Devante Wheeler has gotten his talking out of the way.
The Poly Prep star will play football at Stony Brook next season and will get a chance to compete against some of his future teammates as a member of the New York City team at the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge at Hofstra Tuesday night. The Long Island roster has six players headed to the Suffolk County school, including Wheeler’s future roommate JeVahn Cruz, a Half Hollow Hills West corner.
“I talked a little trash before practice started,” he said. “If we cross paths before practice I just say what’s up and ask them if they are ready for school.”
That doesn’t mean the confident cornerback hasn’t warned his opponents about what could be in store for them. He sees the game as a chance to give the Long Island fans a preview of what they might see the next four years at LaValle Stadium.
“I’ve been talking a lot of smack to the Long Island quarterbacks, John Kinder one of my friends,” Wheeler said. “I’ve been talking a little smack to him on Facebook, just a little bit, telling him not to throw my way.”
It is that kind of swagger that has made the 6-foot, 170-pound Wheeler one of the city’s best and most versatile players. He helped lead Poly Prep to a 7-1 record this season and was named to The Post’s All-Brooklyn first team. He played quarterback, cornerback and returned kickoffs and punts. Wheeler completed 55-of-75 passes for 750 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for six scores, ran back six interceptions for scores and twice returned kickoffs for touchdowns.
“He is a playmaker,” Poly and New York City teammate Ashton Ghaffaar said. “He likes to make plays, likes the crowd. I know this is going to be a big game for him.”
Wheeler will be part of a talent defensive backfield with Holy Cross’ Dean Marlowe and Erasmus Halls Jauvan John. They possess speed and athleticism that has many of teammates, including Wheeler, predicting multiple interceptions. Focusing on defense, like he will in college, has been refreshing for him. He said he doesn’t miss running through offensive plays in his head while preparing for a third down stop.
“He is long. He is physical. He runs well,” NYC defensive coordinator and Tottenville coach Jim Munson said. “I think he’s got great cover skills and another guy who is a very, very good athlete, who we are glad to have. He is everything that is advertised.”
Wheeler is known by some coaches and players, despite playing an independent schedule for the Blue Devils. He lives on Staten Island in West Brighton and said he knows head coach Pete Gambardella and might have been playing for the Curtis head man had he not gone to Poly. Wheeler also played Pop Warner football with some of his NYC teammates, including Ghaffaar and Holy Cross’ Justin Orr. New Dorp receiver Elijah Bratcher was one of his main targets growing up.
“It’s great to link up with the guys again, everyone is going off to college, to get one last game together,” Wheeler said.
It is a contest he knows well and is proud to be a part of. Wheeler saw his cousins David and Jeff Legree, both quarterbacks, from South Shore and Fort Hamilton, win the game in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Wheeler also attended last year’s contest when Boomer Esiasan’s son Gunnar, who is the reason its proceeds benefit cystic fibrosis, played. It was a moment Wheeler called touching. It is just one of the reasons he is happy to get a chance to make his mark and leave with a victory in his opportunity.
“This game is much bigger than football, given the cause cystic fibrosis,” he said. “It’s really nice to say I took part in this and ultimately helped a cause to save someone’s life by my production on the field and fundraising.”