AUBURN, Ala. – Senior defensive back Devin Guice grew up an Auburn fan and had the dream of playing college football for the Tigers from an early age. He attended his first A-Day game in 2004, and that passion only grew over the next four years as he watched his cousin Eric Brock suit up at safety for Auburn.
A native of Opelika, Guice starred at nearby Opelika High School, right down the road from campus. The spirit of Auburn drew him in from the start.
In 2016, Guice took the first step toward his dream when he was accepted to Auburn and started in the School of Forestry. Though he wasn't initially offered a scholarship to play football, he was offered the opportunity to walk on to the team as a freshman that fall. He gladly accepted.
"Football gave me the opportunity to network within people in the forestry field. It helped me find my footing," Guice said. "Coach [Gus] Malzahn and the other coaches really harp on the fact that we're more than just football players. Education is very important."
The challenge of balancing football and academics hit Guice hard his junior year.
"I had a lab every single day during football practice, so I would often be late to practice," he said. "I would still have to remember the game plan, but I didn't have the same timeframe the other players had to learn it. I would have to come to practice and learn on the fly."
It was difficult for Guice, but he learned to internalize the information during drills, remember it, and write it down after practice so he could recall it during game preparations.
That same year, prior to the first game, the local walk-on was awarded a full scholarship from Malzahn along with teammate James Owens Moss during a team meeting in the midst of fall camp.
However, it didn't take a scholarship for Guice to make an impact. As a redshirt freshman in 2017, he saw action against Ole Miss and Arkansas and made his first tackle against Ole Miss. The following year, he played against Alabama State and Liberty and recorded his first tackle for loss in the Music City Bowl victory over Purdue.
"The coaches at Auburn chose you because you are a part of the team," Guice said. "They will never make you feel left out. So if you do decide to walk on and you put in the work, you will have the same chance to play as everyone else. If you do walk on, don't come here just to get the gear. Come here to make the team better because you are a factor in making that happen.
"You have to understand that this is the biggest decision you will ever make and choosing Auburn will be the best decision. It will be the best decision not only for athletics, but for academics, too. Our coaches make sure you are a well-rounded Auburn Man by the time you graduate."
This upcoming season will be the last for Guice on the football field, but off it, the future is bright because of the emphasis he's put on education. He received his bachelor's degree in Forestry in May and is currently working to obtain a second undergraduate degree in Sustainable Biomaterials and Packaging. After football, he hopes to work in that field with an athletics apparel company.
From an undersized walk-on from Opelika to an Auburn football letterman and team contributor, Guice is an inspiration and has made the most of his opportunity at Auburn.
It truly has been a dream come true.
"My dad would always tell me, 'If it's for you, it's for you. If God willed it to happen, it will happen, and nobody can take it away.'"