Comparisons follow Delaware's Devlin to FCS title game

Their paths have been strikingly similar. Both were local high school stars who started their college football careers at one place, only to land at the University of Delaware.

Both became college all-Americans as seniors, each reaching the championship in his last college football game, so the comparisons were inevitable. Yet the quarterbacking styles of Delaware senior Pat Devlin and former Blue Hens and current Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco could not be more different.

And Devlin hopes the final chapter has a different ending.

On Friday, Devlin, the Downingtown East graduate, will lead Delaware (12-2) into the Football Championship Subdivision title game against Eastern Washington (12-2) at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Devlin has completed 239 of 350 passes for 2,812 yards, with 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He leads all FCS quarterbacks in completion percentage at 68.3. Devlin was named an FCS first-team all-American by Phil Steele's College Football Preview. He also was named the Colonial Athletic Association offensive player of the year.

As a senior in 2007, Flacco, who attended South Jersey's Audubon High, led the Blue Hens to the title game, a 49-21 loss to Appalachian State. That season, Flacco, who is listed at 6-foot-6 and 238 pounds by the Ravens, completed 331 of 521 passes for 4,263 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 games for 11-4 Blue Hens.

Devlin played for two seasons at Delaware after transferring from Penn State. Flacco played for two seasons after transferring from Pittsburgh.

Similar stories, different methods.

"It's never fair to compare anybody to Joe," Delaware coach K.C. Keeler said in a teleconference with reporters. "Joe is 6-7 and may have the strongest arm in the NFL."

That doesn't mean Devlin doesn't throw the ball with authority - just not at the Flacco level.

"Pat is 6-4, has a strong arm, but his accuracy and intelligence separate him," Keeler said. "The things that separate him are that he combines the leadership, the poise."

Devlin has excelled in those areas, the coach said.

"Pat prepares like nobody I've ever seen," Keeler said.

Devlin brings a cerebral style to the quarterback position.

"He is one of the best I've seen at getting through his reads and getting through them quickly," Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin said. "He finds a way to get to that third, fourth, fifth read extremely well, and his decision making is off the charts.

"A lot of times you see that out of NFL players. He's a tremendous player."

After Flacco's senior season, his star skyrocketed until he was selected 18th in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. Since then, he has been a starter on three straight playoff teams at Baltimore and is considered among the rising NFL quarterbacks.

Keeler said that pro scouts have indicated that Devlin could be selected in the third or fourth round of the draft, but the prognosis wasn't as positive for Flacco at a similar point in his senior year.

"At this time three years ago, they were talking about Joe being a sixth-round pick," Keeler said. "I kept saying, 'Who is better?' "

Eventually, so did NFL scouts. Atlanta's Matt Ryan, who was selected third overall, was the only quarterback taken ahead of Flacco in the 2008 draft.

For his part, Devlin has a singular focus and says there will be plenty of time to think of the NFL, but now his mind is consumed with Eastern Washington. After the FCS title game, Devlin will compete in the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 22 in Orlando.

"I got an invitation and that's great, but it's not something I'm really worried about now," Devlin said. "Now I'm focused on a team winning a championship."

Devlin, who has earned a degree in finance and has begun taking master's courses, said the fact that Flacco enjoyed a successful career after transferring from a Football Bowl Subdivision school had little bearing on his decision at Delaware.

"It didn't play a big role at all," he said. "At Delaware, I had the opportunity to play and get a good education."

And he enrolled there for one other reason.

"Delaware always seems to be competing for championships," Devlin said. "This is why I came here, to compete in games like this."