Rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito was the toast of the sports world Tuesday morning after leading the New York Giants to their third straight victory after a disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers on “Monday Night Football.”
“Tommy Cattletz” completed 17 of 21 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown, but was especially detrimental to Green Bay on the ground, rushing 10 times for 71 yards. The Giants’ 24-22 victory was decided by a field goal after DeVito quickly led New York to a field goal with four consecutive completions, including one for 32 yards to Wan’Dale Robinson.
While Wisconsin fans may have erased it from their memories, DeVito was also at the helm of another frustrating moment in recent Wisconsin sports history.
He quarterbacked the Illinois State football team in a humiliating 34-10 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 1, 2022, at Camp Randall Stadium. On the day, DeVito completed 18 of 24 passes for 167 yards, avoided a turnover, and scored three touchdowns on short rushes.
What made this match even more memorable was what happened the next day. The university’s athletic department made the surprising announcement that it had fired football coach Paul Chryst. Interim coach Jim Leonhardt led UW for the remainder of the season, but the program hired former Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell in late November.
DeVito spent four seasons with Syracuse, but missed part of the 2020 season with an injury and appeared in just three games in 2021. He entered the transfer portal in mid-year after being replaced by transfer Garrett Schrader. He transferred to the University of Illinois as a graduate student and had his best season, throwing for 2,650 yards and 15 touchdowns.
“I don’t know how much fun he’s had over there the last few years, but he’s having a lot of fun in our room,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said after the win over Wisconsin. “We’re having a lot of fun with him and I think with how well this offense can play against the quarterback and what we can get him to do, maybe the quarterback in our system, we I think it also sheds light on the quarterbacks we’ve acquired and the quarterbacks of the future.”He does that. “
DeVito tried to get another year of eligibility waived in 2023, but was denied by the NCAA, so he instead focused on his NFL career.
“There were good times and there were bad times,” DeVito told 247 Sports’ Jeremy Warner of the ups and downs of the process. “At first I was like, ‘Maybe not.’ After a few weeks, I was like, ‘I’m at 90 percent.’ Then all of a sudden it felt like it was cut. I thought, “Whoa.” That’s it. I’m just rolling with the punches. ”
He went undrafted, but had several offers to sign as a free agent, so he chose the Giants because he could play within a short driving distance of his parents and childhood home.
The University of Illinois ended its 2022 season with a 19-10 loss to Mississippi State in the Lilliaquest Bowl, despite DeVito throwing for 253 yards and rushing for a touchdown. The 2023 Badgers will play LSU in the same bowl game on Jan. 1.