#31

Devon Witherspoon

Former defensive back at Illinois. 2022: 3 interceptions, 14 pass breakups, 42 tackles.

DB · Illinois · Jr. · #31

6′1″ · 180 lb · Pensacola, FL

CFB Index 87 · #18 of 322 cornersLow confidenceConsensus AASeattle — drafted 2023, Rd 1, Pick 5, #5 overall

On production he ranks #18 of 322 corners; on reputation he is a consensus All-American. The gap between those two numbers is the story.

The story

Former defensive back at Illinois. 2022: 3 interceptions, 14 pass breakups, 42 tackles.

  • Drafted round 1 by the Seattle in 2023.
  • Named All-America (AP) in 2022.
  • Named All-America (Consensus) in 2022.
His career, year by year

Career, closed

Gone at #5 overall.

How it ended

Four seasons at Illinois, 157 tackles, a Consensus All-American season (2022) — drafted at #5 overall by Seattle.

His career

Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.

202211 games

  • All-Americafirst · 8 selectors
  • All-Big Tenfirst
  • Big Ten Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Yearwinner

2023

  • Drafted by Seattleround 1, pick 5

Career arc

HS
Recruit
—
No recruit profile
CFB
College
Illinois
2019–2022
NFL
NFL Draft
R1 · #5
Seattle · 2023

Trophy case · Confirmed honors

What the selectors said

9 honors · 2 categories
🏆

ALL-AMERICA · CONSENSUS

Consensus AA (2022)

6 first-team selectors

🥈

ALL-BIG TEN · 1ST TEAM

All-Big Ten 1st team (2022)

Coaching lineage · 2019–2022

3 coaches
2019
Lovie Smith
Illinois
2020
Rod Smith
Illinois
era →
2021–2022
Bret Bielema
Illinois
era →

Played under 3 different head coaches: Lovie Smith, Rod Smith, and Bret Bielema. Multi-era developmental context.

Where He Ended Up · NFL

SeattleEntering 4th NFL season

#5Rd 1 · Pick 5
SeattleEntering 4th NFL season
View college career stats ↓
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology