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?
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 quarterback prospects around the country, including a sleeper in-state dual-threat prospect. Matt Johnson is a 6’3” 210 pound quarterback from Maiden, North Carolina. He’s been in contact with several in-state ACC schools and made a trip to Durham earlier this year for Duke’s Junior Day. Highlights of Matt's junior season 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?
Yeah, my coach coordinates offense, we run a shotgun offense, but I am – we run a 50% passage percent, but I have found strength in being a good runner, and I play behind my pads, I’ve been told, but I really try to just get every yard when I’m running, and I have focused on passing to strengthen myself in passing, but running’s definitely been my biggest strength, and slowing the game down a little bit and playing at my own pace has been my big thing that I’ve been pretty good at this year. I don’t really kind of pride myself in anything, but just my reads and everything like that going in. But I’m more of a dual threat quarterback.
BDN: What are some of your goals for your senior year?
This year, I want to help my team. I want to pass for over 1500 yards. I was just 1000 this year, with run a lot more than that, but I want to be considered as a college level passer, and not just a dual threat quarterback. I also want to strive to win a state championship, that’s what I want for my team, but the passing and reading the coverages better, and making – slowing the game down even more, just to have control over the situation is really what I want, and complete passes, basically.
BDN: Is there a college or NFL quarterback you have studied closely or have tried to emulate?
I’ve always admired Peyton Manning, just for his – his poise in the pocket, and then the way he calls the game, and seems to have everything in his hands. He’s working with everybody, and they’re reacting to it. It’s what I love about it, and it’s kind of where I want to be. But I want to play with the maturity level that is far passed my own, just to have control of the situation mainly. But – I loved Brett Favre until just recently, but –
BDN: As you approach your college decision, what are the most important things you are looking for in a school?
A big thing about it, and I’ve put it on all my seats, is the location of where it is. I kind of want to stay pretty close to home. I don’t really want to leave my parents that much, and I think I probably have an opportunity to do that, but also I want to find a place that has a communications major. I kind of want to be a broadcaster when I grow up, but a lot of it is academics for me. I want to go somewhere where I can maybe be out in 4 years, but have a good degree, and I want to go somewhere where I can play and that I can grow as a football player, and as a leader.
Maiden QB Matt Johnson is hearing a lot from NC ACC programs
BDN: Who are the schools that you have been hearing from the most and which schools were the first to contact you?
It all kind of started with, I think it was Wake Forest, NC State, ECU, and Duke in there, and that was really cool, getting those letters from Coach Roper at Duke, and going to the game, I was very excited about getting that stuff and receiving letters of just, “Come to our game, come watch.” It was all surreal to me, but I never really felt like I was lost in the crowd. I felt like it was a privilege being in the place I was at; I count it as a blessing, being able to go. But I went to NC State a couple times, ECU a couple of times, and I think it’s been ECU and Duke that has talked to me the most in just recruiting-wise, and keeping up contact with me. But it’s been a great thing for me, I’m humbled by the entire thing, but I really want to just find a place I’m comfortable at, and I really felt comfortable at all 3 of those places. But a lot of other colleges were talking to me just through letters, just sending me stuff. But communication-wise, I talked to the other colleges.
BDN: Do you have plans for any additional visits this spring or summer?
I definitely want to – I went to Duke’s Junior Day the other day. I had a great time there, I’m actually looking forward to another visit there. Thinking about going to ECU’s Junior Day, and that’ll be a big thing, and any other Junior Day I’m invited to, I’ll be happy to accept that invitation no matter where it is, but I definitely liked NC State, ECU, and Duke as a place I’ve been to. I wanted to visit Wake Forest, I don’t know all about that, I don’t know what my opportunities are gonna be, but I’m not sure if there’s anywhere else I want to go. I want to go anywhere, really.
BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for college football fans to know about you?
I try to be the same person I am on the field as I am off the field. I’ve never been the most skilled player, I wouldn’t say, but I’d say I’d be able to pull a team through anything, just with – it doesn’t matter if we’re down 40 or up 40, I’m gonna play my heart out. I don’t know the whole give up or let off thing, I just know how to play football and how to score touchdowns, and how to go 100% every play. I’m not – I just want to keep everybody’s spirits up on the field; I’m a good motivator, and I’m not gonna pride myself in being a leader, but I think somebody has to do it, and it’s gotta be somebody willing to step up, and I try to do that most of the time, and I think I do a pretty good job of it.
Richlands OL Josh Hess is receiving a lot of interest from ACC and SEC schools
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. Josh Hess is a 6’7” 285 pound offensive lineman from Richlands, Virginia. As a junior, Josh played on both the offensive and defensive line, helping Richlands to the state championship game, and was named to the All-State, All-Region, and All-District teams. Highlights from Josh’s 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?
Personally, I think I’m hard-nosed, I like driving people off the ball, that’s what I do. I’m a pretty good pass blocker, in my opinion, and I do whatever it takes to win.
BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?
I dropped a couple pounds. I’m down to about 285 right now, and I’ve just been working on my lateral quickness, and just speed in general.
BDN: What are some of your goals for your senior year?
I want to go back to Lynchburg and play for another state championship, and come out winning next one. I’d like to make all-state again, all-region, all-district.
BDN: As you look at your college decision, what are the most important factors you are looking for in a school?
Education would have to be the first one. I’m big on academics, and so is my family. And then just the school itself. I like football tradition, and how the football program’s going. I’d like to go in and help a program out if they’re down, and if they’re a program that’s winning, to go in and keep it going.
BDN: Is there a specific academic field you are interested in?
Kinesiology, so the study of – it’s like athletic training, stuff like that, and how the muscles and stuff work.
BDN: Which schools have you heard from the most? Who were the first to contact you?
Duke, UNC, Maryland, Virginia Tech, UVA, Florida, Boston College. There’s a lot of SEC and ACC schools.
BDN: Are you primarily interested in ACC and SEC schools?
Well, it’d be nice to, but – I mean, as it comes down to it, I’ll go anywhere that’s within the United States.
BDN: Have you been able to talk with any schools about scholarship offers yet?
Really haven’t talked about offers yet, but most of them are trying to get me down on campus, looking at stuff like that, invite me to a bunch of junior days and stuff, but not really talked about offers yet.
BDN: Have you had a chance to visit any schools so far?
I’ve only visited Duke, I went down there for junior day, but the end of the football season I went all over the place, I went to like Kentucky, Boston College, Duke, Virginia Tech, UVA, Alabama, I was all up and down the coast, pretty much.
BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process?
Josh Hess led Richlands HS to a state championship game as a junior
Not really, I like them all the same. All of them had different things that I like about them.
BDN: Do you have any other visits planned for this spring or summer?
I’m going down to UVA for Junior Day, and I’ll be at UNC after that. And then I’m not sure about camps yet, I know I’m gonna go and visit a bunch more, I’m gonna go – Florida wants me to come down and watch spring practice and get out there and get on campus and talk to the coaches, so I’ll probably end up doing that.
BDN: Do you have an idea for when you would like to make your college decision?
I might wait until the right school comes to me, but I mean, if the right school does come, it might be before football season. But then again, I might just wait it out, wait until signing day or after the football season.
BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for college football fans to know about you?
I’m a good student in the classroom, I’m a hard worker, my motto when I leave the weight room everyday is leaving thinking that nobody outworked me that day. That’s about it.
Tevin Clay was named to the 2010 All-State 2nd Team Offense
With Duke’s prolific passing offense, it’s no surprise that the Blue Devils have had success recruiting and developing talented wide receivers in Durham, most notably All-ACC performers Eron Riley, Donovan Varner, and Conner Vernon. The Blue Devils hope to continue that trend in the class of 2012, and have been scouting throughout the country in search of receiving talent, but found one top prospect close to Durham. Tevin Clay is a 6’3” 187 pound receiver from Wilmington, North Carolina. As a junior, Tevin helped Laney High School to the North Carolina state playoffs and a 6-6 overall record. He was named to the 2nd Team All-State offense after hauling in 87 catches for 1,450 yards. 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?
Well, I’m more of a go up and get it type of guy. My speed isn’t the fastest, but it’s fast enough. I’m working on that now. I can basically catch any ball that’s thrown my way, I’m confident in my hands. My team is confident in me, I’m a big-time player. I just love playing football. My weakness is my speed, I gotta work on my speed a little bit.
BDN: What are your goals for your senior season?
My senior year, do better than I did my junior year. This year I had 87 catches and 1450 yards, and 14 touchdowns. I want to do better than I did my junior year, so I’m working hard in the weight room, and working hard all around as a player to get myself better for next season.
BDN: As you approach your college decision, what are the most important things you are looking for in a school?
First of all, academics. I want to go to a school where I know I can get my work in for academics, going to a school where I can make an impact on the team. I love playing football, and I want to go to a good football school, coaches, stuff like that.
BDN: Is there a specific academic field you know you want to study?
I want to study sports medicine.
BDN: Who are the schools you have heard from the most so far? Who were the first schools to contact you?
The first one to contact me was ECU, I went to visit there during the football season, and I’m going to South Carolina next weekend for a Junior Day. And I went to Duke and I went to [North] Carolina a couple times, and [NC] State, I talk to them a lot too.
BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process?
Nah, none of the schools have really stood out to me other than the schools I told you about.
BDN: Do you have any plans for other visits or camps this spring or summer?
Yeah, I’m gonna go to a lot of one-day camps this summer. I’m going to [NC] State camps, Duke camps, [North] Carolina camps.
BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for college football fans to know about you?
WR Tevin Clay is working on his speed this offseason
As a person, I’m a mama’s boy. I love my mom, I love my family. As a player, I’m dedicated to football, but I also play basketball and baseball, we were 4A state champions and right now in basketball we’re 16 and 5.
BDN: With your family being important to you, do you think that distance from home will be a factor in your college decision?
My mom wants me to stay in the state, but – yeah, I mean, it all depends on what happens, so I don’t know what’s gonna happen right now.
BDN: Thanks a lot, Tevin, and best of luck to you.
Jacob Ingle is one of the top offensive lineman in North Carolina
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. Jacob Ingle is a 6’3” 280 pound offensive lineman from nearby Burlington, North Carolina. As a junior, Jacob started at left guard and left tackle for Walter Williams High School, earning 1st Team All-Conference and All-Region honors. Highlights from his junior year can be viewed here, and more information about Jacob can be found on his website.
BDN: Can you start out by describing your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?
Personally, I would say more like base blocking, run blocking, just one on one, so that’s one of my favorite things to do, and just regular pass blocking. One of my favorite things to do, I think I’m best at, is just one on one base run blocking, I would say.
BDN: What are some of the things you are working on this offseason?
Right now, this off-season, I’m just trying to get as strong as I can, get faster, same thing I’ve been trying to do every offseason, but the other thing I’m gonna focus on is just getting better, technical-wise, just to get ready for this season, so I haven’t really been doing it all season, but this year I’m gonna try to focus more on getting better with my techniques.
BDN: What are your goals for your senior season?
Well, I want my team to – we haven’t had a winning season yet since I’ve been here. First thing I want to do is just one thing at a time, first of all, I just want to have a winning season with my guys, ‘cause just senior year, I’ll probably never get to play with any of them again, really just have a good time playing football, but I would like for us to go as far as we can in the playoffs more than anything, possibly win state. I guess individually, my ultimate goal is to win all-state this year, and possibly further than that if I can. Mainly I just want to have a really good senior season with all my friends from football.
BDN: As you approach your college decision, what are the most important factors you’re looking for in a school?
Mostly, I’ve been looking at how good schools are academically, and if they have majors, how good their programs are for possible majors I want to have. And then I just look at the football team, see what the coach is and what the atmosphere – like go to their game, mainly just look at schools that have the majors I really want, have a good academic program.
BDN: You mentioned some possible majors you’re interested in; is there a specific field you are interested in?
One is exercise science, and also – either that or I want to major in music, something in music.
BDN: Which schools have you been hearing from the most? Who was the first to contact you?
In-state lineman Jacob Ingle is high on the Carolina schools early
This season, when they could first officially send out mail, I got my first letter from Duke, inviting me to their games, to check out and the other one being [North] Carolina, East Carolina State. Wake Forest is sending me stuff, and I’ve got a lot of letters from Georgia Tech as well, and a couple from Nebraska, as well as – and a couple from West Point, I’m also looking at that.
BDN: Have any schools offered you a scholarship at this point in the process?
The closest I’ve talked about for a scholarship was at [NC] State, the recruiting coach came to my school, he told me that – I said I haven’t been to there camp yet, but they want me to come to their camp, and if I do good there, they said they’ll offer me at [NC] State.
BDN: Have you had a chance to take any visits?
Yes, this past season, I’ve been to games that they invited me to, and I’ve been to Duke’s games, [North] Carolina’s, [NC] State’s, Army’s, Vanderbilt, and ECU’s games. Yeah, also, I've been to [NC] State’s Junior Day and Duke’s Junior Day, and I’ll also be at Wake Forest’s Junior Day.
BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in this process?
Not really standing out, but honestly all the schools I’ve gone to I wouldn’t mind going to, but none of them stick out. I wouldn’t mind going to any of the schools that I’m in contact with right now.
BDN: Do you have any plans for additional visits or camps this spring or summer?
I don’t know which ones they are, but I’m definitely – my summer’s gonna be full of camps, I’ll definitely go to [NC] State’s, [North] Carolina, Wake Forest’s, probably Vanderbilt again. I’m just gonna try to sign myself up for as many as I can without conflicting with any other dates.
BDN: At this point in the process, do you have an idea about when you would like to make your college decision?
I’d say probably the last possible second or day that I can make my decision. Unless a school pops up that I really like, or if I change my mind about school and feel like I could commit there early, but as of right now I’ll probably wait until next year’s signing day.
BDN: Is there anything else that you think is important for college football fans to know about you?
The only thing I can think of is that I don’t think most people realize I like music as much as I like football, and that’s part of the reason I want to major in it.
In their four 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. Mark Harrell is a 6’5” 260 pound offensive lineman from Charlotte, North Carolina. The standout junior offensive lineman has an offer from Duke among his impressive list of offers, and hopes to have a final decision before his senior season. Mark’s highlights 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?
Well, blocking is my strong suit. We run an offense where primarily blocking, run blocking, but yeah, have good leverage, good explosion off the ball, good feet, and yeah, primarily run blocking.
BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?
Pass blocking, I’ve been getting in the weight room, but during basketball season it’s hard to really keep up with that, but I’ve been definitely working on pass blocking, that’s something I need to work on because we run the ball a lot, but my offensive line coach used to play for the Panthers, so he knows what he’s talking about, and he’s teaching me a lot about pass blocking.
BDN: What are some of your goals for your senior year?
You know, keep the tradition going of another good, winning season, take it home this year. We felt we were so close but fell short last year, but this year I want to take it back home.
BDN: As you look at your college decision, what are the most important factors you are looking for in a school?
Primarily academics. Also, if I like the campus, if I like the location where I am, since I’m gonna be living there for the next 4 or 5 years, depending on whether I get redshirted or not, but that, and also depth chart, I want to see if I’m gonna have a chance to play. But yeah, primarily academics.
BDN: Is there a specific academic field you are interested in?
Probably business or management.
BDN: Which schools have you heard from the most? Who were the first to contact you?
The first schools to contact and offer were – Duke was the first to offer, then came Georgia Tech to offer, then UVA offered, Kentucky, and then NC State last night, but other than those 5 that offered, I’ve been hearing a lot from Clemson. I’ve also been hearing a lot from Wake Forest. I’ve been hearing some from Michigan and West Virginia, and I’m also starting to hear some stuff from Tennessee and Notre Dame as well.
BDN: Have you had a chance to visit any schools so far?
BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process?
I mean, I like all of them, all said. I’m not gonna try to pick any favorites, you know, I like all schools, yeah, just basically like all of them.
BDN: Do you have any other visits planned for this spring or summer?
I’m going down to UVA for a junior day. I’m also going back to Duke, and I think Clemson as well. Hopefully that’ll go well, but other than that, I’ve been trying a lot more visits. I think I’m trying to go down, fly down to Notre Dame, see what that’s all about. But other than that, I’ve been planning – other than the ones that I’ve mentioned, but I’m sure I will in the summer.
BDN: Do you have an idea for when you would like to make your college decision?
I’d like to pick a top 5 by the start of summer, hopefully, and then maybe make a decision before – early into my senior – high school season, but that’s in a perfect world, so we’ll see what happens, but that’d be ideal, where I’m going before the season starts, before my senior year starts.
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