Category Archives: Duke Football

Duke Football

A Loaded Alabama Team is Too Much For Duke

The Duke Blue Devils have the unenviable task of opening their college football season against #2 Alabama in the Chic-Fil-A kickoff game.

While the game is technically played on a neutral field, Crimson Tide fans will be  in 99% of the seats in Atlanta, Ga.  Duke Coach David Cutcliffe said during his press conference, that he turned up the crowd noise as loud as it would go trying to prepare for the noise factor expected in Atlanta.

Adding to the difficulty in this matchup is the fact that Alabama has incredible depth and talent.  The Tide simply reloads from season to season with future NFL players and they have multiple All Americans on their roster.

Alabama is coming off an unusual lopsided loss to Clemson in the national championship game a season ago.  So, yeah, they will be more than a little focussed and they have already tabbed as a 35 point favorite over Duke.

If you need more hype for the Blue Devils opponent, Alabama has won 44 consecutive non-conference games.  The Tide has also won 17 straight season-opening games.

Alabama has it all.  Check the boxes off on household names like quarterback Tua Tagovalga who leads a bevy of NFL talent at every position on offense.

Another box to be checked is overall talent where this teams roster has the nation's top recruits for several years running.  In short, they have playmakers galore on offense with too many names to mention.

If that is not enough bad news, Alabama has what is projected to be the best defense in the country.   The Tide backups would start at most of the schools in the country.

The Tide will actually start four freshmen, two of them being interior linemen.  But these are diaper dandies or young men who will be gone after their sophomore season to the NFL draft.

You may have heard Duke coach David Cutcliffe say his program has earned this opportunity and they have.   Duke has been to 6 bowl games in the past 7 seasons.  Duke is also 9-2 in openers since Cutcliffe took over at Duke.

The last time Duke faced Alabama, they added extra bleachers in Wallace Wade Stadium.   That game took place nine years ago and Alabama embarrassed Duke 62-13 and this was when Alabama was just returning to the dominance they display today,

The talent gap has closed since that time, but Duke is rebuilding on offense with the loss of Daniel Jones to the NFL.  Duke will have three true freshmen on their two-deep at wideout and not necessarily because they are ready for this kind of playing time.

While Duke has recruited better, especially up front since the last meeting, Alabama has pretty much gotten every other player they wanted since that time under Nick Saban.

I suppose cutting to the chase is in order here before going any further.  Duke is not going to win this game.

Duke will compete as best they can and Cutcliffe will use film from this game to learn a lot about his team moving forward. The Blue Devils can ill afford injuries at certain positions, so they will look to come out of this one as healthy as possible.

If this game gets out of hand, look for Quentin Harris to be pulled for Chris Katrenick.  The good news is that Duke needs quarterback reps.  The bad news is Duke drops off a lot without Harris due to their backups inexperience.

The bottom line is that Duke has to survive this game.  And this is the best team they will face all year.  Heck, Alabama is the best team every team in the nation would face.

While Duke has some good talent at several positions, Alabama is the kind of juggernaut that just wears you down and then runs roughshod in the second half.

Duke will struggle to find the end zone against Alabama.  The Blue Devils need to control the clock but you have to move the ball in order to do that.  This is quite simply a nightmare of a match up if not the worst possible scenario on paper.

While the Duke defense is a strength, Alabama has a boatload of skilled players want to wipe the loss to Clemson from their memory.

So what I see happening is the defense letting up some points, not so much from not playing well but just getting worn down.  I do not think Duke has the horses to gain a lot of yardage against a stellar Alabama defense.

If Duke turns the ball over, the game can get ugly which is what the majority of people in America expect.  Duke just needs some positives in this game and to come out of the contest relatively healthy. while learning about themselves as a team.

There are just too many negative intangibles in this one.  It is not a good match up for a Duke team breaking in new wideouts and with the kicking game still in question.

The pick here is Alabama 45 Duke 10

Our brass tacks season projecion can be seen by site members on the Blue Devil Nation forum.

Duke Football

Duke Loses Jake Bobo to Injury

One of the positions Duke football is especially thin at is the wide receiver spot.  The Blue Devils lost one of their top returning threats in Jake Bobo in today's practice -

Duke sophomore wide receiver Jake Bobo underwent surgery on Friday to address a fractured right clavicle suffered during Thursday’s practice.  He will be out of action indefinitely. The surgical procedure was performed by Dr. Jonathan Riboh. A native of Belmont, Mass., Bobo had 10 receptions for 167 yards and one touchdown while playing in all 13 games a season ago.

Duke Football

Duke picked 5th in Coastal

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Reigning national champion Clemson is an overwhelming preseason favorite to claim its fifth consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference football title, according to a poll of 173 media members credentialed for last week’s 2019 ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Tigers, who posted a perfect 15-0 record last season en route to earning their second College Football Playoff championship in three years, were also chosen to repeat as Atlantic Division winners. Virginia was picked to finish atop the Coastal Division following an eight-win 2018 season that culminated with a 28-0 shutout of South Carolina in the Belk Bowl.
Clemson was named the likely 2019 ACC champion on 170 ballots. Syracuse picked up two votes, and Virginia received one.
In the Atlantic Division preseason voting, Clemson led the way with 171 first-place votes and 1,209 total points. Syracuse received the other two first-place votes while placing second with 913 points.
Florida State (753 points) was tabbed for a third-place Atlantic Division finish, followed by NC State (666), Boston College (588), Wake Forest (462) and Louisville (253).
The balloting proved much tighter in the Coastal Division, where Virginia received 82 first-place votes and amassed 1,003 total points. The Cavaliers placed just 11 points ahead of Miami (55 first-place votes, 992 points), while Virginia Tech finished third in the voting with 20 first-place votes and 827 points.
All seven Coastal Division teams received at least one first-place vote. Pitt (eight first-place votes, 691) was fourth in the overall voting, followed by Duke (six first-place votes, 566). North Carolina (463) and Georgia Tech (302) each received one first-place vote.
                                                            
The Atlantic and Coastal Division winners will meet in the 2019 ACC Football Championship Game on Saturday, December 7, at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.
ACC Championship Votes
1. Clemson – 170
2. Syracuse – 2
3. Virginia – 1
Atlantic Division
(First place votes in parenthesis)
1. Clemson (171) – 1,209
2. Syracuse (2) – 913
3. Florida State – 753
4. NC State – 666
5. Boston College – 588
6. Wake Forest – 462
7. Louisville – 253
Coastal Division
(First place votes in parenthesis)
1. Virginia (82) – 1,003
2. Miami (55) – 992
3. Virginia Tech (20) – 827
4. Pitt (8) – 691
5. Duke (6) –566
6. North Carolina (1) – 463
7. Georgia Tech (1) – 302
Duke Football

Daniel Jones is the 6th Overall Pick to NYG

DURHAM, N.C. – Former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New York Giants with the sixth overall pick.

“I can’t have enough praise for Daniel, his family or the process he went through to make a decision to bypass a last year here,” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said.  “Anytime you make a decision that is something you really want to do, you make a right decision. There’s a joy in watching players who have worked hard and been committed to the process. Daniel Jones embraces something we believe in here – real swag is no swag.”

Jones, a 6-5, 220-pound native of Charlotte, N.C., attended the NFL Draft in Nashville. He is the highest Blue Devil draft pick since Mike Junkinwent fifth overall to the Cleveland Browns in 1987, and just the seventh Duke player to be selected in the opening round of the draft. Jones is the 14th Duke draft pick by the Giants and the first since Drew Strojny was a seventh round choice in 2004. Jones is also the first Blue Devil quarterback to be chosen in the NFL Draft since Sean Renfree went in the seventh round to the Atlanta Falcons in 2013.

                              A two-year captain and two-time team Most Valuable Player, Jones played in and started 36 career games with the Blue Devils and completed 764 of 1,275 (.599) passes for 8,201 yards with 52 touchdowns and 29 interceptions while rushing 406 times for 1,323 yards and 17 scores.

“He is big, intelligent and has a terrific arm,” Cutcliffe added. “His work ethic and commitment to excellence is right along those same lines. He has a focus on his job and he doesn’t distract easily. He is thirsty for this. It’s refreshing that Daniel’s passion is not money, but success as a player. I’ve never seen him lose his focus.”

Jones closed his career holding Duke all-time records for touchdown-to-interception ratio (1.79), pass completion-to-interception ratio (26.34), pass attempt-to-interception ratio (43.97) and pass attempts per game (35.42). In addition, on Duke’s all-time charts he ranks second in pass completion percentage, second in pass completions per game (21.22), second in most games with multiple touchdown passes (16), second in total offensive yards (9,524), second in TD responsibility (52 passing and 17 rushing), tied for second in games with 30 or more pass completions (5), tied for second in 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback (2), third in passing yards per game (227.81), third in TD passes, third in rushing TDs by a quarterback, tied for third in most games with three or more TD passes (6), third in TD passes of 20 or more yards (27), third in games with 20 or more pass completions (20), third in rushing yards by a quarterback, fourth in pass efficiency rating (122.86), tied for fourth in 300-yard passing games (9), fifth in passing yards, fifth in pass completions, fifth in pass attempts and tied for 14th in rushing TDs.

In 2018, Jones completed 237 of 392 (.605) passes for 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for 319 yards and three TDs on 104 attempts.  The regular season was highlighted by a pair of ACC Quarterback of the Week citations following wins over Northwestern and North Carolina.  In the triumph over the Tar Heels, his third as Duke’s starting quarterback, Jones threw for 361 yards while rushing for 186 yards to post the fifth-highest single-game offensive yardage total (547) in ACC history, also the most by a Blue Devil in a single contest. He capped the season by earning Walk-On’s Independence Bowl Offensive Player of the Game honors after leading Duke to a 56-27 win over Temple thanks to a bowl-record 423 passing yards and six total touchdowns (5 passing and 1 rushing).

 The selection of Jones is Duke’s first NFL Draft pick since Laken Tomlinson (first round) and Jamison Crowder (fourth round) were chosen in 2015.

Duke First Round NFL Draft Picks

Year       Pick        Player                                   Team                                     Position

1940       2              George McAfee                Philadelphia Eagles          RB

1942       4              Steve Lach                           Chicago Cardinals             B

1965       14           Mike Curtis                         Baltimore Colts                 LB

1967       18           Bob Matheson                  Cleveland Browns            LB

1987       5              Mike Junkin                        Cleveland Browns            LB

2015       28           Laken Tomlinson              Detroit Lions                      G

2019       6              Daniel Jones                      New York Giants              QB

Duke Football

Duke Football Spring Showcase Set

DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke Football program will hold its annual Spring Showcase at 6:30 p.m., on Friday, April 5 at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. Admission to the event is open to the public and free of charge.

Following the showcase, at approximately 8:25 p.m., the Blue Devils will hold a meet and greet with the student-athletes and coaches on the field. At around 8:45 p.m., Duke will host a Family Movie Night at Wallace Wade Stadium, showing Remember the Titans. Fans are encouraged to bring a blanket and sit on the field or in a stadium seat to watch a movie on the video board. No chairs are allowed on the playing field.

Duke is coming off an 8-5 campaign that included a victory over Temple in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl. The Blue Devils return 50 lettermen and 15 starters with head coach David Cutcliffe entering his 12th season in Durham.

For the Spring Showcase, the Science Drive Garage (no tailgating) and Grounds Lot (ADA Parking and Blue Devil Tower guests) parking lots will open at 5 p.m. The Bostock Gate (North) and Powers Gate (West) will open at 6 p.m. with all seating on the west side of the stadium. Highlights inside the venue for the showcase include:

  • Open seating will be available on the west side of the stadium, in the blue chairback seats
  • Concessions will be open and Duke Merchandise will be on sale
  • Interactive inflatable games will be set up on the concourse throughout the event
  • Face painters will be on hand during the event
  • Duke Ticket Office will be on hand to answer any questions

Live coverage will be provided on ACC Network Extra, starting at 6:30 p.m. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting GoDuke.com/Footballtix or by calling the Duke Athletics Ticket Office at 919-681-BLUE (2583).

Duke Football

Duke Football Preps for Spring Practice

DURHAM, N.C. – Under the direction of head coach David Cutcliffe, the Duke football team will open spring practice on Friday, March 1 at the Brooks Practice Facility. Under NCAA regulations, the Blue Devils will have 15 practice sessions including the program’s annual Spring Showcase scheduled for Friday, April 5.

Duke returns 15 starters and 50 lettermen from last year’s squad that went 8-5 and capped the campaign with a 56-27 victory over Temple in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl.

Cutcliffe has guided the Blue Devils to six bowl game appearances in the last seven years while this past season, Duke earned its fifth winning campaign in the last six years and picked up the program’s third consecutive bowl victory.

On offense, All-ACC running back Deon Jackson headlines a group of four returning starters including three offensive linemen.  In 2018, Jackson rushed for 847 yards and seven touchdowns while catching 26 passes for an additional 253 yards and two scores.  On October 27 at Pittsburgh, the rising junior established a school single-game record with 403 all-purpose yards while becoming just the third player in ACC history to top the 400-yard plateau.  Up front, guard Rakavius Chambers, tackle Robert Kraeling and center Jack Wohlabaugh return after playing 818, 955 and 828 total snaps, respectively, a season ago.

Duke must replace seven offensive starters including quarterback Daniel Jones, who amassed 9,524 total offensive yards in three years prior to forgoing his final season of eligibility to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.  Rising redshirt senior Quentin Harris returns having played in 23 career games and guided the Blue Devils to wins over Baylor and N.C. Central last fall while Jones missed action due to injury.  In his career, Harris has thrown for 510 yards and eight touchdowns against just one interception while rushing for 275 yards and seven scores.  Rising redshirt sophomore Chris Katrenick and rising redshirt freshman Gunnar Holmberg also return with limited playing experience to their credit.

Defensively, eight starters return including all four linemen and All-ACC safety Dylan Singleton, who posted 73 tackles in 10 games in 2018 before suffering a season-ending injury versus North Carolina.  In addition, Duke brings back tackle Edgar Cerenord, who has played in 41 career games but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury at Georgia Tech on October 13, as the Miami, Fla., native was awarded a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA.  The Blue Devils must replace a pair of all-star linebackers in Joe Giles-Harris (313 career tackles; two-time All-ACC; All-America in 2017) and Ben Humphreys (274 career tackles; two-time All-ACC).

Four members of Duke’s 2019 Signing Class – defensive back Jalen Alexander, defensive back Tony Davis, wide receiver Darrell Harding Jr. and offensive lineman Jacob Monk – enrolled in January and will participate in spring drills.

The Blue Devils open the 2019 season on Saturday, August 31 in Atlanta, Ga., against Alabama. Duke’s home games for the upcoming campaign include dates with North Carolina A&T, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Miami. Season tickets can be purchased by visiting