A Persevering Prospect, my Conversation with Southern Illinois Defensive Tackle Devin Love.

Southern Illinois defensive tackle Devin Love is mere months away from achieving his dreams. With the 2025 NFL Draft right around the corner, Love is one of hundreds of players hoping for their talents to be recognized by an NFL franchise. I spoke with Love on Monday regarding his backstory, preparing for the draft, and his career at Southern Illinois. 

Growing up in a single-parent household, Love’s mother taught him the importance of hard-work and perseverance early in his life. Love recalled being told to “never let nobody tell you that you can’t do something,” a motto which drives him to be great: “A lot of people said I couldn't make it to college, I did that. Said I couldn’t graduate from college, did that. There’s a lot of people that doubt you in the world, but you gotta be able to persevere through all the negatives and just remain positive.”

On the gridiron, Love described himself as a “big run stopper who can pass rush too.” He is currently training in South Florida to prepare for his March 5th pro day. The focal point of that training? “I’m just working on improving upon my speed. I’m down 20 pounds right now. Last season I played at like 330, now I’m at like 310.” Paired with his 6’2” frame, Love’s commanding build will undoubtedly translate to the next level.

Love’s pro day will allow him to show off his talents in-person to NFL scouts, ultimately aiming to prove his film matches his abilities in each test and drill, while also providing opportunities to formally introduce himself to those executives. His goals of a 5.00 40-yard dash, 4.5 second 20-yard shuttle, and 30 bench press reps scratch the surface of what will be on display for scouts.

On next Wednesday’s pro day, NFL scouts will learn more about Love not only as a player, but more importantly as a person. Love said he will be aiming to communicate his mindset as a hard worker who prepares himself for anything. On that note, he spoke of his emphasis on watching extra film with coaches and learning from veterans to pave the way for a role on the Southern Illinois Salukis. In short, Love told me “I just want to know what it takes to be great. I want to be a hard-working guy.”

That hard work has paid off. After suffering a torn meniscus in 2022, and playing in just four regular season games in 2023, Love made the most of his opportunities last season. In 2024, Love tallied 35 total tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Additionally, his most impressive game of the year came at the perfect time: in the Salukis’ rivalry game against Southeast Missouri State (SEMO). “I think it was 18,000 people there or something like that…We’re preparing the whole week and everything, I’m like ‘yeah this has gotta be the game…’ I had like a sack, two TFLs, like six tackles, and like a 90 PFF grade. That was the game I went off,” Love told me.

Love’s breakout season was the result of hard-work and patience. After playing defensive end and on the interior offensive line in high school, he committed to play football at junior college. Upon arrival, he was moved to defensive tackle, forcing him to alter his entire playstyle and build. Love told me he played his senior year of high school at around 220-240 pounds, before joking that the shift to defensive tackle made him put on his “freshman 15.”

Following JUCO, Love was unable to smoothly transition into Southern Illinois due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the years following, he was waiting to take the reins from multi-year seniors who had gained extra eligibility due to the pandemic. In a situation where many would quit, Love stayed with it. 

Ultimately, his perseverance paid off. Love is now a couple months away from the beginning of his NFL career. From becoming enamored with football at five years old, to waiting patiently for opportunities to come in college, to seizing the moment once those opportunities came, Devin Love is a living testament to the importance of hard-work.