One of the surprises on national signing day for many Cincinnati Bearcat football fans was the name- Deven Drane. Go inside the Lair to learn more about Drane's commitment.
The 5’ 11”/180 pound senior from Plantation High School in Florida officially visited the Queen City the weekend of January 15 but told Bearcat Lair on Sunday afternoon that he didn’t actually make his decision to sign with UC until the eve of signing day.
The newly signed Bearcat with 4.5 forty speed was asked about his other offers and replied, “Central Michigan Western Michigan, Wisconsin, Southern Mississippi and most of the MAC’s.” He said he took official visits to Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Bowling Green.
Everyone was recruiting Drane to play defensive back except Wisconsin. The Badgers wanted him as a receiver.
Drane said he chose the Bearcats because of the coaching staff.
“I liked the family atmosphere they had. I really felt comfortable with the coaches. They are really good people.”
Playing football runs in the Drane family. Deven’s father, Dwight, was a strong safety at Oklahoma before spending two years in the USFL playing for the Los Angeles Express. The Buffalo Bills then selected Drane in the first round of the 1984 supplemental draft, and he spent six seasons in the NFL appearing in Super Bowl XXV and XXVI with the Bills before his retirement in 1992.
Deven’s older brother, Jarrell Drane, is a 6’ 2”/202 pound safety at Indiana University. He will be a redshirt junior next season.
Drane played receiver, cornerback and safety last season for Plantation but expects to be a cornerback for the Bearcats. But there is the possibility Drane could greyshirt in 2010, although he said he would “probably” be joining the squad next season.
In addition to playing football, Drane also plays basketball and has been a starter since his sophomore season, but he said the official visits have caused him to take a hiatus from the team although he didn’t rule out rejoining the squad for the state tournament.
Although he was born in New York, he has spent almost his entire life in the Sunshine State and has some concerns about playing in the colder climate of Cincinnati.
“I’m not used to the cold weather,” said Drane. “We played our second playoff game against Miramar, and it was about 40 degrees out. It was the coldest I’ve ever played. I was cold so I’ll need to adjust to that.”
Adjusting to the cold weather didn’t appear to be a problem at first since Drane took the opening kickoff 93 yards for Plantation’s only touchdown, but Miramar prevailed 23-7 and went on to win the Florida 6A (largest division) state championship. Plantation finished the season 8-4 with two of those losses coming at the hands of Miramar High School.
The Miramar/Plantation rivalry will continue into the Big East Conference with two of the school’s stars. Miramar’s four star wideout Ivan McCartney signed with West Virginia last week, and despite the playoff loss, Drane said he held McCartney to only one catch in their state playoff game.
Drane was asked if there is anything unusual about him and replied, “I don’t think there’s ever a time I’m not smiling. Sometimes people don’t like it and ask, ‘What’s so funny?’ But that’s how I am. I just like football, and I’m always in a good mood.”
