Divine Deablo

American football player (born 1998)

American football player

Divine Deablo

Deablo with the Raiders in 2021

No. 5 – Las Vegas Raiders

Position:

Linebacker

Personal information

Born:

(1998-08-17) August 17, 1998 (age 25)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.

Height:

6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)

Weight:

223 lb (101 kg)

Career information

High school:

Mount Tabor (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)

College:

Virginia Tech (2016–2020)

NFL draft:

2021 / Round: 3 / Pick: 80

Career history

Las Vegas Raiders (2021–present)

Roster status:

Active

Career highlights and awards

First team All-ACC (2020)

Career NFL statistics as of 2023

Total tackles:	225
Sacks:	1.0
Fumble recoveries:	2
Pass deflections:	4

Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Divine Ahmad Deablo (born August 17, 1998) is an American football linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Early years

Deablo grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and attended Mount Tabor High School. He was named All-Central Piedmont Conference at wide receiver in each of his final three seasons as well as All-Northwest North Carolina in his senior season after averaging 21 yards per reception with 10 touchdown receptions.^[1] As a senior, Deablo committed to play college football at Virginia Tech over offers from North Carolina and N.C. State.^[2]

College career

Deablo was a member of the Virginia Tech Hokies for five seasons. He played in all of the team's games as a true freshman, playing mostly on special teams and catching one pass for eight yards.^[3] Following his freshman year, Deablo moved to the safety position from wide receiver.^[4] Deablo saw significant playing time in the Hokies defensive backfield rotation to start his sophomore year before suffering a foot injury in the fourth game of the season and using a medical redshirt.^[5]

Deablo finished his redshirt junior season as Virginia Tech's second-leading tackler with 84.^[6] He was also named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Defensive Back of the Week in week 10 after recovering a fumble and returning it 98 yards for a touchdown against Notre Dame.^[7] As a redshirt senior, Deablo had 55 tackles with four interceptions and four passes broken up and was named first-team All-ACC.^[8]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 3+1⁄4 in (1.91 m)	226 lb (103 kg)	33 in (0.84 m)	9 in (0.23 m)	4.45 s	1.63 s	2.68 s	4.45 s	7.01 s	34.0 in (0.86 m)	10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)	19 reps
All values from Pro Day^[9]^[10]

Deablo was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round (80th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.^[11] Deablo signed his four-year rookie contract with Las Vegas on July 23, 2021.^[12] He played in all 17 games with five starts as a rookie, recording 45 tackles.

Deablo entered the 2022 season as a starting linebacker for the Raiders. He started the first eight games, leading the team in tackles over that span, before being placed on injured reserve on November 7, 2022.^[13]

References

^ Lowe, Kegan (May 15, 2016). "Former Mount Tabor WR Deablo settles in at Virginia Tech". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ Wood, Norm (July 27, 2015). "Top WR Divine Deablo from Winston-Salem, N.C. commits to Virginia Tech". Daily Press. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ Barber, Mike (November 2, 2016). "Virginia Tech freshman Divine Deablo making a name on special teams". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ Barber, Mike (September 5, 2017). "Position switch paying off for Virginia Tech's Divine Deablo". Culpeper Star-Exponent. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ Niziolek, Mike (March 26, 2019). "Virginia Tech taking extra steps to ensure Divine Deablo has healthy 2019 season". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ McFarling, Aaron (October 21, 2020). "For Virginia Tech's Divine Deablo of Winston-Salem, the 'devil made dad do it'". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ Bitter, Andy (November 8, 2019). "After Divine Deablo's 'dream come true,' the Virginia Tech junior is ready to keep the momentum going". The Athletic. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ Wood, Norm (December 22, 2020). "Hokies Christian Darrisaw and Divine Deablo voted first team All-ACC". Daily Press. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ "Divine Deablo Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^ "Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech, SS, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^ "Raiders select DB Divine Deablo with the No. 80 overall pick". Raiders.com. April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
^ Robinson, Sam (July 23, 2021). "Raiders Sign Third-Rounders Malcolm Koonce, Divine Deablo To Wrap Draft Class". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
^ Williamson, Bill (November 7, 2022). "Raiders place linebacker Divine Deablo on injured reserve". Silver and Black Pride. SB Nation. Retrieved October 7, 2023.