Kylany Making the Most of the New Environment at Wake Forest
9/30/2025 6:53:00 AM | Football
“It’s just about growing as a team, enjoying football, enjoying the heat, enjoying the grind.” - Devin Kylany
When Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert and offensive line coach Jared Kaster brought Devin Kylany to Winston-Salem in January and recruited him to follow them from Washington State to Wake Forest, summer temperatures weren't part of the conversation.
"They definitely didn't tell me during my recruiting pitch how serious this heat is," Kylany said. "Especially for someone like myself. I sweat a lot even if it's raining or snowing outside. I did my fair share of research during camp on ways not to sweat so much while playing football, and that's been good.
"You might need an extra pair of socks, two pairs of underwear, and baby powder is very useful."
Kylany has been quick to praise the unit around him, particularly the younger linemen.
"A whole bunch of great stuff," he said. "I mean, the young guys in our group have done a great job just attacking — whether it's with (assistant offensive line) coach Carter Webb or (offensive line) coach Jared Kaster.
"They've just been listening and applying what we're talking about in the meeting room to individual work, and then from indie to group, and group to team. I'm really impressed with not just the starters, but the young guys have all done a killer job."
As one of the most experienced players in the room, his opinion carries weight. And while most coaches talk about having seven or eight linemen they feel comfortable rotating in, Kylany insists Wake's depth is even better than that.
"Luckily, I'm not the head coach or the GM," he said. "I would say there are a lot more than eight guys I really trust and feel confident with on this team."
That kind of depth matters in a season that can quickly take a toll on the offensive line. It also speaks to the culture Dickert and Kaster are building in their first year at Wake Forest.
For Kylany, fall camp is about fundamentals. Now, with the season underway, the focus has shifted to opponent study — a part of the job that excites him.
"I'm really excited to start studying my opponent and start understanding the guy I'm going to block," he said. "At fall camp, I just worry about my technique and my fundamentals. Now, I get to really go into the film room and not just understand the offense, but study a guy's move, or see if he leans in his stance — that really excites me."
The shift from practice reps against teammates to live game action is one he relishes.
"Coach always says practice habits equal game execution," Kylany explained. "The only thing is, at practice I'm trying to keep my guys up. I don't want to take them to the ground. So I can't wait until I can really block a guy, take him to the bus stop, or just keep driving until I hear that whistle."
Of course, everything starts with protection, and Kylany is blunt about the group's primary responsibility.
"I wouldn't say it's difficult, but yeah, it's our job to protect the quarterback," he said. "So whether he wants to stand in the pocket or move around, I have to give him, and our offensive line has to give him as much time as he needs."
That mindset echoes the culture change Dickert has emphasized since arriving in Winston-Salem — accountability and execution, no matter the circumstance.
The "bus stop" metaphor is one Kylany clearly enjoys explaining, and it offers a window into how he thinks about his job as a center.
"The bus stop is outside the field of play," he said. "If you can take a guy and just keep driving your feet until he's no longer within the lines, and they've got to tell you to stop — that's taking a guy to the bus stop."
It's a vivid image, and one that lines up with his gritty, physical approach. Even as a veteran, he's motivated by the little wins that come from winning leverage and finishing blocks.
Kylany has been part of multiple programs and locker rooms, and while comparisons might be tempting, he refuses to go there.
"Comparison is the thief of all joy," he said. "So it's just about growing as a team, enjoying football, enjoying the heat, enjoying the grind, being tired of fall camp — it's all part of the enjoyment. That game's around the corner. This team is special. It's really talented, but I can't really compare it to any other team I've been a part of."
"They definitely didn't tell me during my recruiting pitch how serious this heat is," Kylany said. "Especially for someone like myself. I sweat a lot even if it's raining or snowing outside. I did my fair share of research during camp on ways not to sweat so much while playing football, and that's been good.
"You might need an extra pair of socks, two pairs of underwear, and baby powder is very useful."
Kylany has been quick to praise the unit around him, particularly the younger linemen.
"A whole bunch of great stuff," he said. "I mean, the young guys in our group have done a great job just attacking — whether it's with (assistant offensive line) coach Carter Webb or (offensive line) coach Jared Kaster.
"They've just been listening and applying what we're talking about in the meeting room to individual work, and then from indie to group, and group to team. I'm really impressed with not just the starters, but the young guys have all done a killer job."
As one of the most experienced players in the room, his opinion carries weight. And while most coaches talk about having seven or eight linemen they feel comfortable rotating in, Kylany insists Wake's depth is even better than that.
"Luckily, I'm not the head coach or the GM," he said. "I would say there are a lot more than eight guys I really trust and feel confident with on this team."
That kind of depth matters in a season that can quickly take a toll on the offensive line. It also speaks to the culture Dickert and Kaster are building in their first year at Wake Forest.
For Kylany, fall camp is about fundamentals. Now, with the season underway, the focus has shifted to opponent study — a part of the job that excites him.
"I'm really excited to start studying my opponent and start understanding the guy I'm going to block," he said. "At fall camp, I just worry about my technique and my fundamentals. Now, I get to really go into the film room and not just understand the offense, but study a guy's move, or see if he leans in his stance — that really excites me."
The shift from practice reps against teammates to live game action is one he relishes.
"Coach always says practice habits equal game execution," Kylany explained. "The only thing is, at practice I'm trying to keep my guys up. I don't want to take them to the ground. So I can't wait until I can really block a guy, take him to the bus stop, or just keep driving until I hear that whistle."
Of course, everything starts with protection, and Kylany is blunt about the group's primary responsibility.
"I wouldn't say it's difficult, but yeah, it's our job to protect the quarterback," he said. "So whether he wants to stand in the pocket or move around, I have to give him, and our offensive line has to give him as much time as he needs."
That mindset echoes the culture change Dickert has emphasized since arriving in Winston-Salem — accountability and execution, no matter the circumstance.
The "bus stop" metaphor is one Kylany clearly enjoys explaining, and it offers a window into how he thinks about his job as a center.
"The bus stop is outside the field of play," he said. "If you can take a guy and just keep driving your feet until he's no longer within the lines, and they've got to tell you to stop — that's taking a guy to the bus stop."
It's a vivid image, and one that lines up with his gritty, physical approach. Even as a veteran, he's motivated by the little wins that come from winning leverage and finishing blocks.
Kylany has been part of multiple programs and locker rooms, and while comparisons might be tempting, he refuses to go there.
"Comparison is the thief of all joy," he said. "So it's just about growing as a team, enjoying football, enjoying the heat, enjoying the grind, being tired of fall camp — it's all part of the enjoyment. That game's around the corner. This team is special. It's really talented, but I can't really compare it to any other team I've been a part of."
Players Mentioned
OL
/ FootballFootball Media Availability (9/30/25)
Tuesday, September 30
Wake Forest Football Coach Jake Dickert Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, September 30
Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Sept. 29, 2025)
Monday, September 29
Sept. 27, 2025: Coach Jake Dickert Postgame Press Conference Following Game vs. Georgia Tech
Sunday, September 28