Don Bosco’s DeVito to make first career start at QB
A Don Bosco Prep product will be starting under center Sunday for the Giants.
Head coach Brian Daboll announced Wednesday that Tommy DeVito will make his first start at quarterback against the Cowboys in Dallas in the wake of Daniel Jones’ season-ending ACL tear.
“If anything, it’s the outside, you know like the family, the friends, everybody’s that’s been reaching out, I think that’s been kind of the shock of it,” DeVito said. “But for me, it’s football, right? It’s another day, it’s a game that I’ve been playing since I was really young, but it will be my first start in the NFL, so I know it’s going to be some emotion there. Especially with the great supposed atmosphere in Dallas. I have not been, but I heard it’s a really nice stadium so I’m looking forward to it.”
DeVito, a Livingston native who played college football at Syracuse for four years and Illinois one year, went undrafted this year and has been with the Giants since April 29. That was Daboll’s primary reason for picking DeVito over 11th-year veteran Matt Barkley, who only just signed the Giants on Oct. 31.
“He’s been here for a long time. He has picked up our stuff so we’re going to go with DeVito here,” Daboll said. “Barks only been here for a week. There’s obviously nuances and things that he’s learning, but he’ll be ready to go to back him up.”
DeVito has been the team’s No. 3 quarterback since the spring. Tyrod Taylor went down with a rib cage injury against the Jets on Oct. 29 and must remain on injured reserve for at least three more games.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s prepared well, and he’s got an opportunity,” Daboll said.
The 25-year-old made his debut against the Jets but had only seven passing attempts because of the poor weather and game plan, completing two for -1 yards. He did have a 6-yard rushing touchdown.
DeVito more opportunities to throw the ball when Jones left early in the second quarter Sunday against the Raiders, completing 15 of 20 passes for 175 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
The difference now is that DeVito is actually getting first-team reps in practice.
“This is my first time really repping throwing to these receivers, to these guys that I’m going to be throwing to this week, so it’s only going to help and build everything that we’ve built up these past two weeks,” said DeVito, who added that he’ll lean on Jones, Tyrod and Barkley this week for advice.
Still, it will be a difficult task leading the 2-7 Giants, who rank last in the NFL in points per game (11.2), against the 5-3 Cowboys, who have allowed the sixth-fewest points per game (18.5).
“We’re going to be ready for everything,” DeVito said. “We’ll just have to go out there and see what they do and they’re going to have to see what we do.”