Tag Archives: Football Recruiting News

Duke Football

Duke offers QB Bilal Marshall, who has an ACC favorite early

ACC schools are lining up for QB Bilal Marshall

Bilal Marshall is one of the top quarterback prospects in the state of Florida and one of the top dual-threat prospects in the country. At 6’3” and 170 pounds, Marshall has a good frame and a natural athleticism that makes him an elusive playmaker. Several ACC programs are recruiting the standout signal-caller from Miami’s Dade Christian, and one school has stood out to him early. Highlights of his sophomore season can be viewed here.

BDN: Can you start off by describing the strengths and weaknesses of your game for someone who hasn’t had a chance to see you play?

Well, I play quarterback and I’m a dual-threat. When everything is locked up, nothing makes a defense more mad than when a quarterback goes and gets a first down himself. I can run the ball pretty well, I had over 900 yards rushing myself this year and I can throw the ball good. I think that I’m very accurate and I’ve got a good arm. That’s pretty much it there.

BDN: Being a quarterback, is there a particular player in the NFL or in college that you compare yourself to or have studied closely?

Well, right now it’s Darron Thomas, the quarterback for Oregon. I feel like we have a very similar type of play.

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

Well the main thing the college coaches tell me is to keep working on my feet. They say my feet have gotten better from my sophomore year. I’ve gotten a lot better. They just want me to keep working on it so that it will help me make better throws. That’s the main thing I’m working on this whole offseason – footwork.

BDN: I know you had a great year last season and made the playoffs. What are your goals for your team and yourself individually for the fall?

For my senior year, number one is to win a state championship. I’ve got my last chance to do it. I want to probably have over 3,000 all-purpose yards, and try to mentor some of the young kids that’s coming in and try to help the legacy of my school keep going on.

BDN: What are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

Definitely academics. Whatever is going to fit me for my future because making it to the NFL is a one in a million chance, so that main thing is academics.

BDN: Is there a particular field or program that you’re interested in academically?

Right now it’s open. I don’t know yet. I’m still in the process of trying to figure out what I want to do in life.

BDN: What schools have you recently heard from? Who were the first schools to contact you?

Wake Forest has always been on top for me. They’ve been out ahead and coming to talk to me every once in awhile, coming to my school. I have a great bond with the recruiting coordinator, with Coach Ray McCartney. They offerd me early in my year. I have just recently got an offer from Duke and from Boston College. Right now, I feel like Wake Forest has really been after me and so has Rutgers.

BDN: Which schools have you had a chance to visit so far? What schools do you definitely plan on visiting later this year?

The only school I’ve been to is an unofficial visit to Wake Forest, I’ve been to one of their camps. I’m going to be going to a Junior Day at UM [Miami] this weekend and a Junior Day at Clemson April 9. And I’ll probably make the spring game for Wake Forest in late April.

BDN: Are there any schools that you haven’t heard a lot from or that you’re hoping to receive an offer from soon?

Definitely Clemson. I’ve grown up watching them play. I like to watch them play because of their explosive plays. I could definitely see myself in that program, but whatever happens, happens.

BDN: You also mentioned that Rutgers, Duke, and Boston College have offered you. How much do you know about those schools and do you plan on visiting or learning more?

Well it’s still early. I’m still trying to build a bond with those other schools. I’ve only talked to Duke maybe three times. Rutgers has been on me also, they’re probably right behind Wake Forest, with talking to me and being in contact with them all the time. Boston College I’ve only met the recruiter once, but they told me they’ll keep in contact with me.

BDN: Do you have any plans for what camps you will attend at this point?

Too early right now. I’m not sure if I will be attending any college camps, but it feels like probably the Manning Passing Academy, depending on financials. It’s an expensive trip.

BDN: It’s still very early in the process, but ideally, when would you like to make your college decision?

I’ll probably make my decision by Signing Day next year. I won’t be committing anywhere before then.

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

I’m just one person that’s willing to do anything for whatever program I’m with. I feel like I’m a great kid, I’m willing to help out anybody. And I just love to win, so whatever program I’m in, I’ll do my best to lead that team to 10 wins on the season or more.

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

No problem. Alright, thank you sir.

Duke Football

Duke and NC State are the first to offer top in-state TE Dan Beilinson

TE Dan Beilinson already has offers from Duke, NCSU, ASU, and Vanderbilt

Dan Beilinson is a 6’5” 220 pound tight end from Cary, North Carolina. As a junior, Beilinson caught 37 passes for over 500 yards, helping Panther Creek to a conference title and the state regional playoffs. One of the top tight end prospects in the state, his performance earned him 1st Team Tri-Nine All-Conference, among many other accolades. Although he currently is in the middle of basketball season, college football coaches have been in close contact with the pro-style tight end prospect. NC State and Duke were the first two programs to extend a verbal offer to Beilinson, and several other top programs from around the country have shown strong interest to Beilinson and his coach, Wayne Bragg. Highlights from Dan’s junior year can be viewed here.

BDN: Can you start off by describing the strengths and weaknesses of your game for someone who hasn’t had a chance to see you play?

I’d have to say I’ll go 100% all the time, I’m a hard worker. Panther Creek football has really taught me  good work ethic and with hard work we can get from being a 5-7 team that we were two years ago to a 13-2 team we were this past season. I think I’m able to exhibit that. More specifically, I think I was made for a tight end, 6’5” 220 [pounds] as a junior right now, I think I’ve got the size and that allows me to block and run, and pretty much do that efficiently.

BDN: What are some of the things you are focusing on this offseason as you head into the fall?

So far this offseason, I have basketball right now, so I haven’t been able to work out during the offseason workouts with the team, but I’m hitting up the weight rooms, trying to get bigger, stronger, and faster whenever I can. For this spring and summer, I don’t know what camps I’ll attend yet. I haven’t really talked about it much with my parents so I can’t answer that yet.

BDN: What are some of the goals you have for your team and yourself individually for your senior season?

Oh yeah, for the team, I just want us to do obviously as good as our skill can do, which I think, again, with the hard work that Panther Creek football coaching staff provides we’ll be able to get just as far, hopefully we can go all the way. Every team wants that, but I really just want good teamwork and everyone always being there for each other,  and hopefully we’ll get far into the playoffs again this season.

BDN: What are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

I’d have to say education is definitely important to me. Football program - I don’t really have a specific interest or any biases as of right now. But the coaching staff is really important to me, I have to be able to be on good terms with the coaches and so far that’s been pretty good for me. So I’d have to say education and coaching staff.

BDN: What schools have you recently heard from? Who were the first schools to contact you?

Well, NC State and Duke have personally spoken to me and given offers. Arizona State and Vanderbilt, my coach says they have offered me verbally, but I haven’t personally received that notification yet.

BDN: Which schools have you had a chance to visit so far? What schools do you definitely plan on visiting later this year?

At this point I’ve gone to NC State and Duke for Junior Days, so far. I’ve been invited to a couple of other ones but I haven’t been able to attend them yet. I’m really keeping my options open. I want to see what schools will contact me and show interest and then depending on that, I’ll make my decision whether or not I want to go over there and see what their campus is like and what their football program is like.

BDN: It’s still very early in the process, but ideally, when would you like to make your college decision?

I think it’s going to hit me when it hits me, but it probably won’t be before the season, I think it would probably be during or right after. I’ll  most likely have a decision by then, but as of right now I can’t tell you for sure when it will happen.

BDN: Is basketball something that you hope to continue at all in college or will you focus solely on football?

Yeah, I’m definitely going to focus just on football. Basketball is good for athleticism, footwork, and all that stuff right now.

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

Thank you, you too.

Duke Football

Ohio TE Blake Thomas visits Duke for Junior Day

Notre Dame is an early favorite for TE Blake Thomas

Blake Thomas is a 6’4” 240 pound tight end from Westlake, Ohio. In his first full season as a starter at St. Ignatius in 2010, Thomas solidified himself as one of the top prospects in the state, attracting interest from several Big Ten and ACC schools. Highlights from his junior year can be viewed here. While Notre Dame is an early favorite, Blake visited Duke for Junior Day and thought he could fit in with the Blue Devil program.

BDN: Can you start off by describing the strengths and weaknesses of your game for someone who hasn’t had a chance to see you play?

My strengths – I’m pretty big, I’m a good blocker. I have good hands and I can use my body to get off guys on routes. I catch a lot of passes over the middle, too.

 

BDN: What are some of the goals you have for yourself and your team this fall?

Definitely for the team our goal is to go 10-0, to win a state championship this year. We’re supposed to be pretty good, we’ve got a couple good players coming back, actually most of our team is returning. Personal goals – I want to have more catches this year, preferably upwards of 35, probably over 10 touchdowns would be a goal for me. I want to work on exploding off my blocks more, my footwork is – I have good footwork in my blocks, but sometimes I don’t explode as well as I’d like.

 

BDN: What are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

Definitely I want to play for a school that wins games, that would be something big. But even bigger would be academics and the school itself. The campus, I have to like it where I am. It doesn’t matter if I’m playing football if I don’t like the school that I’m at. So pretty much the campus life, the location of the school. I have to make sure that I like that.

 

BDN: What schools have you recently heard from? Who was the first school to contact you?

My earliest contact was Cincinnati. Since then I’ve had a lot more. I’ve had a lot of contact with Notre Dame recently, and Boston College. Some with Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Northwestern – schools like that.

 

BDN: Can you talk a little about the schools you have been able to visit recently?

Duke, I’m just getting back from. Duke was awesome. The coaches were great, they seemed really interested. I really liked the school, I know it’s a top academic school and I feel I could really fit into the system there. That’s what’s attractive about Duke and I like it a lot. Before that I saw Notre Dame, I saw a game at Notre Dame and met some of the coaches there during the football season. And then before that I went to Cincinnati. Those are the three schools I’ve been able to visit so far. I’ve had other invites, but they just haven’t worked with my schedule.

 

BDN: Of the schools you’ve visited so far and heard from, are there any schools that have particularly impressed you?

Up until now, my top school has definitely been Notre Dame. I’ve had a lot of communication with them and I’ve seen the campus a lot. I’ve seen a game there. I’ve been really pleased with it and I like it a lot. I think once I’ve been to more schools, once I’ve seen Boston College and Northwestern – schools like that, I’ll have a better idea of the schools that I’ll really be interested in.

 

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

I know I’m seeing Notre Dame February 26. Also I got invited to LSU recently but I don’t know if I’m going to go all the way down there for a Junior Day. I’m not sure if I’m going to go to any other schools for Junior Days right now. I have a couple more that I can choose from, but just with driving and stuff I’m not sure I want to go all over the place right now. I’m sure I’ll be at a couple places for spring practices, too.

 

BDN: It’s still very early in the process, but ideally, when would you like to make your college decision?

Well ideally I’d like to be able to put if off until after my senior year, but if I got a school like Notre Dame before my senior year, I’d probably commit so I wouldn’t have to worry about it. But kind of the plan would be to wait out, see how many I could get, how many schools I really liked that I could get offers from. But definitely if a big school like that offered me, I’d probably take it.

 

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

Not really, other than that. Schools that I’m looking for would be a good football school with a great campus and good academics. Stuff like that is really important. Other than that, not really.

 

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

Thanks.

Duke Football

2012 All-State Kicker Paul Griggs visits Duke for Junior Day

Paul Griggs is one of the top kickers in the class of 2012

Paul Griggs is a 6’1” 192 pound kicker from Charlotte, North Carolina. After a standout junior campaign in which he helped Charlotte Latin reach the State Championship Game, he received numerous post-season accolades, including NCISAA All-State First Team, CISAA All-Conference Team, and AP All-State ballot for North Carolina. Paul attributes much of his success to his dedicated kicking coach Dan Orner.  On the camp circuit, Paul has impressed coaches and scouts with his place-kicking ability and several top college football programs have showed early interest in the junior. Most recently, he was at Duke for a Junior Day and has several other visits planned for the spring and summer. Highlights from Paul’s high school career can be viewed here.

BDN: Can you start off by describing some of your strengths and weaknesses for someone who hasn’t had a chance to see you play?

I’m a place-kicker primarily. I kickoff and I also punt. My strengths lie in placekicking and kicking off.

BDN: Can you talk a little about some of the kicking camps you’ve been invited to and attended?

I’ve been going to Chris Sailer’s National Kicking Event since my freshman year. I went twice my freshman year, once my sophomore year, and I just went again this year, it was about two or three weeks ago. Two weeks before that I went to National Camp Series Supercamp, which was in association with the Army National Combine, just for kickers. I’ve gone to a couple of Kohl’s kicking camps - I went to a regional showcase with them. I’ve been to multiple college camps. I’ve been to a bunch of Chris Sailer regional camps in Charlotte and in Georgia.

BDN: What are some of the things you’ve been working on this offseason and what are your goals for your senior season?

For my senior season, definitely I want to help my team as much as I possibly can get to a state championship and win it this year. We made it to the state championship last year and lost to our rivals [Charlotte] Country Day. It was a pretty devastating loss. It was not good. As far as personal goals for myself, I want to be able to repeat my All-Conference and All-State selections and hopefully I’ll have a shot at the Army All-American selection for the East. That would be phenomenal.

BDN: As you’re approaching your college decision in general, what are the key factors you’re looking for in a school?

Number one I’m looking for a school that’s high academically. That’s very important to me and my family. And then basically a good football program. People say, “don’t chase a coach,” but at least for me if I see that the program has had good coaches in the past and the current coach is a good coach and I like their philosophy, that even if that coach decides to leave, I know that the athletic department, barring anything dramatic, would try to seek out a coach with a similar philosophy. But probably the most important thing would be academics.

BDN: You mentioned academics as the most important factor; is there any academic field in particular that you are most interested in, or just overall good academics?

Yeah, that’s really why I’m looking for good academics because I have no idea what I want to study. I want to have opportunities in any area that I might choose later on.

BDN: Who are some of the schools that have been in contact with you? Who were some of the first to contact you and who have you been hearing from the most?

Some of the first contacts we got from coaches were at camps I went to in June. Penn State, Harvard, Yale, UNC, Pitt – I didn’t talk to the coach at Pitt, but at all the other camps, I had pretty substantial face-to-face time with the special teams coach. Recently, as of September 1st, I’ve been receiving mail from Duke, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin…and I think that’s about it.

BDN: What schools have you had a chance to visit recently and which schools do you plan to visit again?

I was just at Duke’s Junior Day, it was either last weekend or two weeks ago. That was the second time I’ve been up there. I went in the fall for one of their games. Obviously all the schools I mentioned that I’ve been to their camps. And Virginia, I’ve been to their camp too. Virginia, I’ve actually been to a few times, not just for their kicking camp, but also my coach, one of his coaching friends has a camp there that’s a real instructional camp – it’s real intensive and it’s been held at Virginia for the past three years. I’ve also gone up there frequently for other things, my mom being an alumna of that school. I went to soccer camps when I was little there, I went to golf camps when I was little. So that’s the one I’ve been to the most. Duke – I’ve been up there twice. Harvard, I went up in the fall to a game – I went to the Harvard/Yale game. I plan on going there again in late June. I also plan on going to Yale again, I want to say in April. It’s either their Junior Day or their Spring Game. In terms of camps I plan on attending, the list is long and we’re trying to shorten it. I don’t even know if I could ramble off all the schools.

BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for college football fans to know about you either as a person or as a player?

Tremendous dedication. I feel like I never can just sit back and rest on the achievements that I’ve done. I just keep pushing myself to get better, to get stronger, to improve my form. I’m never satisfied with past accomplishments. I feel like there’s always something more I can do to get better and to help my team more.

BDN: That’s certainly a great attitude to have. Thanks a lot, Paul and best of luck to you.

Alright, you too.

Duke Football

2012 OL Prospect Andrew Maddox Comes Away Impressed by Duke’s Junior Day

Andrew Maddox was impressed by Duke's Junior Day

Duke kicked off the 2012 recruiting season this past weekend with the first of two Junior Days in Durham. Over 100 prospects made the trip to campus and most came away impressed with the Blue Devil program. BDN kicks off our coverage of the class of 2012 with a series of interviews with the weekend’s visitors.

Andrew Maddox is a 6’5” 270 pound offensive lineman from Woodbridge, Virginia. Although he's high on UVA early, he visited Duke last weekend for junior day and came away impressed. Highlights of Andrew's junior year can be viewed here.

BDN: Can you start off by describing the strengths and weaknesses of your game for someone who hasn’t had a chance to see you play?

I would have to say that my strengths on the field…I have good footwork and I think I’m pretty strong so that helps out with run blocking and stuff. I think my weaknesses, I think would be my hand placement. I have to work on that some when it comes to run blocking.

BDN: What are some of the goals you have for yourself and your team this fall?

My goals individually are to really cut down on tackles in the backfield on my side, really make my side the strong side. I think for my team, I would really like to get back the first round of the playoffs because these last two years that I’ve been on varsity, we’ve lost the first game we played in the playoffs. I’d really like to get past the first round.

BDN: What are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

Definitely the academics, that’s going to be a major one. And I’m also going to look at playing time, which is another big one. And like the size of the school. I’m not really wanting like a super-small school, I’m looking more for a school that has a lot of people and that kind of stuff.

BDN: What schools have you recently heard from? Who was the first school to contact you?

Definitely at the top of my list is UVA. I’ve been in contact with them for quite awhile now and I’ve gone down for a football game in the fall and I’m about to go to their Junior Day in February. Also, Richmond I’m really looking at; I’ve been talking to them a lot too. And after I just went to Duke’s Junior Day I was really impressed with them and they’re on the top too. I’m also talking to East Carolina, and OD [Old Dominion].

BDN: Other than UVA’s Junior Day, do you have any additional visits or camps planned?

I’m definitely going to be doing camps once they start happening. I’m definitely going to go to UVA’s 1-day camps, probably a couple of those. I know Richmond is having a 1-day big man camp kind of thing in June, and I’m definitely going to attend that. I’m also going to attend just like college camps, 1-day camps and that kind of stuff.

BDN: It’s still very early in the process, but ideally, when would you like to make your college decision?

To be honest with you, right now I’m just going to see how it goes.

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

Well, just to let anyone know that I want to go to a college that wants me and that I can contribute the most to. Wherever I go, I’ll work the hardest and contribute the most of my abilities to the team.

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

Yeah, no problem. Thanks for calling me.

Duke Football

Durham Hillside prospect Jamal Marcus visits Duke

Hillside's Jamal Marcus makes a tackle

Duke kicked off the 2012 recruiting season this past weekend with the first of two Junior Days in Durham. Over 100 prospects made the trip to campus and most came away impressed with the Blue Devil program. BDN kicks off our coverage of the class of 2012 with a series of interviews with the weekend’s visitors.

Jamal Marcus is a 6’2” 225 pound defensive line prospect from Durham’s Hillside High School, the same program that produced current Duke players Desmond Scott, Corey Gattis, and Brandon Watkins. After winning the Defensive MVP Award at last summer’s Nike camp in Blacksburg, the standout defensive end went on to lead Hillside to a North Carolina State Championship in the fall. His performance on the field has drawn interest from coaches around the country, but the junior stayed home last weekend to visit Duke for Junior Day. Highlights from Jamal's junior year can be viewed here.

BDN: Can you start off by describing the strengths and weaknesses of your game for someone who hasn’t had a chance to see you play?

My strength is mostly my speed and my athleticism. My strengths on the field are really my speed and I want to win bad. So that’s my strength, too, my desire to win.

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

My goal is basically to put on some more weight, put on some more pounds. Get faster, help get my team better. I want to go for an undefeated season. So basically get faster, get bigger, get better, and get my teammates better.

BDN: What are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

I’m looking for good team chemistry. A place where I can feel like family at. A place that really wants to win.

BDN: What schools have you recently heard from? Who was the first school to contact you?

We got Oregon, you got Alabama, you got Nebraska, you got [North] Carolina, you got [NC] State, you got ECU. A lot of schools right now, pretty much everybody in North Carolina. And a lot of schools right now and my options are open right now. I don’t know where I want to go to right now.

BDN: Which schools have you had a chance to visit so far? Were there any schools you came away particularly impressed with?

I visited Duke, ECU, NC State, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech. I liked all of them. When I went to ECU it felt like a family down there, but when I went to Duke, there’s a lot of opportunities that can be made outside of football, as well. So…I like a lot of schools right now at this moment.

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

Well, I’m going to the Wake Forest Junior Day next week, I think. And the [North[ Carolina Junior Day after that.

BDN: It’s still very early in the process, but ideally, when would you like to make your college decision?

I don’t know. I’ll probably wait and see the best school that fits me. I’ll probably wait until my season’s over to find the school that best fits me.

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

Jamal Marcus: "I have a desire to win and a desire to be the best."

I want people to know I have a desire to win and a desire to be the best. I just want to be the best, you know, desire to win.

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

You too, bye.