Tight end is a position that Coach Cutcliffe and Coach Middleton hope to develop into a consistent strength within the Duke offense. In the past few seasons, Duke has featured a dynamic group of tight ends, including Brett Huffman, Brandon King, and Cooper Helfet. The Blue Devils will add freshman David Reeves to the depth chart this fall, and are looking at several prospects in the class of 2012. Along with verbal commit Erich Schneider, Duke has offered top TE Evan Baylis. Baylis is a 6’6” 225 pound prospect from Aurora, Colorado. Highlights from his junior year can be viewed here.
BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?
I guess I’d have to say my footwork and feet for how tall I am. And my aggressiveness, maybe.
BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?
Putting on some weight, I’ve actually gained 20 pounds and just adding some strength and speed.
BDN: What are your goals for yourself and your team for your senior season?
I want to go as far as we can in the playoffs, maybe win state if we can. For myself, I want to try and get All-State, I got honorable mention last year.
BDN: As you look at your college decision, what are the most important factors you are looking for in a school?
I’m looking at the tradition of the school, how well I get along with the coaches and the coaching staff, the campus, and how they use the tight ends in their offense.
BDN: Do you have a preference for a specific type of offense?
No, not really.
BDN: Which schools have you been in contact with the longest or most often?
Probably CU, Boise State, Michigan, Oregon, and Stanford.
BDN: Have you had a chance to visit any schools this spring?
I’ve been able to get out to CU, CSU, Boise State, Michigan, Oregon, and Stanford.
BDN: Do you have any other visits planned for this spring or summer?
None are planned, but I’m definitely going to try and see some other colleges, I’m not quite sure yet.
BDN: Do you have an idea for when you would like to make your final decision or how you would like to narrow your list down?
I definitely am going to want to make it before my senior year, probably sometime in the summer.
BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process, either on your visits or through your contact with the coaches?
On all my visits, I’ve gotten along with the coaches really well with everything they’ve shown me is great. They’re all good choices and the coaches are all really nice, so it’s tough to choose.
While Duke worked hard to improve their defense on the field this spring, the coaching staff is also working hard to upgrade the defense with a talented group of prospects in the class of 2012. The Duke staff has targeted an elite group of defensive backs who already have received verbal scholarship offers from the Blue Devils, among several other top programs. The Blue Devils added a quality cornerback from Florida in the class of 2011 in Tim Burton, and hope to do the same in the class of 2012. One of the most recent prospects to pick up a verbal scholarship offer is Larry Hope, a 5’11” 167 pound prospect from Miami, Florida.
BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?
Well, I think, college coaches say they like about me is that I’m the best man-to-man coverage player that they’ve seen. I’m good for my height, I’m a very big player, strong and physical, and very fast. When it comes down to shutting down a receiver, I think I’m the guy. But I like my actions to speak for themselves.
BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?
I’m working on getting stronger. I’m in the weight room every single day, even on weekdays, weekends I’m outside trying to get faster. We’re trying to get faster and stronger.
BDN: What are some of your goals for yourself and your team in your senior season?
As a team, I want to come together and bond so we can have a better year than last year and hopefully make it to the playoffs. Me, I just want to do what I’ve been doing, come out there and play my role as I’ve been doing.
BDN: As you look at your college decision, what are the most important factors you are looking for in a school?
I’m looking for a family bond and someone that can help me become a better player for the next level, because that’s what everybody wants to do. But I’m looking for a family bond, someone that’s like a father figure at college, and most of the colleges that I’ve been talking to that have offered me, has been that. They call me, I call them, and we talk on a daily basis, get that family bond. They mostly are defensive back coaches, and mostly played DB at the next level, so that’s what I’m looking for.
BDN: Which schools have you in contact with the most, and which schools have extended verbal offers?
I have seven offers from Wisconsin, Buffalo, Nebraska, USF, Louisville, Duke, and Kansas. West Virginia and Miami, Florida State, and Florida, they all want to come to my spring practice – Ole Miss and North Carolina are all coming to my spring practice, sometime around the first of May or the first week in May.
BDN: Have you had a chance to take any visits this spring?
In the summer I plan on visiting all the colleges that have offered me. When it comes to visits, so far I’ve visited Miami, Florida State, and Florida, and USF and UCF, and that’s it.
BDN: Have any schools impressed you or surprised you at this point in the process, either on your visits or your contact with coaches?
Well, no, all the colleges that have offered me are trying to impress me, so not yet.
BDN: Do you have an idea for how or when you would like to narrow your list of schools down and ultimately make a decision?
Me and my dad are weighing my options and just sitting back and relaxing. We’re trying to gain that bond, if I feel like I’m comfortable with a school, there’s no time limit on when I’ll decide.
BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for college football fans to know about you?
I feel like I’m more loyal to football now. Everything revolves around football and I’m working harder than I’ve ever been working, and I like what I’ve been seeing and I’m going to keep putting more into my craft.
BDN: Thanks a lot, Larry, and best of luck to you.
Duke was the first to offer Tarboro RB Todd Gurley
Led by elite running back Todd Gurley, Tarboro High School successfully defended their 2009 State Championship and finished 16-0 in 2010. Gurley, a 6’1” 195 pound athlete, finished the season with 30 touchdowns and was named to the 2A All-State team. Highlights of his junior year can be viewed here. Duke is looking to add an elite running back in the class of 2012 and was the first school to offer Gurley a scholarship. BDN last spoke with Todd early this spring as he was planning his spring visits. After his spring visits, [private] it sounds like Todd is still focused on in-state schools.
BDN: Which schools have you had a chance to visit this spring and how have your visits been going?
I’ve been to all three in-state schools. Spring games, I went to Duke, UNC, and NC State yesterday. I’ve visited NC State the most this spring, but I’ve been to every school.
BDN: What have you been looking for on your visits to the three in-state schools? Have you learned anything new at the spring practices or games?
Just, you know, the offensive system that they run, their coaches, and just the fan base, the support – what I would be playing in front of if I was playing for them.
BDN: Are there any new schools that you have been hearing from?
Just Auburn, and I’m considering and getting interest from Clemson, Tennessee, and South Carolina, so I’m looking into those schools.
BDN: Where are you in your process right now? Do you have an idea for when you want to make a decision?
Probably not anytime soon, but just to get the feel for the coach and then the running back coach, because that’s the position that I want to play. Just keep developing the relationship and whichever place that I feel the best and feel comfortable with the coach or the coaches and if I like the environment and the city, but no time soon that I’ll be making a decision.
BDN: You mentioned the relationship being important. Which coaches do you have the best relationship with so far?
I probably would say, just like the coach from UNC, the running back coach, because he’s the coach that recruits me – Coach Browning, so I just have a real good relationship with him, probably the best relationship with him. Then I talk to Duke a lot, I have a good relationship with their coaches, I just like their whole coaching staff overall. And then NC State, I like their coaches, but I just have to get to know them more.
BDN: What are your plans for your spring and summer?
I’m in track right now, and just working in the weight room right now. Just trying to get to the North Carolina, South Carolina game, Shrine Bowl combine. Maybe go to a school that hasn’t offered me yet, like Florida, just go down there and see if they’re interested in me. Also the Under Armour Combine to try and get into the Under Armour All American game. And then there’s a Nike Combine that has sent me an invitation so I’ll go there.
BDN: Thanks a lot, Todd, and we look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Dontonio Jordan says that running back is his natural position
When Head Coach David Cutcliffe came to Durham, he vowed that he would transform the Blue Devils into a faster and more athletic team. In his first few recruiting classes, he has added several elite athletes, including Isaac Blakeney in 2010 and Jamison Crowder in 2011. The coaching staff is looking to continue that trend in the class of 2012, and Duke is one of the first two schools to offer a top athlete from Texas. Dontonio Jordan is a 5’11” 183 pound athlete from Corinth, Texas. His great speed and quickness have allowed him to play both receiver and running back for Lake Dallas High School. Highlights from his junior season can be viewed here.
BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?
Running back, that’s really my natural position. That’s where I played until I was a freshman, and then we had like 4 or 5 good running backs my sophomore year in high school, so they decided that playing receiver would be the best position for me at that time, for sophomore year. Junior year – last year – I got a little bit more running back carries, averaged 6.7 yards per carry, and about the same amount or receptions, but a lot more yards and I had 10 more touchdowns than I did the year before, so that was a good improvement.
BDN: You said you feel like running back is your natural position, is that where you want to play in college and what position have college coaches been talking to you about playing?
College are considering me as an inside receiver, because that’s all they’re really seen me as, as of right now. But after this year, because I think running back is more my natural position, I think I’m going to have a big year at running back this year and more colleges will be looking at me for that also.
BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?
Me and my dad, my dad helps me out a lot. We go to the track probably every Sunday, we’re probably going out there later today. We go every Sunday and work on footwork drills and lateral movement. I still work on my route running and stuff, too, and I’m also lifting a lot of weights, when I can lift on weekends, on Saturdays with my dad also. I do push-ups at home, and stuff like that. I go to a camp every Tuesday and Thursday, I go to this thing called Velocity, where we do a lot of core training to get your core stronger, balance, 40 [yard dash] times, all types of stuff like that.
BDN: What are some of your goals for yourself and your team in your senior season?
Last year we had kind of a disappointment. We should have won easily to at least the fourth round of the playoffs, but we lost in the first round, just a couple of muffed punts and stuff like that. Next year, for me personally, I think I should have a 1,000 yard rushing season and about 700 yards receiving at least. I think our team, we have a lot of returning starters – we have 9 on offense and probably about 5 or 6 on defense – so we have a lot of experience and we have a lot more depth, so I think we should be able to go to at least the 4th round and face [defending state champion] Aledo [High School].
BDN: As you look at your college decision, what are the most important factors you are looking for in a school?
My top three things that I would look for is the proximity to home, and if I’m not close to home, say if I’m in North Carolina or California or somewhere like that, then how “homey” is it? Do I feel like it’s home to me? And early playing time is one of my top three also, and good coaching. All the coaches that I’ve talked to, most of them, I get a good vibe off of, and I like that I can build a relationship with the coaches.
BDN: I know we mentioned that Duke is one of the schools that has offered you. Which schools have you in contact with the most, and which schools have extended verbal offers?
Stanford is the only other offer that I have as of right now. I’m getting a lot of calls from people saying they’re coming to see me this spring, they want to evaluate me more, but they say an offer is on the way. Some other schools are saying that if I get my transcripts to them then I’ll get an offer. Schools like Tulsa, UConn, Baylor, Iowa, and Michigan State. Those are really the ones that I talk to the most often.
BDN: Have you had a chance to visit any schools, or do you have any visits planned?
As of right now, I think it’s almost set in stone that we’re visiting Stanford on May 14. Duke, I think we’re going to try to make a fall visit there. UConn, they’re trying to get me out there we just don’t know when. I’ve already visited Baylor, that was my first visit actually. I went to SMU yesterday. Iowa’s been trying to get me out there, but it’s really just all going to come down to my official visits, really.
BDN: So it sounds like you want to take some official visits this fall and make a decision after your season, is that right?
Yeah, yes sir.
BDN: Is there anything else that you think college football fans should know about you?
You know, I’m just a regular guy, nothing out of the normal about me.
BDN: Well it certainly sounds like you’re a hard worker and I just want to wish you best of luck with your recruitment. Thanks a lot, Dontonio.
ACC schools are battling for VA safety C.J. Prosise
While Duke worked hard to improve their defense on the field this spring, the coaching staff is also working hard to upgrade the defense with a talented group of prospects in the class of 2012. The Duke staff has targeted an elite group of defensive backs who already have received verbal scholarship offers from the Blue Devils, among several other top programs. One of the most recent prospects to pick up a verbal scholarship offer is C.J. Prosise, a 6’2’” 202 pound prospect from Woodberry Forest, Virginia. Highlights from his junior season can be viewed here.
BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?
Mostly, just a ball-hawking safety, and I’m pretty fast, I would think.
BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?
Mostly my speed and my hips and my movement, getting my cuts back and forth.
BDN: What are some of your goals for yourself and your team in your senior season?
Mostly I know I’ve got to make plays, because everybody will be looking to me to make the plays, so that’s really what I’m looking forward to doing. I know they’re counting on me to be a great leader out there for them.
BDN: As you look at your college decision, what are the most important factors you are looking for in a school?
Good academics would be one, and then definitely a pretty good football team, just a place that I want to be for four years, even if I wasn’t playing football.
BDN: Is there a particular academic field you are interested in studying in college?
Not right now, I haven’t really thought about it too much.
BDN: Which schools have you been in contact with the most, and which schools have extended verbal offers?
I have offers from Boston College, Maryland, UVA, Virginia Tech, Duke, and Wake Forest. Those are all the ACC offers and then I have Vanderbilt from the SEC.
BDN: Have you had a chance to take any visits this spring?
I’ve visited Maryland, UVA, Virginia Tech, and I’ve visited Duke.
Duke, Maryland, and Virginia Tech have stood out to C.J. Prosise
BDN: Have any schools impressed you or surprised you at this point in the process, either on your visits or your contact with coaches?
I mean, definitely I had a good time at Duke, when I was there, but also - I’m trying to think – Maryland, and I had a really good visit at Virginia Tech, too.
BDN: Do you have any plans for visits later this spring or over the summer?
No, I don’t really have any right now, well I have a couple this summer but none in the spring. I have Vanderbilt, Boston College, and Wake Forest this summer.
BDN: Do you have an idea for how or when you would like to narrow your list of schools down and ultimately make a decision?
Not really, I haven’t really thought about it that much.
OL Andrew Jelks has several offers, including Duke, Vanderbilt and Tennessee
In their three-plus years in Durham, Head Coach David Cutcliffe and Offensive Line Coach Matt Luke have built the Duke offensive line into a position of strength. The past two recruiting classes have brought in a very good group of offensive linemen, and the Blue Devils hope to continue that trend with the class of 2012. Andrew Jelks is a 6’6” 262 pound lineman from Paris, Tennessee. Andrew has already received half a dozen offers, including one from Duke and in-state power Tennessee. BDN caught up with Andrew after he visited Duke for a spring practice. Highlights from his junior year can be viewed here.
BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?
I think I have very good footwork for my size, and athletic abilities, I have much more than a lot of people. I think those are my strengths.
BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?
I’m focusing on putting on weight right now, that’s my biggest focus, and that’s about it. Getting stronger.
BDN: What are some of your goals for your senior year?
You know, there’s always I want to win state, and I think we have a good enough team to do it, so that’s my goal right now.
BDN: As you look at your college decision, what are the most important factors you are looking for in a school?
Mainly, I’m looking for a good relation with the coaches. If I like them, and how they want to use me. And proximity to home is, it’s not a major factor, but I’m gonna be thinking about it a lot.
BDN: What schools have been in contact with you so far?
Well, Duke of course, was the first school to offer me. I’ve been in contact with Duke, Louisville, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Alabama, Missisippi State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas State.
BDN: How was your visit to Duke?
It was awesome, I loved it up there. The coaches were real cool, and I love the offensive line coach, Coach Luke, he’s a real down to earth guy, and he tells you how it is, and Coach Cut, he’s just an awesome coach.
BDN: Do you have any other visits planned for this spring or summer?
Yeah, I’m definitely, I’m gonna take one to Tennessee sometime here soon, I’m going to Ole Miss in April, and I’ll be at Alabama sometime in the spring.
BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for college football fans to know about you?
I mean, I’m just – I’m smart, got a 4.0, and I love playing football.
BDN: Thanks a lot, Andrew, and best of luck to you.
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