NFL Veterans Kyle DeVan, Ricky Brown Hired As USC Graduate Assistants

Apr 13, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of a Nike football with the Southern California Trojans logo on the field during the spring game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Sarkisian has officially completed his coaching staff with the hiring of Kyle DeVan and Ricky Brown as offensive and defensive graduate assistants, according to Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News.

DeVan played on the offensive line at Oregon State between 2004 and 2007, earning two All-Pac-10 honorable mentions and a second-team All-Pac-10 place in his junior year. An undrafted free agent, he was signed by the Washington Redskins in 2008 and played five seasons in the NFL, including 21 starts with the Indianapolis Colts. In fact, he started in Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 when the Colts were beaten by the New Orleans Saints.

After stints with Philadelphia and Tennessee, DeVan left the NFL to become a graduate assistant at his alma mater, focusing on tight ends.

At Oregon State, he was well-regarded by players like junior tight end Connor Hamlett (via OregonLive.com):

"Hamlett and the other tight ends have adjusted well to DeVan’s engaging, goofy personality, calling him “a players’ coach.” “He’s fun, but he gets down to business and he really gets on us sometimes,” Hamlett said. “[former tight ends coach Jay] Locey was a details guy and he taught us a lot of the little things. Most of us were more of receivers in high school, so route-running comes naturally. Then Kyle came along and taught us how to block.”"

On the defensive side of the ball, USC’s newest GA, Ricky Brown, hails from Boston College, where he earned a place on Sporting News’ Big East All-Rookie team as a freshman. He led the team in tackles as a junior, started all but one game for BC as a senior in 2005 and was named to the ACC All-Academic team. According to his official BC profile

Brown’s biggest achievement with the Golden Eagles was earning the Scanlan Award, which according to Boston College is “the highest honor bestowed upon a BC football player that recognizes accomplishments on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”

As an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders, Brown impressed enough to earn a starting position at linebacker, but a rash of injuries largely derailed his five year stint in Oakland. In 2012 he signed with the Baltimore Ravens and while he only saw time in the preseason, he was a member of the team when they won Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.

This position at USC will be his first coaching gig. It will also reunite him with former Raiders teammate Marques Tuiasosopo, who is in charge of tight ends for the Trojans.