Tag Archives: Duke Football

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.

Durham Hillside prospect Jamal Marcus visits Duke

February 4, 2011 Patrick Cacchio

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.

Duke Football

2012 TE prospect Dakota Jackson takes a 2nd trip to Duke

February 3, 2011 Patrick Cacchio

With national signing day wrapping up, football recruiting will officially transition from the class of 2011 to the class of 2012. 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 this weekend’s visitors.

Dakota Jackson is a 6’4” 245 pound tight end prospect from Roanoke, VA. He already has been contacted by an impressive list of schools, and recently made his second trip to Durham for Duke’s Junior Day. Highlights from his junior year, during which he helped Northside High School to a state championship, 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?

Hard nosed football. That’s how I base everything I do. Just getting after it until the whistle blows, basically.

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

After last season, my goal is to get up to about 240-245, and I’ve already gained all that and it’s not fat at all, it’s all muscle. I’m gonna stay in the weight room, try to get my 40 time to about 4.6 flat, around in there. Just keep working with the team and everything, try to get better and try to win another state championship next year.

BDN: You mentioned winning another state championship this fall. What are some of your other goals for yourself individually and your team?

We do like a line, like grading, because we run the ball a lot, and I want to grade out above 95% for the whole year. I want to have at least like 4 or 5 pancakes each game. Catching-wise, probably like about 10, 15, or even 20 touchdowns this year.

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

Whether I fit in there, if it’s a program that uses the tight end, that isn’t just a glorified tackle, that use them in their scheme. It’s all about just finding the right home and that kind of stuff. It all fits in. Just if it fits for me and everything clicks. I mean all the campuses I’ve been to so far, they were all nice so it would be tough to say which one sticks out the most because I like them all so far.

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

First ones to contact were area schools like VMI, Liberty, Richmond, and then [Virginia] Tech and UVA followed. Penn State, UCLA, Maryland, ECU, Duke, and Tennessee a little bit. I’ve been to Duke twice now, their Junior Day this weekend and I went to a game back in the fall. I’ve been to [Virginia] Tech twice – I went to see two of their games. I go there the 26^th of February for their Junior Day. UVA – I went to watch one of their games and I went to a couple other games up there with a couple of my friends. Haven’t been able to go up to Penn State yet, but I’m planning on it either this offseason or next year. I go to Richmond the 20^th of February for a visit.

BDN: I know you said earlier that you liked all the schools you have visited so far. Were there any schools you came away particularly impressed with?

I was impressed with Duke’s academics. They spend just thousands and thousands on just the academics alone and making sure that once you graduate you’re not only going to have a degree, but you’re going to have an education behind that degree. If football doesn’t work out for you, then you’re going to have something to fall back on. I mean I’m looking for that too, because it doesn’t always work out and you’re going to have to have that education to back it up. But all the football programs, they’ve all been great, so I couldn’t really put one ahead of the other right now.

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

I’m not sure, I’m probably just going to have to play it by ear. If it happens soon, then that’s good. Just whenever the offer comes and whether or not it’s a fit for me. I’ll have to make that decision then, because I’m not sure, to tell you really right now.

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

Off the field, I’m like a book guy. I just try and keep my grades as high as they can get and that kind of stuff. But on the field, I just play with tenacity, I just get after it every play and I hate to lose. I do everything I can and in the offseason, I work my butt off with my teammates and everything just so that we don’t lose. We just keep doing better and better and better.

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

Thanks, you too.

Duke Football

BDN’s Duke Signing Day Coverage

February 2, 2011 Patrick Cacchio

Will Monday signing day — Will Monday signs his NLI at the USA U-19 game in Austin, TX

National Signing Day has arrived, and Duke fans are wondering who will be the impact players in the class of 2011. The Blue Devils received a signing day surprise as Alabama TE David Reeves committed to Duke this morning. Blue Devil Nation's Mark Watson will have coverage today from Head Coach David Cutcliffe's press conference introducing the Duke Football Class of 2011.

Visit our Duke Football section to read recent interviews with the members of Duke's class of 2011.

DUKE FOOTBALL CLASS OF 2011

OL Matt Skura 6'3" 265 pounds Columbus, Ohio

DL Sam Marshall 6'8" 250 pounds - Fredericksburg, Virginia

DL Lucas Fisher 6'3" 245 pounds - Monroe, North Carolina

LB Britton Grier 6'2" 190 pounds - Charlotte, North Carolina

DL Mario Sanders 6'4" 220 pounds - Greer, South Carolina

LB David Helton 6'3" 225 pounds - Chattanooga, Tennessee

OL Lucas Patrick 6'3" 280 pounds - Brentwood, Tennessee

ATH Jamison Crowder 5'8" 180 pounds - Monroe, North Carolina

OL Carson Ginn 6'5" 255 pounds - Belmont, North Carolina

K Will Monday 6'4" 176 pounds - Flowery Branch, Georgia

DL Kyler Brown 6'4" 210 pounds - Charlotte, North Carolina

OL Marcus Aprahamian 6'3" 300 pounds - Brookfield, Wisconsin

DB Tim Burton 5'8" 155 pounds - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

DB Jared Boyd 5'9" 170 pounds - Stone Mountain, Georgia

OL Cody Robinson 6'2" 305 pounds - McMinnville, Tennessee

WR Nick Hill 6'2" 200 pounds - Nashville, Tennessee

DB Chris Tavarez 5'10" 195 pounds - Atlanta, Georgia

TE David Reeves 6'5" 245 pounds - Greensboro, Alabama

WR Blair Holliday 6'3" 195 pounds - Westlake Village, California

Duke Football

2012 WR Jaleel Dukes is high on ACC schools early

February 1, 2011 Patrick Cacchio

With national signing day approaching, football recruiting will officially transition from the class of 2011 to the class of 2012. 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 this weekend’s visitors.

Jaleel Dukes is a 6’2” 190 pound receiver from Woodbridge, VA. After missing most of his sophomore year with an injury, Jaleel is now considered to be one of the top receivers in the state. Though it’s still early in his recruitment, Duke made a good impression during his recent visit to Durham.

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 are my size because I’m a bigger type of person, I’ve always been bigger. I used to play basketball so going up for the ball, I can block other people off. My weaknesses sometimes I tend to slack a little bit sometimes when I’m tired, you know, stamina issues. I’m a good route runner. I work on my routes everyday. I’m just a hard worker.

BDN: As you work this spring and summer, what are some of the goals you have for yourself individually and your team next fall?

Become a better leader on offense and defense. I want to get the most catches and the most yards in a season, that’s a really big one for me and my family. They’ve always wanted me to do that. That’s really about it. Just becoming a leader not just for my team, but for younger kids, like JV and freshmen. Becoming a role model for them since they’re new to the school.

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

Atmosphere and family. That’s a really big thing. I really enjoy having a family there because coming in as a freshman, you don’t really know the college style and the college life and that’d be a good place to go. Somewhere like Duke, Duke would be a really good place.

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

WR Jaleel Dukes was in Durham for Duke's Junior Day

Clemson was the first, and Virginia Tech.

BDN: What are your plans for visits and camps?

I want to visit Duke again. I want to visit there. I want to visit North Carolina, Clemson, and Virginia Tech.

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

I’m going to make the decision when the time is right. I’m not going to really worry about it, I’m just going to let things fall into place. I’m not going to rush anything. I don’t want to stress about it. I just want to play football and get this state title.

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

I’m a good person. I don’t involve myself with anybody that’s going to mess my future up. I go to church, I’m a church boy, grown up in the church, so that’s a good thing.

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

No problem.

Duke Football

2012 athlete C.J. Stancil is impressed with what Duke has to offer

January 31, 2011 Patrick Cacchio

With national signing day just a few days away, football recruiting will officially transition from the class of 2011 to the class of 2012. 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 this weekend’s visitors.

C.J. Stancil is a 5’11” 185 pound athlete from Chesterfield, VA. As a junior, C.J. was named 2^nd-team All District at running back. The speedy prospect visited Durham for Junior Day and came away impressed with what the program has to offer. Highlights of C.J.'s junior 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, on defense, on the defensive side of the ball, I’m a ball-hawk. I’m always near the ball, flying to the ball and I go 100% every play. I’m very physical and I have good feet. On offense, I just like contact, also I play running back, so I like to get the ball and get in the end zone.

BDN: As you work this spring and summer, what are some of the goals you have for yourself individually and your team next fall?

My #1 goal is to make the playoffs this year. That would be a great achievement for our school because we’ve only been open for 5 or 6 years and our football team has never made the playoffs, so that would be my main goal. Individual-wise, I would like to make the All-Dominion District Team and possibly All-State. I want to win Districts too, of course, for our team. That would be good.

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

I’m just looking for an environment that fits me well. I’m looking for the coaches to be – to seem like they actually care about you and want the best for you, and to really know what they’re doing. I just really want the coaches – I’m not really sure exactly what I’m trying to say, but I just want an environment that fits me and feels at home to me. I could actually see that at Duke the other day. I really liked the vibe I was getting from the whole campus and the coaches and everything.

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

Duke has contacted me, UVA and Rutgers were some of the first one. U of R [Richmond] came by the school, Virginia Tech also came by the school, and Liberty, a 1-AA school. That’s about it. Those are pretty much the schools I’m considering. I’ve also heard from Wake Forest through the mail, and Tulsa and Missouri, but those were only through the mail.

BDN: What are your plans for visits and camps?

No doubt. I’m trying to get out to a lot of the junior days. I’m going to UVA’s junior day, I’m going to U of R’s junior day. Those are coming up pretty soon. I’m looking to go to Wake Forest too, maybe.

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

I would definitely like to take my time in my decision. Probably towards the end of the season. I don’t want to be too quick in my decision.

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

My grades are very good in school. I take pride in my grades and try to keep those up because I know that’s important. I haven’t decided what I want to study yet, I just want to keep my options open.

BDN: Thanks a lot, C.J. and best of luck.

No problem.