For M.J. Devonshire’s development as a Pitt cornerback, nothing was more impactful than the ride back to Aliquippa in his dad’s car.

“I normally ride home with him from the games,” he said, the lure of a home-cooked meal and mom doing his laundry too strong to ignore.

On the car rides, Marlin Devonshire, an assistant coach who joined his son on Aliquippa teams that won WPIAL and state championships, offered critiques.

M.J. described it something like this: “ ‘Play 47, you should have been more physical.’ I don’t even remember play 47.”

Yet, M.J. grew to appreciate advice from his father and mother, Theresa.

“One-hundred percent,” he said. “I took it for granted as a kid. I used to get so upset when he did it when I was younger. But now, because I’m passionate about it and I learned so much from it, I realize it now, I need that.

“That’s really why I ride with him from the games.”

He used tell his dad, “ ‘I really need to hear what you think because you got me here.’

“He’s always going to be in my corner. My mom, mentally and off the field, the stuff she knows she talks to me about. And my dad, he tries to bring what she’s talking about to football. It helps me a lot.”

Those mental nudges from loving parents have helped Devonshire build a collegiate career that led him to an ACC championship at Pitt after transferring last year from Kentucky.

“There was never not a teaching moment, a lot of football related to life,” he said. “I live with him. It was never over. If I messed up in practice, we would go over what to do and why I did it and how it’s going to help me off the field.

“My dad was a big lecture guy. He would talk to me for hours and hours. But in the long run, I look back and I loved every moment of it.”

Of course, Devonshire’s work on and off the field — “I’ve become a film room fanatic” — and his athletic ability certainly help. Devonshire scored 24 touchdowns four different ways as a senior at Aliquippa, including eight punt and kickoff returns (one short of the national high school record). His overtime interception against North Carolina nailed down one of Pitt’s most important victories last season.

But opening his ears to his parents and legendary Aliquippa cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Ty Law played a role in Devonshire carving out an important niche in the Pitt defense.

“They reach out most times. I don’t do a good job of it,” he said.

But their message hits home, literally.

“It’s like you share something that’s not even spoken about,” he said of their Aliquippa heritage. “Everybody knows what it’s like to be a Quip. You share that bond. Now, you’re going to the next level. ‘I’m going to show you how to get to the next level.’ ”

Their advice: “Run your own race. Do what you have to do to be successful and don’t get too focused on what other guys did.”

Back at Pitt this summer, Devonshire looks to be a regular — if not a starter — at cornerback, probably sharing the position with A.J. Woods, unofficially the team’s fastest player.

Pitt secondary coach Archie Collins said Devonshire has improved his technique and understanding of the defense.

“More understanding about everything that’s going on around him as far as linebackers, as well as safety rotations because he played a little bit of safety last year,” Collins said.

Of course, with almost two weeks of practices remaining before the opener, Collins said the competition at cornerback goes beyond veterans Devonshire, Woods and the other starter, Marquise Williams.

Junior Rashad Battle and freshman Ryland Gandy are also in the mix. Gandy has opened some eyes over the past three weeks.

“Some people look at games and get a little nervous,” Collins said. “I don’t think (Gandy) is one of those guys at all.”

Collins likes the potential for depth Battle and Gandy provide. But the three veterans give him a sense of comfort.

“They understand the motivation it takes to play the game,” Collins said. “I look at them as all three starters.”

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