Athlete of the Week: Jose Devoux
Age 16 | School Holtville | Grade Junior
Holtville running back Jose Devoux vs. Yuma — 19 carries, 209 yards, three touchdown runs of 35plus yards.
Yawn. Call back when he’s got 300 yards and five TDs. All kidding aside: As impressive as Devoux’s line against the Criminals last week is, it’s the sort of performance that’s become commonplace for the electrifying third-year Viking.
Since taking over as Holtville’s full-time lead back at the start of last year, Devoux has had no fewer than six such games — to say nothing of the times where he’s rushed for 200 yards without tallying three scores (or vice versa).
An enviable bundle of straight-line burst, lateral agility and superb running vision, Devoux is just too much for most of the defenses he faces to handle. He’s always a threat to reel off a big one.
His insta-points panache gives a world of comfort to the hearts and minds of his Viking teammates because, as coach Jason Turner says, “They know that when Jose’s on the field, that at any moment … it’s gonna happen. There’s always that little flicker of hope. … Even in tough games, they know that if they just block a little longer or play defense a little harder, that he’s gonna get a chance to [go off].”
Even when it seems as though he’s been bottled up. Devoux can’t be counted out.
In the first half against Yuma, the Criminals held him to just 19 total yards, but, after some timely film review, he was able to fire up in the final frames.
Of course Devoux can and has been stonewalled in the past. The Imperial Tigers had his number when he ran up against them in Week 2, holding him to just 50 yards on 18 carries.
Part of that can be attributed to Holtville’s still-learning and smallish offensive line — entirely overhauled from a year ago — having a tough time with the Tigers’ defensive front, but Devoux was unable to get much going even when blocks held.
Still, the soft-spoken RB considers the Vikings’ 28-0 loss in that game to be one of the most important results they’ve had so far.
“I think we’re doing good this year,” Devoux said. “The Imperial game definitely helped a lot. It was a tough game, but I think we needed that. We just needed a little punch in the face, just to show us where we are. I’m glad we played them.”
Devoux praised the strides the line has taken since then saying, “Each game they’re getting better and better,” as have the Viking skill players.
He said he feels he himself has taken some significant strides forward, particularly with regard to his vision, but added that he still occasionally struggles with confidence issues and that tamping down on nerves will be important for him going forward.
As good as Devoux has been, Coach Turner still sees a well of untapped potential in his speedy charge.
“You should see him sometimes run in practice,” said Turner. “You can actually hear him running. We’ve timed him (on the 40-yard dash) — he’s like 4.5 — you haven’t seen 4.5 in a game. … He’s just getting started. That’s how I feel.”