Gophers player opening eyes at spring practice: Deven Eastern
Eastern is espected to start on Minnesota's defensive line in 2024.
Deven Eastern may be planting seeds for major growth in 2024.
The former Shakopee High School football star is a redshirt junior and after starting all 13 games on Minnesota's defensive line in 2023 he appears ready to make some noise in 2024.
"He's gotten so much better. He's definitely made me improve a lot," said offensive lineman Greg Johnson after Tuesday's spring practice.
Kane Rob, a former college football video coordinator and recruiting assistant who follows the Gophers closely, noted that Robinson "isn't the first to mention Deven Eastern really taking things to another level!"
Eastern finished 2023 with 28 tackles and one tackle for loss. Nothing about his 2023 season jumps off the page, but it was his first season as a starter after redshirting in 2021 and playing in just seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2022.
Eastern was a coveted recruit coming out of Shakopee in 2021, finishing his senior season with 64 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His performance garnered him four stars from 247Sports and ESPN and 247Sports ranked him the No. 16 strong side defensive end in the country.
