Title: “The Quiet Backbone: Josh DeVries and the Spirit of a Spartan”
On a humid July afternoon inside the Berkowitz Athletic Complex, applause erupted as the announcement came through: Josh DeVries — recipient of the 2025 Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award. The room, filled with Michigan State coaches, staff, and teammates, stood in ovation. Josh, seated quietly in the back, gave a modest nod and smiled — the same grounded smile that had become his trademark over four transformative years in East Lansing.
Josh DeVries, a senior offensive lineman from Traverse City, had never been the loudest voice in the locker room. He didn’t seek headlines, and he rarely showed up in the highlight reels. But every player, every coach, and every student-athlete across MSU’s athletic department knew the truth: Josh was the standard.
Standing 6’5″ and 305 pounds, DeVries anchored the offensive line with the same traits that defined his off-field character — discipline, humility, and resolve. He battled through injuries with grace, mentoring younger teammates even while sidelined. He was the first to arrive for film sessions, the last to leave the weight room, and the one most likely to check in on a struggling teammate after practice.
But it wasn’t just his work ethic that earned him this honor. It was how he played — fierce but fair, intense but respectful. Opposing players often walked away from matchups with DeVries praising his sportsmanship. “That guy hits like a truck,” one Big Ten defensive end once said, “but he helps you up with a pat on the back right after.”
Coaches from rival schools took note. Referees routinely praised his leadership on the field. MSU head coach Marcus Bell put it plainly: “Josh DeVries is the kind of player every program wishes they had — not just for what he does between whistles, but for who he is when no one’s watching.”
Beyond football, Josh’s impact echoed throughout the MSU community. He organized annual food drives for Lansing-area families, mentored underclassmen in MSU’s Student-Athlete Support Services program, and served as a peer ambassador for mental health awareness — all while maintaining a 3.9 GPA in kinesiology.
His nomination for the Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award was supported by letters from teammates, professors, staff, and even opposing coaches. The Big Ten selection committee praised his “unshakable integrity, leadership by example, and rare ability to unite those around him.”
When Josh finally took the podium to accept the award, he didn’t talk about himself. Instead, he thanked his offensive line coach, his teammates, his parents, and “every player who taught me that leadership is service, not spotlight.”
He ended with a nod to the Spartan creed:
“Being a Spartan means putting others first — on the field, in the locker room, in life. I’m proud to wear the green and white, not because it’s about me, but because it stands for something bigger.”
Class. Heart. Humility. Strength.
Josh DeVries didn’t just win an award. He reminded Spartan Nation — and the Big Ten — what true leadership looks like.
Forever Spartan. Always an example.
