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Duke Football

Charlotte OL Casey Blaser commits to Duke

Charlotte OL Casey Blaser commited to Duke on Saturday

Head Coach David Cutcliffe and Offensive Line Coach Matt Luke continue to build the Blue Devil offensive line with the addition of Charlotte OL Casey Blaser to the class of 2012. Blaser informed the Duke coaching staff of his verbal pledge to the program on a busy Saturday in Durham. Duke wrapped up its summer camps on Saturday, closing two straight weeks of camps featuring hundreds of high school prospects hoping to impress the Duke coaches. The Duke coaching staff was impressed with Blaser earlier this spring and were the first ACC program to offer him a scholarship, joining ECU, Ball State, and Marshall. At 6'5" and 261 pounds, Blaser is set to anchor the offensive line for South Mecklenburg HS this fall.

BDN recently spoke with Casey about his Duke offer.

Welcome to Duke, Casey!

UPDATE: Casey checked in with us on Sunday to let the Blue Devil Nation know about his decision.

BDN: How did you arrive at your decision to commit to Duke?

Well yesterday I attended their camp and I got to see how the coaching staff worked together and how they coached, and I really enjoyed that. Afterwards I got to see the weight room, the locker room, the training room and I really liked their facilities. I got to talk to Coach Cutcliffe and he told me what they’re trying to accomplish and what they have planned for the future and I just really liked what I was hearing and it just hit me that I want to go here to play football.

BDN: How did you tell the coaching staff and what did they say to you?

At first it was me, my mom and Coach Cutcliffe in his office and we were talking and then after we got done talking me and my mom walked out and as we were walking in the elevator, I told her, “Mom I want to commit here.” She was like “are you sure, do you want to think about it?” And I said, “No, I’m pretty sure I’m ready right now.” So then once we got the chance we went back into his office and we told him and they were happy and they were excited and we were all excited and happy about the decision.

BDN: What other schools were you considering?

I also had offers from ECU, Marshall and Ball State, and South Carolina and Georgia Tech were showing interest.

BDN: What are your plans for the rest of the summer?

Just to stay in shape and keep working for football for my senior year.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Casey, and welcome to Duke.

Thank you.

 

 

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Charlotte OL Casey Blaser impressed by Duke

Charlotte OL Casey Blaser has offers from Ball State, Duke, ECU, and Marshall

With camp season in full swing, recruiting has picked up quickly, and Duke has extended offers to a number of top offensive linemen across the country, and BDN is profiling some of the top 2012 offensive line prospects on Duke’s radar. In-state recruiting has been revitalized under Head Coach David Cutcliffe, and the Blue Devils have targeted an in-state offensive lineman with a recent offer. Casey Blaser is a 6’5” 261 pound offensive line prospect from Charlotte. The Blue Devils are the first ACC school to offer the hard-working lineman, who also has offers from ECU, Ball State and Marshall.

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

In the offense we run, we do a lot of run-blocking, so I think I’m a good run-blocker. I have long arms, so that works. My footwork is ok, my technique is ok, they need to be improved.

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

Been working on my speed and my strength, and my footwork also, those have been the three main things.

BDN: What are your goals for your senior year?

For myself, just to play the best I can play and get the scholarship offer from the school I want to go to. And for the team, hopefully win a conference and state championship.

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

I want to have a college where I feel comfortable, where I feel like I’m at home pretty much, where the coaches are like second fathers. It’s got to have good academics and just a good vibe about it.

BDN: Which schools have you had the most contact with this spring?

Well I’ve been talking to South Carolina, ECU, Ball State, Marshall, Illinois. Those are the teams out of the ACC. The ACC schools have been UNC, Duke, NC State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Clemson.

BDN: Have you had a chance to take any visits yet?

I visited Clemson, UNC, NC State, Duke, Ball State, Illinois, I was at ECU today, and I’m planning on visiting South Carolina next week and then Georgia Tech later this summer and Virginia Tech later this summer too.

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

I like most of the colleges, most of the colleges have good coaching staffs. I have to say of the ones I’ve visited, my favorite ones have been UNC, I really liked UNC today, and then I also liked Duke. Those have probably been my three favorite coaching staffs that I’ve gotten to visit personally.

BDN: Do you have an idea for how you would like to narrow things down and make your decision?

I plan on making a decision in August before the season starts, but I’m not really sure which school right now.

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

I have offers from ECU, Duke, Marshall, and Ball State.

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

Thank you.

 

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Alabama OL Steven Foster interested in learning more about Duke

Demopolis OL Steven Foster wants to learn more about Duke

With camp season in full swing, recruiting has picked up quickly, and Duke has extended offers to a number of top offensive linemen across the country, and BDN is profiling some of the top 2012 offensive line prospects. With Head Coach David Cutcliffe and the Duke staff’s ties to the state of Alabama, the Blue Devils have successfully recruited players like Johnny Williams and David Reeves in recent years, and hope to continue that trend in 2012. Steven Foster is a 6’3” 280 pound offensive line prospect from Demopolis, Alabama and helped Demopolis to a state title in 2009. The big lineman is interested in learning more about the Blue Devils.

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

I’m pretty big, I’ve got good size. I’m 6’4” 295. Most people don’t know football, but I’m pretty intelligent on the football field. I’m quick, I’ve got good feet and good hands. I’m strong in the weight room, and that carries over to the football field.

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

Trying to get stronger, working on speed and quickness.

BDN: What are your goals for your senior year?

Win a state championship, and of course go undefeated. That’s about it.

BDN: What coaches have stopped by or been in contact with you this spring?

Yes sir, we had a lot come by the school this year. We had Duke, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Mississippi State, UAB, Troy, Jacksonville State, Western Kentucky, I think that’s about it.

BDN: Which schools have you had the most contact with so far?

South Alabama, Duke. I’ve talked to Miami a little bit, South Florida, I’ve talked to them a lot. I talk to Memphis about every other week.

BDN: Have you had a chance to take any visits yet?

I went to some Junior Days. I went to Southern Miss, Mississippi State, South Alabama, and I plan on going to a couple camps. I’m actually at a camp right now at Southern Miss. I plan on going here and tomorrow to Mississippi State. Next weekend I’m going to Auburn, the weekend after that I’m going to Alabama. I think that will wrap up for June and then in July I’m probably going to UAB and Ole Miss.

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

Yes sir, South Alabama, I like them a lot. And I’m starting to gain interest in Duke too. I’ve been talking to them more and more, talking to the coaches on Facebook and calling them.

BDN: What stands out to you about South Alabama and Duke so far?

They have a great group of coaches, it’s a family type atmosphere and they like winning. I’ve played against some of the [South Alabama] coaches when they were in high school.

BDN: Do you have an idea for how you would like to narrow things down and make your decision?

After I take all my visits first.

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

Yes sir, thank you.

 

 

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Pinecrest OL Bryce Kennedy likes Duke

Pinecrest OL Bryce Kennedy is looking for a school with good academics

Many consider the strength of Duke’s last recruiting class to be the offensive line, led by Cody Robinson, Marcus Aprahamian, Lucas Patrick, and Matt Skura. Coach Luke and the staff would love to add a few more impact linemen to the roster in the class of 2012, but it’s been a slow start at the position so far. With camp season in full swing, recruiting has picked up quickly, and Duke has extended offers to a number of top offensive linemen across the country, and some close to Durham. One of the top linemen in the state of North Carolina resides in Southern Pines, and 6'3" 285 pound prospect Bryce Kennedy added a Blue Devil offer to his list a few weeks ago.

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

My biggest thing is I’m fast for my size, I get off the ball pretty quick, so I think that’s my biggest strength.

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

Trying to get stronger, I’m in the weight room a lot, doing a lot of weights. I’ve started the speed process, I’m doing less weights, a lot of reps, trying to get faster for the season.

BDN: What are your goals for your senior year?

My senior year I plan on giving my all, making plays, helping my team out, and I hope my team takes after me and gives it their all.

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

Main thing I’m looking for is if they have a good program in academics. I’m big on academics and my mom is too, so I know she’s going to want me to go to a school that’s big on academics.

BDN: Is there a particular academic program you’re interested in studying?

Not right now, I’m still looking around, but I mean schools like Duke and [North] Carolina, top academic schools.

BDN: What schools have you been in contact with the most?

South Carolina, East Carolina, NC State has been by. Clemson has been by, North Carolina by, and Duke has been by. I think that’s been about it. Wake Forest has been by. The schools I’ve been to already has been South Carolina, Duke, and North Carolina and I’m going to NC State this weekend or next weekend. Oh yeah, Stanford came by, too.

BDN: That was going to be my next question. How did your visits go to South Carolina, Duke, and North Carolina?

They’re all great, they’re all great schools. From what I saw, they’re all just great schools and would be great places to go to school.

BDN: Do you have any visits planned for this summer other than NC State?

I plan on going to Stanford this summer and Wake Forest and probably East Carolina. I’ll probably go back to South Carolina, Duke, and UNC too.

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

They’re all new to me, so they’ve all really, really, really surprised me. South Carolina, I know the coaches a lot, I know the OLine coach since I’ve been a freshman he’s been there and what type of guy he is. I like Duke and [North] Carolina a lot because of the campuses and I know how the academics are. I’ve talked to the coaches a lot and they seem like good coaches to have, like they’d be there for me and everything.

BDN: Do you have an idea for how you would like to narrow things down and make your decision?

Yeah, I’m going to talk to my parents about and see what schools are at the top.

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

The only thing that’s really important to me is that I’m going to give my all on every play, I’m going to be there to support my team, and I’m a player that they can count on.

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

Alright, thank you sir.