Ex-Wayne Hills QB: 'I Took Playing D1 Football For Granted'

WAYNE, NJ — Former Rutgers quarterback Brendan Devara said playing football at the junior college level has been a wake-up call for him.

Devara, a former township resident and Wayne Hills quarterback, was dismissed from the Scarlet Knights football team last month for allegedly violating team rules. He was charged with running a credit card fraud scheme soon thereafter. Devara has since enrolled at ASA College, a junior college.

Devara posted on Twitter Tuesday that the junior college experience has opened eyes to realize that he took playing Division I football for granted. He also said he was going to work hard to "get back to where I came from."

Devara, a Totowa resident, was charged with promoting organized street crime in the second degree, money laundering in the third degree, fraudulent use of credit cards in the third degree, and conspiracy to commit theft by deception in the third degree. Seven other players, including two who are no longer with the team, were also charged in the scheme. (See related: Wayne Rutgers Football Player Charged In Fraud Scheme: Prosecutor)

An investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the Rutgers University Police Department determined the eight people obtained credit card numbers belonging to others without their consent or authorization, and transferred funds to various Rutgers University Express Accounts for personal use, according to the MCPO.

Devara was a two-way, all-state player for Wayne Hills, playing at quarterback and linebacker as a senior. He helped the Patriots win an NJSIAA North Jersey 1 Group 4 title.

Related: Rutgers Dismisses Ex-Wayne Hills Star QB From Football Team

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Brendan DeVara (Rutgers University)