth roles as he worked to prove his value across multiple organizations.
Looking ahead, Devonshire’s path to a stable NFL role continues in Green Bay after he was claimed off waivers by the Packers on May 13, 2026. With his All-ACC pedigree as a cornerback and returner, his outlook depends on earning a defined role in the Packers’ secondary or special-teams units, areas where his college production suggests untapped upside.
