Category Archives: Duke Football

Duke Football

Ohio TE Tanner Kearns impressed with Duke on Junior Day

Ohio TE Tanner Kearns is hearing from a lot of Big 10, SEC, and ACC schools

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 is looking at a group of versatile tight end prospects such as Tanner Kearns. Kearns is a 6’5” 220 pound prospect from Lexington, Ohio. The athletic junior visited Duke for Junior Day earlier this year and was impressed with the program.

 

BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?

My strengths, probably – I run good routes, and really get open, catch the ball well.

BDN: What are some of the things you’ve been working on this offseason?

I’ve been lifting aside, we lift a little bit for basketball, but I lift on top of that, just to get bigger for next year.  And I’ve been working on speed training with my track coach to get faster.

BDN: What are some of your goals for your senior year?

To go undefeated, that’d be nice, and make a run in the state tournament.

BDN: What are the most important factors you’re looking for in a college?

Education and tradition.  That’s what Duke had, they’re known for their academics, and I like that.

BDN: Who are the schools that you have heard the most from and which schools were the first to contact you?

Basically Big 10 schools, and LSU, Oregon, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Kentucky, and the first school I think that contacted me was LSU and NC State.

BDN: Have you had a chance to visit any schools?

Well, this fall I went down to Cincinnati, went up to Michigan, to Ohio State, Indiana, and Notre Dame for some football games.

BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process?

I really liked Notre Dame, and I did like Duke a lot.  Their tight end coach was a nice guy, was funny, and I really liked him.

BDN: Do you have any plans for additional visits this spring or summer?

Yeah, this year I’m going down into the Carolinas for football camps this summer, I’m going to Eastern Carolina, NC State, North Carolina, Duke, and I think we’re going to Cincinnati too.

BDN: Do you have an idea for when you would like to make your college decision?

No, I’m just leaving my options open, and I’ll roll with the punches, I guess.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Tanner, and best of luck.

Alright, thanks.

 

Duke Football

Duke is among the first to offer California OL Max Tuerk

Max Tuerk made the switch from TE to OL last year

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. Max Tuerk is a 6’6” 275 pound offensive lineman from Santa Margarita, California. Though he’s early in the recruiting process, the junior already holds offers from Duke, Washington, and SMU. Highlights from his junior year, which earned him 1st Team All State and Trinity Lineman of the Year honors, 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?

My strengths as a player are I work really hard, I’m always trying to get better in the weight room and practice.  Right now, I’ve been gaining a lot of weight and that was probably my biggest problem last year, I weighed like 250 only, and now I’m up to 275, and I’m pretty fast for an offensive lineman, so that’s probably my biggest strength.

BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?

Gaining weight, and gaining strength, definitely.

BDN: What are some of your goals for your senior year?

For the team I’ve love if we can win our division, we went to the playoffs last year and we lost in the second round.  And I’m hoping that this year we can win CIF, and that’d be awesome for me.

BDN: As you look at your college decision, what are the most important factors you are looking for in a school?

In a college, most important thing is probably just to get to know all the coaches, get to know some of the members that are gonna be in my team.  Know the school, if it’s a good school, good academics.  Good campus, just – kind of get to know everything about the school.

BDN: Have you had a chance to visit any schools so far?

Not yet.  I have visited Washington 2 years ago, for like a football tournament, for passing tournament, I went as a tight end, and it was a cool campus, so that’s the only school I’ve visited.

BDN: Do you have any other visits planned for this spring or summer?

Yeah, I’m hoping I can go to Duke.  I’m hoping to check out Washington and maybe SMU even, and I’m hoping to go to USC, check out USC, just the schools around my house kind of.

Max Tuerk hopes to visit Duke this spring or summer

 

 

BDN: Are there any schools that you feel like you’ve developed a good relationship with at this point in the process?

Yeah, definitely.  I’ve talked to Duke’s offensive line coach this week for a while, actually, and we’re steadily starting to get a relationship.  I emailed a lot of the coaches, the coaches at SMU, and I talk to a lot of the coaches on almost a daily basis, and we’re definitely developing relationships.

BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for college football fans to know about you?

I’m a good kid and I work really hard, and I’m hoping to – I love football, and I’m just hoping it’ll take me to college.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Max, and best of luck to you.

Alright, thank you.

 

Duke Football

California QB Brendan Keeney is on Coach Cutcliffe’s radar

California QB Brendan Keeney is on Duke's radar

Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe is known for his ability to develop quarterbacks, thanks to his work with Thad Lewis and Sean Renfree at Duke, and Peyton and Eli Manning at Tennessee and Ole Miss. In the class of 2012, Duke has already been in contact with many of the top quarterbacks around the country, including Brendan Keeney, a 6’3” 215 pound prospect from Granite Bay, California. As a junior, Brendan led Granite Bay to a league title and a 9-4 overall record, finishing the year throwing for over 2,500 yards and 33 touchdowns. Highlights from his junior year can be viewed here.

BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths as a quarterback for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?

We run a “fly” offense at Granite Bay, where I am usually under center and play action on most of our pass plays. I roll out on most of our pass plays away from the run fake. So my strength is being able to throw on the run or I can also step up in the pocket. When we snap the ball, I usually have a good plan of what we’re gonna do and where I’m gonna go. So my mental game, I’m still working on of course, but that’s one of my strengths, as well as the physical tools that I was blessed with. My height and strength help a lot.

BDN: Is there a quarterback in college or the NFL that you have studied or modeled your game after?

Well, everyone wishes they had Tim Tebow’s work ethic, but from a technique standpoint, I worked with Tom Brady’s coach at a camp in the Bay Area, so he taught me a lot of what Tom Brady does to mentally prepare for the game. And of course Peyton Manning, what he does before the game. I just admire a lot of quarterbacks that put in hard work and don’t just take for granted what they’re given.

BDN: What are some of your goals for your senior year?

We’ve been to the playoffs twice, my sophomore year and junior year, but we have always come up a little short. So this year of course, I’m looking at the big picture, hopefully maybe win a section title, and just win more games.  I know everyone wants to win, but I just like competing at a high level, and I want to be known as a winner.

BDN: What are the most important factors you’re looking for in a college?

A strong, stable program. Good academics of course, great school environment, and how many quarterbacks are already ahead of me.

BDN: What are some of the goals you hope to accomplish in college?

First of all, I want to make it to the right school - the school that is the best fit - a win-win both academically and athletically.  Second, I want to play football, and when I get the chance to play, I want people to remember the team, not only as a good team, but a memorable team.

BDN: Who are the schools that you have heard the most from and which schools were the first to contact you?

Well, the first day that we could get email, Duke emailed me and let me know that they were interested, and I already talked to the coach recruiting me a little bit. I tried to get a hold of Coach Roper, but never did, since we had a pretty short period of time for juniors to talk to the coaches.  Duke started out early but some colleges are coming to the high school now, and have began checking in on me and a lineman on our team, but I would say Duke, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington State, and Notre Dame, have shown me the most interest.

BDN: Have you had a chance to visit any schools?

I’ve been to Stanford unofficially, but I don’t know what’s going on anymore now that [Head Coach Jim] Harbaugh left. So I’ve only been to Stanford.

BDN: Do you have any plans for additional visits this spring or summer?

Yes, more unofficial visits to some Pac 10 school and some east coast schools. I’m invited to the Elite 11 at UC Berkeley and the Nike camp at Stanford. Most coaches want me to throw for them in person so I am planning some trips to those schools.

BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process?

A Washington State area recruiter has come by three times, and he finally brought the head coach to our school, so I got to meet him too. They’ve tried to build a relationship, and we have, and I just talked to Oregon coaches, so hopefully that grows.  I’ve known the Oregon State coach since my sophomore year and he’s come by to see me.  So I’m still early in the process but those are the places I have built relationships with so far and stand out at this point, however there are many schools that impressive.

 

 

Duke Football

Duke and NC State lead for LB Keilin Rayner

Duke and NC State have stood out to Keilin Rayner

In 2010, Duke coaches and fans were impressed by the play of freshman linebacker Kelby Brown. On the recruiting trail, the Duke coaching staff is searching for more hard-hitting linebackers to join Brown on the Blue Devil defense. Keilin Rayner is a 6’3” 220 pound linebacker prospect from Leland, North Carolina. As a junior, Keilin played primarily defensive end, helping North Brunswick HS to the state playoffs and a 5-7 overall record. Highlights from his junior year can be viewed here.

 

BDN: Can you start out by describing your strengths as a player?

I guess my speed for my size, be able to get off blocks and go back side and get to the ball.

BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?

My agility is one thing, my agility and my ability to get off the ball, speed to get off the ball.

BDN: What are your goals for your senior year?

Get a lot of tackles, pretty much.

BDN: What are the most important factors you’re looking for in a college?

Pretty much the facility, the fans, and the tradition for winning, like trophies and such.

BDN: Which schools have you heard the most from so far? Who were the first schools to contact you?

I got my first offer from ECU, it was like the end of my sophomore year, and I’m talking to Duke and Clemson – I talked to the Florida coach he called the other day.

BDN: Which schools have you had a chance to visit so far?

Yeah, I went to Duke, ECU, pretty much been around the state, haven’t been out of state.

BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process, either on your visits or your contact with coaches?

Yeah, Duke and [NC] State. [NC] State’s facilities specifically appear top notch, and Duke pretty much you can get a degree, pretty much worldwide, from an educational standpoint with Duke.

BDN: Do you have plans to visit any other schools this spring or summer?

Maybe South Carolina, or Virginia Tech.

BDN: At this point in the process, do you have an idea for when you would like to make your college decision?

Maybe after football season.

 

Duke Football

Duke 2012 TE commit Erich Schneider enjoys Junior Day in Durham

Duke commit Erich Schneider enjoyed his visit to Durham

While the 2012 recruiting season is just heating up, Duke got on the board early with a commitment from TE Erich Schneider. After visits to Duke last summer and fall, Erich decided that the Blue Devils were the right fit for him. Erich is a 6’6” 220 pound prospect from Jacksonville, Florida. As a junior, Erich helped lead Episcopal high school to a 5-7 overall record, falling short of the state playoffs. The tall receiving prospect was recently in Durham for Junior Day and spoke with BDN after his visit. Highlights of Erich’s junior year can be viewed here.

 

BDN: Can you start off by describing some of your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?

I think my size, definitely, and my speed for my size and my quickness.  So hopefully I’ll be able to get bigger, but still maintain my speed and my quickness.

BDN: What have you been working on this offseason?

My foot speed is basically the biggest thing, and just maintaining my speed, but I got to work on my foot speed the most.

BDN: You were recently in Durham for Junior Day. How did your visit go?

It was – okay, it was awesome.  I went to, first of all I went to the meetings with the coach, the whole team, and then I went with the tight ends and had a look at what they do in their meetings and stuff.  It was really neat, and then I was able to visit a practice, and that was awesome.  It was really fast, really fast playtime that they use, it was awesome.  So – and then I met some coaches, I met some of the players, and I basically just got to see what playing is all about, so that was really cool.

BDN: What were the biggest factors that led to your commitment to Duke?

Academics especially, and Coach Cutcliffe, definitely want to play for a coach like him.  He brought in that whole coaching staff, so that’s – I know in the future it’s gonna be a really strong program, and I love the offense that they run.  I’m really attracted to their receiving tight end, like myself.

BDN: Do you have plans to make any other visits this spring or summer?

Yeah, yeah, I’m probably gonna go up for a weekend or something and go to a camp there, work with the tight-end coach, maybe he’ll – and, I don’t know, I definitely am gonna go up there this summer, but I might also take my official visit there.

BDN: Have any other schools been in contact with your recently?

I’ve attempted a little bit to contact a few schools, Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt a little bit, but not really.  I’m considering, but I’m pretty solidly committed to Duke right now.

BDN: Is there anything else that you think is important for Duke fans to know about you?

I guess I just want to win.  I want to help the team in any way I can, but it’s kind of cliché, but true.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Erich, and best of luck to you.

Thank you so much.  You too.

 

Duke Football

Top OL D.J. Humphries favors SEC schools

Top OL D.J. Humphries has Florida and LSU at the top of his list

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. One of the top offensive lineman in the country is D.J. Humphries, a 6’6” 265 pound offensive lineman from Charlotte, North Carolina. As a junior at Mallard Creek, D.J. has attracted schools from all across the country, already receiving scholarship offers from over 20 schools, including Duke. Highlights from his junior year can be viewed here.

 

BDN: Can you start off by describing some of your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?

I think one of my main strengths is me being athletic.  Most coaches love my feet, they love my feel, so no one’s really told me too much that they want me to work on as far as on the field, but I’ve put a lot of work into run blocking over the summer and that definitely paid off, I had over 100 pancakes for the season. I’m a natural pass blocker, so that really was never too hard to pick up.

BDN: What are some of your goals for your senior year?

As far as my team, state championship.  But other than that, for myself, I just want to continue doing what I do, playing well, try to be All-American again, first team All-American again.

BDN: Growing up in the Carolinas, is there a particular school you grew up following?

I’m from the east side of Carolina originally, so growing up I followed South Carolina and Clemson, but I started to like LSU and Florida, ‘cause I mean, I was raised around SEC football, but that’s pretty much – that’s the attitude I take to the field is SEC football, but I mean, I’m still interested in ACC as well, but I’ll watch Florida and LSU and everything else.

BDN: Who was the first school to offer you?

Clemson was the first school to offer me.

BDN: Have you been able to narrow things down at this point in the process?

I mean, Florida’s probably my number one right now, and then maybe LSU, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.

BDN: Do you have any plans for visits this spring or summer?

I’m probably gonna try to get down to – Florida probably my first visit, coming up in March, that’ll be my first stop and I begin making all my visits in March.

BDN: Do you have an idea for when you would like to make your college decision?

Probably the US Army [All-American] game.

BDN: Thanks a lot, D.J., and best of luck to you.

All right.  No problem, bye.