Michigan staffer hired as Colorado offensive line coach

Kyle DeVan is headed to Boulder as the new Colorado offensive line coach, per Chris Vannini of The Athletic. DeVan joined Michigan as an offensive analyst, working closely with the offensive line, last spring.

DeVan is a former Oregon State offensive guard who went undrafted in 2008 but ultimately played for the Washington Football Team, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans. He started for the Colts in the 2009 Super Bowl against the New Orleans Saints.

The California native has extensive experience coaching at both the collegiate and professional levels. After leaving the NFL in 2012, DeVan was a graduate assistant at Oregon State and USC before moving back to the pros as the Saints offensive line coach in 2015. DeVan returned to college as an offensive line coach at Ball State from 2016-2018 and at Arizona from 2019-2020.

Under DeVan’s guidance this season, the Michigan offensive line was stellar, ultimately winning the Joe Moore Award for nation’s best offensive line. The award is the only honor given to an entire position group in college football. 

The Wolverines averaged 223.8 yards per game on the ground this season, which led the Big Ten. Additionally, they had 39 rushing touchdowns after posting a combined 38 ground scores in 2019 and 2020. Only Army and Air Force had more rushing touchdowns, and they each had at least 150 additional rushing attempts to reach their marks of 44 and 42, respectively. 

Further, the Michigan offensive line allowed just 10 sacks all year, which ranks third nationally. They were one of 12 teams to allow fewer than 100 sack yards.

All five Michigan starters on the offensive line earned All-Big Ten recognition in some form, as one was first-team, two were second-team, and two were honorable mentions. Their efforts helped earn the Wolverines a trip to the College Football Playoff where they will face Georgia in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve. 

DeVan will look to help right the offensive ship in 2022

Now, DeVan returns to the conference where he played his college ball and inherits an offensive line that struggled in 2021. Colorado allowed 32 sacks this season, and they struggled to run the ball. After averaging 212.3 yards per game on the ground last year, the Buffaloes managed just 126.2 in 2021. The team finished 4-8 in head coach Karl Dorrell’s second season, but he hopes to turn the tide with DeVan’s help next year. 

“Kyle came highly recommended to me by several people,” Dorrell said in a press release from the university.  “He is a rising up-and-comer in the coaching ranks, has a great personality and a lot of energy, and is someone his players enjoy playing for.  He knows the Pac-12 from being a player and coach, and also has five years of NFL experience he brings to the position.  He will be a great addition to our staff.”

Colorado has a difficult 2022 schedule, with non-conference games against TCU, Air Force and Minnesota. They open against the Horned Frogs on Friday night of Labor Day Weekend.