Draft:Rick Devens

Rick Devens
Rick Devens
Education	Virginia Tech
Occupations	Communications director, former news anchor, reality television personality, podcast cohost
Known for	Survivor
Spouse	Becca Devens
Children	2

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Declined by MSK 10 days ago. Last edited by MSK 10 days ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

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Rick Devens is an American communications professional, former news anchor, podcast cohost, and reality television personality best known for competing on the CBS reality competition series Survivor. He first appeared on Survivor: Edge of Extinction in 2019, where he finished in fourth place, and later returned for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans.^[1]^[2]

Early life and education

Devens is from Blacksburg, Virginia.^[3] He attended Virginia Tech, graduating in 2006 with a degree in communication.^[4]

Career

Broadcasting and communications

Before his first appearance on Survivor, Devens worked as a morning news anchor in Macon, Georgia. Virginia Tech identified him as a morning news anchor in Macon in a 2019 alumni feature about his Survivor appearance.

By 2026, Devens was working as director of communications at Middle Georgia State University.^[5] Local news coverage in Macon reported that Devens had spent 13 years waking up Central Georgia as a morning anchor before becoming widely known through Survivor.^[6]

Podcasting

In 2023, Devens joined Jeff Probst and producer Jay Wolff as a cohost of On Fire with Jeff Probst: The Official Survivor Podcast for coverage of Survivor 45.^[7]^[8] Entertainment Weekly reported that Devens became the podcast’s first former-player cohost after the show launched during Survivor 44.^[9]

Survivor appearances

Survivor: Edge of Extinction

Devens first competed on Survivor: Edge of Extinction, the 38th season Survivor, which aired in 2019. Devens was voted out on Day 11, went to the Edge of Extinction, and returned to the game on Day 17 by winning the season’s first re-entry challenge.^[10] He later reached the final four before losing the fire-making challenge to eventual winner Chris Underwood.

After the finale, singer Sia awarded Devens $100,000 during the reunion show.

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans

Devens returned for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, which featured 24 returning contestants. Devens was the 18th player voted out during a double-elimination episode, becoming the 13th member of the jury.

Survivor results

Season	Year aired	Placement	Notes
Survivor: Edge of Extinction	2019	4th	Returned from the Edge of Extinction and lost the final four fire-making challenge to Chris Underwood
Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans	2026	7th	Returned for the milestone 50th season and was eliminated one week before the finale

Public image and legacy

Devens became a prominent figure among Survivor viewers during Survivor: Edge of Extinction because of his late-game immunity wins, idol plays, and repeated survival after returning from the Edge of Extinction. His 2019 appearance also drew attention after Sia awarded him $100,000 during the reunion show.

His return for Survivor 50 continued that public image. Entertainment Weekly described him as a fan favorite and called attention to his large, playful style of gameplay, including his fake-advantage plans and other theatrics during the season. During a Survivor 50 jury interview, Entertainment Weekly reported that several jury members praised Devens for bold gameplay, including his fake idol move.

Personal life

Devens is married to Becca Devens and has two children.^[11]

Podcasting

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2023	On Fire with Jeff Probst: The Official Survivor Podcast	Cohost	Joined Jeff Probst and Jay Wolff for coverage of Survivor 45

Awards and achievements


Year	Achievement	Result
2019	Survivor: Edge of Extinction	4th place
2019	Sia award	$100,000
2026	Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans	7th place

References

↑ Ross, Dalton (January 28, 2026). "Survivor 50 official cast photos, bios, and tribe divisions revealed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ Ross, Dalton (May 14, 2026). "Rick Devens reveals an absolutely wild Survivor 50 fake Beware Advantage stunt he almost pulled". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ "Survivor: Edge Of Extinction Castaways Announced". CBS News Minnesota. January 31, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ "How to Survive the Edge of Extinction". Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ "Rick Devens Returns To Survivor For Milestone Season 50". Middle Georgia State University. May 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ "Macon's Rick Devens weighs in on his Survivor 50 journey". 13WMAZ. March 18, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ Ross, Dalton (September 20, 2023). "Rick Devens joins as new cohost on Jeff Probst's official Survivor podcast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ "Rick Devens Named Co-Host of Jeff Probst's Survivor Podcast". Middle Georgia State University. September 20, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ Ross, Dalton (February 27, 2026). "Here is why there was no official Jeff Probst Survivor podcast for season 50 premiere". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ "Rick Devens finishes in 4th place on Survivor: Edge of Extinction". WDBJ. May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
↑ "Rick Devens on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[1] Ross, Dalton (January 28, 2026). "Survivor 50 official cast photos, bios, and tribe divisions revealed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[2] Ross, Dalton (May 14, 2026). "Rick Devens reveals an absolutely wild Survivor 50 fake Beware Advantage stunt he almost pulled". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[3] "Survivor: Edge Of Extinction Castaways Announced". CBS News Minnesota. January 31, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[4] "How to Survive the Edge of Extinction". Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[5] "Rick Devens Returns To Survivor For Milestone Season 50". Middle Georgia State University. May 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[6] "Macon's Rick Devens weighs in on his Survivor 50 journey". 13WMAZ. March 18, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[7] Ross, Dalton (September 20, 2023). "Rick Devens joins as new cohost on Jeff Probst's official Survivor podcast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[8] "Rick Devens Named Co-Host of Jeff Probst's Survivor Podcast". Middle Georgia State University. September 20, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[9] Ross, Dalton (February 27, 2026). "Here is why there was no official Jeff Probst Survivor podcast for season 50 premiere". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[10] "Rick Devens finishes in 4th place on Survivor: Edge of Extinction". WDBJ. May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

[11] "Rick Devens on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved May 24, 2026.

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