From infancy, twins compete for their parents' love and resources, a competition that can result in a rivalry.  That rivalry, however, can also prove beneficial as it sometimes helps the two find a way to excel and reach their potential as is the case with South Alabama football players Devin and Jaden Voisin.

Devin and Jaden were born June 22, 2001, in Oklahoma City, Okla., and their rivalry and competitiveness began around the time that they started playing competitive sports.

"When we were around four, our dad bought us these plastic pads and helmet," noted Devin. "At the time, we lived in Oklahoma, so Jaden and I were given Oklahoma State uniforms, and our older brother, Keon, was given an Oklahoma uniform. Our parents took us to a field and basically just threw us a ball, and that's when we started tackling each other and found out we loved playing the sport."

"My dad always wanted us to compete, so he bought our older brother the Oklahoma uniform because he wanted it to be two on one with me and Devin versus our older brother," added Jaden.

Being part of competitive sport along with their dad would only grow their competitive sibling rivalry.

"That rivalry started a long time ago. It was just Devin and me a lot of the time, and we just wanted to be better than each other," Jaden said. "If I won a race, I wanted to brag about it. Being twins, you always want to be the better one. My dad used that as fuel for the two of us."

Part of a military family, the Voisin twins moved to Germany when they were in first grade and found that a different type of football was played overseas. Despite not playing the American version of the game for four years, the experience would prove beneficial once they returned.

"[Flag football] It's not as intense as it is here in the United States. I feel that flag football helped us more with our speed because you have to be able to run away from people rather than run through people," Jaden said.

After being away from the original form of the game they had known, there was a transition for the duo.

"We had a friend we had known in Germany that played football for an AAU team, so we joined that team once we moved back in 2013," Devin said. "Since we had played flag football for the previous four years, we weren't used to hitting, so they actually started both Jaden and myself on the offensive and defensive line."

Over the next several years, the two Voisins would eventually find their way to their respective sides of the ball.

"Our freshman year of high school is when the both of us really started to show out and grow into our bodies," Devin said. "We both started out at receiver and then the coaches played us on both sides of the ball. My sophomore year, they just played me at corner, but in the last game of the regular season, they put me in on offense and I scored for the first time. That's when I developed my love for the receiver position. I've been playing receiver every season since." 

The competitiveness between each other grew as they were often matched up against each other in practice daily, which only helped the two excel their final prep season at Crestview High School in Crestview, Fla.

"Most of the time in practice, it would be me against him," said Jaden. "I would really want to win those reps when I was matched up against him, and he'd want to win it over me. It would just make each of us better. That competitiveness has brought out the best in each of us. Going against each other every day just makes us better, because that rivalry is still there. I want to beat him and he wants to beat me. The better we get, the better it is for the team."

As a senior, Devin caught 41 passes for 974 yards and 10 touchdowns and was a second-team all-state selection, while Jaden earned first-team all-state honors after recording 26 tackles and school-record nine interceptions — which he returned 207 yards. Jaden also posted 39 catches for 743 yards and nine touchdowns as well, returning four kickoffs for an additional 142 yards to help the Bulldogs go 10-3 after making it to the semifinals of the state 6A playoffs.

The two had a choice to make at this point; either stay with each other or go their separate ways as they decided their college destinations. Several coaches offered both of them scholarships, while others looked at them individually. Ultimately, the opportunity to continue to play with each other, along with their brother Keon, who had signed one year prior with South Alabama, led them to their decision to join the Jaguar program.

"During our senior seasons, Jaden and myself started to get different offers," Devin said. "We were always together, so at the time, we kind of thought about splitting apart so we could be our own person. Jaden almost went to Georgia Southern, but then we realized the opportunity we had for all three brothers or even twins to play at the same program, which is rare at this level, so we said, 'Why not play together for a little bit longer, because a lot of brothers don't have that opportunity.' It was a special thing for us and made it easier on our family to travel." 

"A lot of times when coaches would come into recruit us, they would ask us if we wanted to go to the same place or if we were ok splitting up," Jaden added. "My parents, of course, wanted us to go to the same place, but in our heads, we were just interested in going someplace that wanted us."

After signing with the program, both had wanted to make a more immediate impact in the lineup on their respective sides of the ball, but both would find it hard to consistently get on the field due to depth and injuries. However, both knew that it would require work to accomplish their goal of becoming contributors and they would use their competitive rivalry to drive each other to be better.

"Initially during my freshman year, I came to South with the mindset that I wanted to get on the field and contribute right away," Devin said. "I didn't want to have to be one of those guys that have to wait until their senior season to start playing, so when I got here, I worked really hard. Kawaan Baker was the main receiver and he took me under his wing since I was playing slot [receiver] at the time. I worked as hard as he worked and tried to do more, especially after practice, because I wanted to push myself to be better. If he stayed in the weight room a long time, I wanted to stay in there longer. When he left, Jalen Tolbert started to really rise and I was moved to outside receiver. It was hard to try to outwork him, but I looked at it as an opportunity to learn things from him, especially from his work ethic. I just waited my turn. 

"I just worked on learning all the plays because I wanted to be able to run them at full speed and not look confused out there. I kept working and listening to my coaches. I knew my time would come."

"I knew coming in my freshman season that I was going to have to earn my way up the depth chart," Jaden said. "I played on special teams as a freshman and then sophomore year I was starting at corner back during fall camp, but I tore my PCL during preseason camp and that ended my season." 

Over the first three years of their Jaguar career, the Voisin twins have seen most of their playing time with the special teams' unit as Devin has played in 27 games and made two receptions, while Jaden has seen 16 games of action and made six tackles. 

However, year four with the program has presented both with an opportunity for an increased role and as both are now running with the first- and second-team units, allowing them to again compete against each other on a regular basis and renew that competitive rivalry.

"If Jaden does something in practice, I'm going to want to outdo him and do something better to put myself in the spotlight, "Devin said. "A lot of people think that we don't like each other because we butt heads all the time, but that's because we've always wanted to be better than the other. It's a rivalry that we've always had, and honestly that's what has brought out the best in each of us."

"It's worked out well here at South for us with him on offense and me on defense," Jaden said. "When he makes a play on the defense in practice, I feel that I have to make a play against the offense. Having bigger roles just helps keep pushing us against each other."

And it is a special opportunity for the other twin on the opposite side of the ball to be the one to push the other to excel.

"I think it's as special of an opportunity as you can get," Jaden said. "We've been playing football since we were young and to be able to go to the highest level that we've been able to is a big thing for us and our family; a real special moment for us."

For Jaden, the chance to contribute even more in the defensive backfield emerged after the first fall scrimmage as three-year starter and all-conference performer Keith Gallmon Jr. suffered a season-ending injury. 

"With Keith being out, there are some big shoes for me to fill," Jaden said of the opportunity. "He's one of my really good friends and I just want to make him proud. It's a terrible thing that happened to him, but he's been coaching me up all my years with the program. One of the biggest things though I've learned from playing behind him is to be confident out on the field and taking charge, and making those around you play confident.

"Every day in practice, I'm going to go as hard as I can. I want to show the new players in our run that you lead at the front, not the back. I'm not the guy that's going to try to lead by words.; I just want to lead by example and let my work speak for itself."

Despite having a low profile his first three years in Mobile, Devin, as well as his brother, appears to have gained the confidence of the coaching staff through his work in the offseason and camp, and once again he can attribute it to his drive to not allow not be one-upped.

"This year, I feel that I'm showing the fruits of my labor from all of the hard work I've put in over the past three seasons," Devin said. "I kept that chip on my shoulder and I've been determined to not let anyone outwork me. I feel that over the spring and summer, I've shown the coaches that they can trust me and that I can be depended on. I didn't want to wait this long, but it's been worth it."

Despite their rivalry, at the end of the day, they want each other to be successful, because they know that each individual's success could provide a key part in the team's success.

"If Jaden does something, I'm going to want to outdo him and do something better to put myself in the spotlight, but at the same time if he makes a play, I'm glad for him," Devin said. "I always try to cheer him on and want him to do well. I feel that it is reciprocated between the both of us. Even though I want to be better than him in everything I do, I still want him to succeed." 

Entering the 2022 campaign, the Voisin twins are primed to be key contributors on both sides of the ball. Wommack and the rest of the South Alabama football team is hoping the sibling rivalry will bring out the best in both Devin and Jaden and help take the Jaguars to new heights this season beginning with Nicholls on Saturday.

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