University of Connecticut Athletics
Toughness the Name of the Game for UConn Back Devontae Houston
10/27/2022 4:40:00 PM | Football
When UConn running back Devontae Houston was playing through a nagging shoulder injury in the team's lineup of games against Syracuse, NC State, Fresno State, and FIU, fans have come to know an incredible level of toughness this one Husky possesses.
He has risen from the third running back on the depth chart to the top of the depth chart. His carries have gone from as low as two carries in the team's first game against Utah State to as high as 23 carries in the team's highlight win over Fresno State. The Husky sophomore wasn't just putting up average performances either. In the team's two wins against Fresno State and FIU, Houston combined for 240 yards and a touchdown, giving his all on the field even when he wasn't feeling 100%.
"I love his toughness," said UConn coach Jim Mora. "That's a tough dude. He's wiry thin and he'll take a hit and he pops up, never complains and is always smiling."
What many UConn fans may not know is where Houston developed his incredible level of grit that he's put on display: Roanoke, Alabama.
Growing up in a town with a population of just 6,074, a young Houston could be found doing sprints in his backyard to get faster as he developed the lightning quick speed he's known for today. When he found out that he may not get much bigger as he got older, he knew he had to be tougher and faster than any player he played against.
"I just live by
He constantly watched the NFL and really enjoyed watching the players that may not have been the biggest guys on the field that day. He observed their perseverance and saw how while they may not have been the biggest guy on the field, they always packed a punch with toughness.
Houston's parents played a vital role in helping him get to the position he is in today and instilling the tough attitude he's known for. When they saw a young Houston excelling in the youth leagues in Alabama near his hometown, they opted to enroll him in a tougher league in Atlanta. Houston found himself in the Metro Atlanta Youth Football League, a highly competitive league that put him up against bigger and stronger opponents that he had ever seen thus far. It was what the current UConn sophomore describes as "hard-nosed football."
"The kids were different and way bigger. I would say a 10-year-old playing against 135 pound running backs. In my hometown, I was playing against 40-pound kids. I feel like that really opened my eyes and made me realize how much I have to work to make this dream come true," said Houston.
The talent on Houston's team was all around. From Arizona State's Emory Jones to Auburn's Keiondre Jones, he was already playing with and against future FBS athletes at a young age. Now, he has carried that success to Storrs as worked to help put his team in position for wins.
Fast forward to 2022, where Houston started the season as the third running back on the Huskies depth chart. He bought in and stuck with the process of grinding day in and day out for a bigger opportunity. Every day when the UConn running back steps into the Burton Family Football Complex, he sticks with an attitude he lives by.
"When you get your opportunity, you just got to make the most of your opportunities," said Houston. "Control what you can control. That was my mindset. Do what you know how to do and when your time comes, don't waste your opportunity," said Houston.
His teammates noticed the work he was putting in. His coaches admired that he was ready to exceed beyond all of their expectations. A combination of being coachable, being reliable, and playing through adversity, Houston says, are just some of the ways that he's showing his dedication to the team. It was all in preparation to make the most of the opportunity he would soon receive.
That opportunity finally came in the team's game against Syracuse after injuries to Nate Carter and Brian Brewton. Despite dealing with a shoulder injury, he still went in and with just under 12 minutes to go in the second quarter, Houston ran through a hole in the Orange defense to score the team's first touchdown of the night.
The teammates that celebrated with him and the 107 total men that Houston goes to war with every day are the fuel that ignites the fire inside of him to keep going even when he may not be 100% healthy. It's the fire he continues to operate with that fans revere and love him for.
"Man, it feels great to actually know that the fans have our back and they're going crazy after previous seasons. It just feels good to know we have support. Ultimately, it comes down to us bringing our game, but it just feels good knowing I can walk out this door and I got somebody that's rooting for me. That helps me play with a confidence and chip on my shoulder," said Houston.
For the rest of the team's 2022 schedule, Houston plays for more than himself. He plays for the rest of his brothers who continue to work hard with him. He plays for the late Ladarious Phillips, one of his biggest role models from his hometown of Roanoke. He plays for the guys who may not be the biggest on the field, but who have the tenacious attitude to compete until the final snap.
