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Duke Football

BDN Previews Duke vs Virginia Tech

Duke wideouts need a big game for Duke to defeat the Hokies - BDN Photo/Rick Crank

BDN Previews Duke's Trip to Blacksburg

Duke (1-5, 0-3 ACC) and #23 Virginia Tech (5-2, 3-0) will kickoff at noon ET on Saturday in Lane Stadium. The game will be televised by the ACC Network in ACC markets (check for local TV listings here) and will be available at espn3.com in non-ACC markets.  

Duke in Week 7

The Blue Devils fell to the Miami Hurricanes last Saturday in Durham, 28-13. Once again, turnovers doomed the Blue Devils, as the offense committed 7 total turnovers, including 5 interceptions thrown by QB Sean Renfree. The turnovers led to 14 Miami points, including an interception returned for a touchdown on the first drive of the second half, which put the Blue Devils down for good. Yet again, the defense showed tremendous improvement from earlier in the season, holding the talented Miami offense to just 3/12 on 3rd downs and 0/4 on 4th downs. Duke recovered a fumbled kickoff to open the game and also recovered a fumble forced by LB Abraham Kromah in the second 2nd quarter. Junior RB Jay Hollingsworth had his best game as a Blue Devil, “running with a purpose,” as Coach Cutcliffe later described, for 69 yards on 10 carries.  

Virginia Tech in Week 7

The Virginia Tech offense exploded against Wake Forest last week in Blacksburg, blowing out the Demon Deacons 52-21. The Hokies put the game away quickly, scoring on 7 of their first 8 possessions and jumping out to a 49-14 halftime lead. Though they managed just 3 points in the second half, the Hokies totaled a season-high 605 yards of offense, distributed evenly with 314 passing yards and 291 rushing yards. Senior QB Tyrod Taylor led the way with 3 touchdowns through the air and added another on the ground. Junior Darren Evans added 3 more touchdowns on the ground, while sophomore David Wilson ended the game with 105 yards on 15 carries. The defense held the Demon Deacons to just 14 points, but did allow a career-high 241 rushing yards to Josh Harris. 

Analysis

Virginia Tech is playing their best football of the year right now, and it will require an exceptional effort for the Blue Devils to pull off the upset in Blacksburg. It all starts with Taylor, whom Coach Cutcliffe has described as the “best dual-threat quarterback in college football.” While Auburn fans may want to debate that, the bottom line for Duke is that Taylor has accounted for 12 passing touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns, and just 3 interceptions so far in 2010. He ranks in the top 8 in the conference in both passing and rushing yards per game, and is the ACC's most efficient passer. Taylor's favorite target has been junior WR Jarrett Boykin, who has hauled in 29 passes for 469 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season. The Hokies' talented rushing attack behind Taylor is led by Darren Evans, who returns after missing all of 2009 with a knee injury; Evans averages 6.0 yards per carry and has rushed for 8 touchdowns. Last year's ACC Rookie of the Year, Ryan Williams, is expected to return this week after missing several games with a hamstring injury. Sophomore David Wilson moved to the backup role in Williams' absence and averages 6.8 yards per carry. Overall, the Hokies' rank 1st in the ACC at 36 points per game, 3rd in total offense at 415 yards per game, and 2nd in rushing offense at 222 yards per game. 

The typically stingy Virginia Tech defense has been somewhat more forgiving this year, falling in the middle of the ACC in most statistical categories, yielding about 22 points and 354 yards per game to opponents. The Hokies are +3 in turnover margin and have 17 sacks on the year; they rank 3rd in the ACC in rushing defense, giving up 142 yards per game (4.6 yards per carry). Though they started the year with significant youth on defense and special teams, their playmakers have grown up quickly, which partly accounts for their turnaround after the 0-2 start. Sophomore CB Jayron Hosley is tops in the ACC with 4 interceptions and 9 passes defended, while sophomore LB Bruce Taylor enters the game 3rd in the conference in tackles for loss and 8th in total tackles. The defensive front is anchored by senior DE Steven Friday with 4 sacks. Senior LB Davon Morgan and junior S Eddie Whitley add a veteran presence to the defense and rank second on the team in tackles behind Taylor. Whitley is listed as doubtful on the injury report with a foot injury and may be replaced by redshirt-freshman Antone Exum. 

Typical of Frank Beamer's teams, the Hokies are 3rd in both kickoff and punt returns, having returned one of each for a touchdown. Both teams rank in the top 5 in the ACC in fewest penalties, and feature the two most accurate FG kickers in the conference in Will Snyderwine and Chris Hazley. In short, it's tough to find any glaring weaknesses on this Virginia Tech team where the Blue Devils can take advantage. 

The keys to the game for Duke:

1. TURNOVERS: Broken record time. Duke can't compete at the rate the offense is turning the ball over. Renfree has to make better throws and decisions; the receivers have to do a better job of catching the ball in coverage. The defense also needs to do a better job of taking the ball away; they managed two takeaways last week and will need to find a way to force at least that many if they want to pull off the improbable upset. 

2. DISCIPLINE: Taylor is just as effective as a runner or a passer. When he scrambles, Duke's defenders must stay disciplined to prevent big plays on the ground or through the air. On special teams, kick coverage will also have to be at its best to avoid giving up easy scores. Missed assignments in any phase of the game will doom the Blue Devils this week. 

3. CONFIDENCE: Duke has to get the ball to its playmakers, most notably sophomore WR Conner Vernon. His confidence is infectious for this young team, and can really open things up for the offense. Duke's young running backs, led by Desmond Scott, will need to run with purpose and consistently find positive yardage to take pressure off the passing game. Across the board, the Blue Devils will have to stay positive in a hostile environment Saturday. 

BDN Prediction

The numbers seem stacked against the Blue Devils this weekend. Duke looks to reverse a 5-game losing streak, while Virginia Tech looks to extend a 5-game winning streak and a 9-game winning streak against Duke. Since opening 0-2, the Hokies are averaging over 41 points per game with an average margin of victory of over 3 touchdowns. Last week, Taylor showed what he can do against an inexperienced and undisciplined defense, putting up 49 points in the first half alone. To compete with Virginia Tech, Duke simply cannot turn the ball over. To pull off the upset, the Blue Devils will have to play flawless in all phases of the game.  

VT 42

Duke 17

 

Duke Football

Sam Marshall will bolster Duke’s defensive front in 2011

Sam Marshall is a 6’8” 260 pound senior lineman from Fredericksburg, Virginia. He committed to the Blue Devils in July and recently returned to campus to take in the Alabama game. BDN checked in with the big defensive end prospect after his visit.

“Overall, the visit was good, particularly the atmosphere and the fans,” he told BDN about his visit. “It was a tough loss, but I still saw some good things.”

During his visit, Sam was able to catch up with Coach Roper, Coach Hobby, and Coach Cutcliffe. He told BDN the coaching staff and the prestige of a Duke education were the big selling points that led to his commitment. Though he plays both offense and defense in high school, the Blue Devils’ coaching staff intends to use Sam on defense, which was another important factor in his decision, as other schools were recruiting him as an offensive lineman. His height is likely to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, which will be a welcome new dimension to the Duke defense. Before choosing the Blue Devils, Sam held offers from Virginia, North Carolina State, Marshall, Louisville, East Carolina, and Western Michigan.


Sam’s team at Chancellor High School has started off 2-1, though Sam missed the second game (a loss) with an ankle sprain. He said he’s back near 100% now, and is working on “getting stronger and faster and better in all areas” over the course of his senior year. So far, he’s recorded 6 tackles and a sack in two games.

In closing, Sam told BDN, “I’m excited to join the Duke program and help the team any way I can.”

Duke Football

Vocal LB prospect Dillon Lucas talks of his recent visit to Duke

Duke hosted over 100 football prospects over the weekend, but only a small group of attendees currently hold Duke scholarship offers. Dillon Lucas, a 6’2” 212 pound linebacker from Medford, NJ, is one of the prospects with an offer and BDN caught up with Dillon after his visit on Saturday.

Dillon is currently evaluating several schools and is not forcing a decision in his recruitment. He said he wants to “talk to as many schools as possible, and make a decision at the end of the season, unless of course a school blows me away.” As for Duke, they are one of the top schools that have offered a scholarship so far, and he described his overall visit to Durham as “really nice.”

“I really liked talking with the coaches. There was a really good atmosphere for the game and I really liked touring around campus,” Dillon told BDN by phone Saturday evening. “As for the game, the outcome didn’t really reflect how Duke played. They competed and played really hard.”

Dillon has been in recent contact with West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Penn State, North Carolina State, Bucknell, Buffalo, Villanova, and Temple, along with a few other programs. One of the most important things to Dillon is finding out what they are looking for in a linebacker. “I know I am a certain type of player. I like to be vocal and really lead the defense, so I want to know if that’s what they like,” he explained. “I’m also looking at the opportunity for early playing time, who they have, who else they are recruiting, and what their plan is. The overall campus lifestyle is also something I’m looking at.”

On the field, Dillon is a vocal leader, and was elected captain of his team at Shawnee High School. Shawnee is currently 1-0, with their second game scheduled for Monday evening. Dillon describes himself as a hard-working playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. He’s working to improve his reaction time to become quicker to the ball, and is looking to be more physical. His goal is to become the best player and teammate he can; “I want to be someone my coaches and teammates can rely on to make a play when it’s 4th and 1. I like that pressure,” he said.

Dillon’s priorities are school, family, and football, and he hopes to find a school that will help him become the best player and person he can.

Duke Football

BDN previews the 2010 Duke Football Schedule

After 9 wins in his first two seasons at Duke, Coach David Cutcliffe and the 2010 Blue Devils will look to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 1994. Do they have the schedule to do it? As training camp kicks off, BDN takes a quick look at the 2010 Duke football schedule. The Blue Devils return 40 letterman, including 18 starters, from 2009's 5-7 team, which finished in 4th place in the ACC Coastal Division. Season tickets are on-sale now for Duke's 7 home games in 2010 and can be purchased online at www.goduke.com or by calling (877) 375-3853.

The 2010 Blue Devils will play 7 of their 12 regular season games at Wallace Wade Stadium, highlighted by a September matchup with Coach David Cutclife's alma mater and reigning BCS National Champion, Alabama. Seven of Duke's 2010 opponents were bowl-eligible in 2009, including two BCS bowl teams in Georgia Tech and Alabama. Duke's lone FCS opponent, Elon, finished the season at 9-3 and was invited to the FCS playoffs, where they lost to Richmond, 16-13. Overall, Duke's 2010 opponents were 94-60 in 2009, which represents the third toughest 2010 schedule in the ACC.

Week 1: September 4
Elon (2009: 9-3, 2nd place in Southern Conference, lost in 1st round of FCS playoffs to Richmond, 16-13)
The Phoenix will make the short trip up I-85 to Durham to kick-off the 2010 season. Elon is coming off the program's first ever FCS playoff invitation in 2009, in head coach Pete Lembo's fourth year with the program. The Phoenix finished 2009 ranked in the FCS top 10, but lose several key players from the team that finished second in the Southern Conference, including WR Terrell Hudgins, who was runner-up for the Walter Payton Award in his outstanding senior campaign (123 receptions, 1633 yards). Scott Riddle returns for his senior year as the team's quarterback, but the team lost junior RB Jamal Shuman to injury after an impressive sophomore campaign during which he averaged 5.1 yards per carry. The Phoenix do lose several key seniors on both the offensive and defensive lines, so question marks will exist heading into the season opener. Elon fell at Wake Forest last season, 35-7, in the team's only game against a FBS opponent. Elon represents a quality FCS opponent, and one that the Devils will need to defeat to start off the 2010 season on the right track.

Week 2: September 11
@ Wake Forest (2009: 5-7, 3-5 ACC)
Duke kicks off the 2010 ACC schedule early, with a rematch of last year's season finale against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons defeated the Blue Devils on Senior Day in Wallace Wade Stadium, 45-34. While that game served as a celebration of the historic careers of senior QBs Thaddeus Lewis and Riley Skinner, this year, both programs will start the season with inexperience under center. The Demon Deacons lose 9 starters and return 49 lettermen from the 2009 team. Both the Devils and Demon Deacons will kick off the year against FCS programs in week 1, and thus this matchup will likely be the first true test for their new signal-callers and other new faces in 2010. Jim Grobe is 9-0 against Duke in his career at Wake Forest, though the two teams have produced some memorable games in recent years. The Demon Deacons will likely employ a more conservative, run-heavy offense than in recent years, featuring senior RB Josh Adams. Expect Grobe to have his team ready to play the Blue Devils after their opening Thursday night match-up with Presbyterian. This will be an important early season test for the young Blue Devils on the road.

Week 3: September 18
Alabama (2009: 14-0, 8-0 SEC, BCS National Champion)
This game may already be the hottest ticket in Wallace Wade Stadium since the Rolling Stones a few years ago. The Crimson Tide faithful will be out in full force to see their reigning National Champions and Heisman trophy winner. It's important for the Blue Devils to have a good turnout both on and off the field in this one (plug: get your tickets now), as this will be one of the highest attended and most covered games in recent Duke history. Alabama will of course be the heavy favorite in this matchup, but you can bet Coach David Cutcliffe will have a few tricks up his sleeve for his alma mater and SEC power. The Crimson Tide will be coming off a big home game against Penn State in Week 2, and they'll have to avoid a letdown against a fired up Duke team. There are several terrific storylines here: from Wallace Wade, whose statue stands outside the stadium at both Duke and Alabama, to David Cutcliffe squaring off with his alma mater, to the appearance of a reigning national champion and Heisman trophy winner in Wallace Wade Stadium. Duke is 0-10 all-time against the #1 ranked team, and is 3-8 all-time against the reigning national champion, with their last win coming in 1955 at Ohio State. You can be sure BDN will have lots more coverage on this game between now and September 18, so stay tuned and get your tickets now.

Week 4: September 25
Army (2009: 5-7)
Army fell just short of a bowl bid in their first year under head coach Rich Ellerson and his option offense. In a week 2 matchup at West Point last season, Duke defeated Army 35-19, behind the arm of QB Sean Renfree and the clutch play of CB Leon Wright. This will be the first of three matchups against the option offense for Duke in 2010, and it will be an important game for the young Blue Devils to stay disciplined and focused after a much-hyped Alabama game. This is a game that Duke will need to win to improve their chance for a bowl bid, but Army will have revenge on their mind after last year's loss at West Point, and likely will have some momentum coming off two home games in Weeks 2 and 3. This will also serve as Duke's Homecoming game in 2010.

Week 5: October 2
@ Maryland (2009: 2-10, 1-7 ACC)
Not much went right for the Terrapins in 2009, including a 17-13 loss in rainy Wallace Wade Stadium in late October. Coach Ralph Friedgen will be on the hot seat in 2010, and while a return to bowl eligibility might be a stretch for the 2010 Terrapins, you can expect them to be a much improved team. The Terrapins will have a new signal caller in 2010, along with some new faces on both the offensive and defensive lines. The growth of these young players may determine the Terrapins' success, and the fate of the coaching staff. The Terps are fortunate to have a relatively easy start to their schedule, with a road matchup at West Virginia in week 3 as their biggest early-season test. This will be the Blue Devils first trip to College Park under Coach David Cutcliffe, and as we know, they will not be greeted kindly.

Week 6: October 9
Open
The Blue Devils open date again falls in the middle of their season in 2010. They will have already played 2 ACC games in the first five weeks, both on the road. With regards to bowl eligibility, the Blue Devils would be wise to enter the bye week with at least a 3-2, if not 4-1 record. The first half of the schedule includes only 1 FBS 2009 Bowl team (albeit, the National Champions), but the second half includes 6 FBS 2009 Bowl teams. The Blue Devils will finish the year with 4 ACC home games, 2 ACC road games, and a non-conference road matchup with Navy.

Week 7: October 16
Miami (2009: 9-4, 5-3 ACC)
Playing one of the toughest schedules in the ACC and the country, including 4 straight games against ranked opponents to open the season, the Hurricanes finished the year at 9-4 overall, capped by a 20-14 Citrus Bowl loss to Wisconsin. For the second straight year, the Blue Devils gave the Hurricanes a scare, taking a 16-13 lead into the 4th quarter, but surrendered three unanswered 4th quarter touchdowns to fall 34-16 at Sun Life (Land Shark) Stadium. In 2010, Miami will have to replace three starters on the offensive line and will again take on a challenging schedule, including two Thursday night non-conference matchups in September at Ohio State and at Pittsburgh. QB Jacory Harris will return for his junior year and should be fully recovered from off-season surgery to fix the injured thumb that bothered him late in 2009. Miami is loaded with athletes on both sides of the ball, but their performance has been inconsistent in recent years. The keys for the 2010 Hurricanes will be the development of the offensive line and consistency in the running game; Harris alone is capable of making big plays and is poised for a potential Heisman campaign, but he needs help from RB Graig Cooper and RB Damien Berry for the Hurricanes to compete for an ACC championship. Miami hosts Florida State in a big rivalry game at home in Week 6, while Duke has a bye. With two weeks to prepare, expect the Blue Devils to challenge Miami yet again in this matchup.

Week 8: October 23
@Virginia Tech (2009: 10-3, 6-2 ACC)
Trips to Blacksburg are rarely much fun for ACC teams, and the Blue Devils are no exception, having never won a game at Lane Stadium. The Hokies have won 9 straight meetings between the two schools overall, including last year’s 34-26 win in Durham. Virginia Tech will feature a talented offense in 2010, led by QB Tyrod Taylor and two 1,000 yard rushers in RB Ryan Williams and RB Darren Evans, who returns after missing all of 2009 with an ACL tear. In a change from recent Hokie teams under head coach Frank Beamer and defensive coordinator Bud Foster, the offense may have to lead the way behind their senior QB, as the Hokies will be replacing six starters on defense, including 3 out of 4 spots on the defensive line. Duke will travel to Blacksburg as part of the Hokies’ four-game mid-season homestand, which starts with relatively easy matchups against Central Michigan and Wake Forest. The final game in the homestand will be a Week 9 rematch with 2009 ACC Champion Georgia Tech, and the Hokies might be tempted to look ahead. The Blue Devils’ new defensive schemes will have to slow the Hokies’ rushing attack if they want any chance to escape Blacksburg with an upset win.

Week 9: October 30
@Navy (2009: 10-4)
Navy is a team that is flying under the radar heading into 2010 after a 10-win season in 2009, which was capped by a 35-13 drumming of Missouri in the Texas Bowl. The Midshipmen return 15 starters in 2010, including senior QB Ricky Dobbs, who both threw and rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2009. This will be Duke’s second of three tests against the option offense in 2010. In their last meeting at Wallace Wade Stadium in 2008, the Blue Devils defeated the Midshipmen, 41-31, behind three touchdowns from Thad Lewis and Eron Riley. The 2010 matchup will be televised by CBS College Sports Network and will serve as Navy’s homecoming game in Annapolis. Navy’s 2010 schedule features three games against ACC opponents, with a trip to College Park scheduled for Week 1 and a trip to Winston-Salem in Week 6. The Blue Devils will travel to Annapolis a week following Navy’s nationally-televised (on CBS) matchup with Notre Dame at the New Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. This game comes at a key stretch in the Blue Devils’ season and a win would significantly improve their chances for postseason eligibility.

Week 10: November 6
Virginia (2009: 3-9, 2-6 ACC)
After two straight wins against the Cavaliers, the Blue Devils were sad to see Al Groh leave, and may be even more disappointed to see former Richmond coach Mike London on the sideline. However, after a disappointing 2009 that resulted in the dismissal of Al Groh, the Cavaliers have even more question marks in 2010, thanks to the departures of key players and the arrival of an entirely new staff. Virginia loses their top four rushers from 2009 in Jameel Sewell, Vic Hall, Mikell Simpson, and Rashawn Jackson. Marc Verica is the only returning quarterback with experience. With the new staff, there is new energy in the program, and the Cavaliers have several key returners on the offensive and defensive lines, so there is a foundation to build upon. Their schedule won’t do them any favors, however, with a potentially awkward season-opener against Richmond and a Week 2 cross-country trip to Pasadena to face Lane Kiffin and the much-maligned Trojans. As the season progresses, the development of the many new faces, especially at the skill positions, will likely determine Virginia’s success in Mike London’s first season. The Blue Devils will need to continue to assert their dominance over the new-look Cavaliers if they hope to climb in the ACC Coastal Division standings.

Week 11: November 13
Boston College (2009: 8-5, 5-3 ACC)
Duke will face an unfamiliar foe in Week 11, as Boston College makes a rare trip to Wallace Wade Stadium. In fact, the two programs have faced each other just four times overall (1927, 1928, 1929, 2006), with the Eagles holding a 3-1 series advantage. Thanks to the unbalanced ACC schedule, the Blue Devils and Eagles last met all the way back in 2006 in Chesnut Hill, with Boston College claiming a 28-7 victory. Both programs have since gone through coaching and roster changes, so it will be a new test for both teams. 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Mark Herzlich will make his inspirational return to the 2010 Eagles, after missing 2009 with Ewing’s Sarcoma. If Herzlich can return to his 2008 form and lead this defense, the Eagles will compete for their third Atlantic Division title in four years. The Eagles overachieved under Frank Spaziani in 2009, and with most of the team returning, including 26-year old sophomore QB Dave Shinskie, they will be a tough test for the young Blue Devils.

Week 12: November 20
@Georgia Tech (2009: 11-3, 7-1 ACC)
After a two-game homestand, the Blue Devils will make the trip to Atlanta to face the defending ACC Champions at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Coach Paul Johnson will have his work cut out for him as he and the Yellow Jackets prepare to defend their title in 2010. Georgia Tech will have to replace their leading rusher, leading receiver, and top two defenders in Jonathan Dwyer, Demaryius Thomas, Derrick Morgan, and Morgan Burnett. On the offensive side, they do return All-ACC QB Josh Nesbitt, and B-Back Anthony Allen (and his 9.7 yards per carry in 2009). They’ll likely need to replace three starters on their offensive line, and have to find a big-play receiver to replace Thomas to keep opposing defenses honest. The biggest changes, however, will occur on defense, where former Virginia head coach Al Groh takes over as coordinator and will switch the Jackets from a 4-3 to 3-4 scheme. The defense will need to make the transition smoothly to allow the Ramblin’ Wreck option-attack to control the game. In recent matchups, including last year’s 49-10 defeat, Duke has failed to match the physical play of the Georgia Tech linemen; this will be Duke’s third test against the option-style offense, and it will be important for Duke’s new-look defense to match the speed and strength of the Yellow Jackets this year.

Week 13: November 27
North Carolina (2009: 8-5, 4-4 ACC)
This rivalry matchup returns to its traditional spot on the schedule, as the Blue Devils will close out the 2010 regular season with the Tar Heels in Durham. Though the Tar Heels have dominated the series in recent years, the rivalry has still provided memorable games, including last year’s 19-6 loss in Chapel Hill. The Blue Devils and Tar Heels traded field goals through the first three quarters, with North Carolina taking a 9-6 lead into the 4th quarter. The Tar Heel defense and strong running of Ryan Houston were too much for Thad Lewis and the Blue Devils to overcome, as they failed to find the end zone, finishing just 2/13 on third downs, and gave up a total of 192 rushing yards to North Carolina. The 2010 Tar Heels will again feature one of the nation’s top defenses, regardless of the outcome of the NCAA investigation. The biggest questions will be on the offensive side of the ball, where the Tar Heels will need to score points more consistently to compete for an ACC Championship. Tyler Yates will enter the spring as the starting QB, but if he struggles, redshirt freshman Bryn Renner may be given an opportunity. The Tar Heels will also need to replace two starters on the offensive line in front of Yates and RBs Ryan Houston and Shaun Draughn. The Tar Heels will play one of the toughest overall schedules in the ACC in 2010, and there is a good chance that the winner of this heated rivalry could secure both the Victory Bell and a bowl bid.

Duke Football

Duke is courting TE Prospect Dillon van der Wal

With 22 verbal commitments in hand for the class of 2011, Coach David Cutcliffe and the Blue Devils’ staff are focusing their recruiting efforts on some of the top remaining uncommitted players across the country. Near the top of that list for Duke is Dillon van der Wal, a high-end prospect at both tight end and defensive end from Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California.

At 6’7” and 238 pounds, Dillon is an impressive athlete, who has starred on both sides of the ball for Coach Bill Redell and the Oaks Christian Lions. As a junior in 2009, Dillon hauled in 12 catches for 3 touchdowns while also totaling 70 tackles and 15 sacks on a team that entered the year ranked #1 in the state of California and fell one game short of a championship. Highlights from Dillon’s junior year can be viewed on YouTube.

In 2009, Dillon was coached on offense by Casey Clausen, the former Tennessee quarterback, and Joe Montana, whose son, Nick, played quarterback for the Lions and is now a freshman at Washington. The Oaks Christian defense is led by Clay Matthews, Jr., a 19 year NFL veteran with the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons. With a coaching staff with those credentials, Dillon said it’s easy to “just watch and listen. I’ve caught myself in awe on the field sometimes. There’s nothing you can do but just learn and listen from them. This year, we’re adding Mike Sherrard as a coach on offense, and he’s an 11 year NFL veteran.” Dillon also added that while he’s had a lot of fun with his coaches, they also can be tough, and he has a pretty good idea of what to expect out of his college coaches. Other notable players from Oaks Christian include QB Trevor Gretzky (son of Wayne Gretzky), WR Trey Smith (son of Will Smith), and WR Blair Holliday (a recent Duke commit); recent alumni from the program include Nick Montana, Jimmy Clausen, and Marc Tyler.

Dillon has had a busy spring and summer, attending four camps in California and earning high accolades from both coaches and scouts. His first camp was the Nike USC camp, where he was able to play with many of his friends from the Southern California area and earned the All-Camp Tight End Award. His next stop was up to Palo Alto, where he attended the Nike Stanford camp, impressing both at defensive end and tight end, which ultimately earned him the All-Camp Athlete Award. He finished up his camp schedule at California and UCLA, where he impressed the tight end coaches, though he did admit to tiring at the end of the UCLA camp as a result of his busy schedule. Overall, “I thought I played well and learned a lot,” Dillon said of his camp visits.

On offense, Dillon’s strengths are his hands and his ability to run good routes, finding space to get open. On defense, Dillon has a quick first step and a great nose for the ball. He admits the glory may come from playing tight end and scoring touchdowns, but he loves making plays on defense and getting after the quarterback. Over the summer, Dillon has worked hard at his conditioning, because he wants “to go deep into the 4th quarter of games this year. Last year, we had a weaker schedule and I sat out most of the second half a lot. This year, we’re moving into a tougher league and I want to stay on the field.” He also mentioned that at 6’7”, he is always working to improve his flexibility, since he often has to get low to make plays, especially on defense. Coaches and scouts have praised Dillon’s hands and route running, and they expect him to be a very tough cover at the college level.

When asked about his college decision, Dillon said, “I want to go somewhere that you’re around success. Education is big too, because not everyone is going to play in the league, so you have to have a good education to fall back on. I want a program with tradition and somewhere that I can succeed and do something big.” Dillon admits that sports have always been his passion, and he’s talked to his parents about looking for academic programs that might prepare him for the business side of sports, and perhaps a career as a sports agent.

Dillon is looking to cut his list down to a top 5 or 6 schools, and will take official visits this fall. Regarding the timing for his decision, Dillon said, “I want to decide as soon as I can, but I don’t want to rush. I want to make sure it feels right. I want to see who will be around me and what the playing time might be. I don’t want to drag it out, though, so that I can focus on my senior year.” His top 5 or 6 isn’t official or public at this point, but several schools have stood out for various reasons. “Duke is definitely high up there - you can’t beat a Duke education,” he explained. Dillon has visited Arizona State for their junior day, and also plans to take an official visit to Minnesota. He continued to break down his list, “Cal is really high; you get the best of both with the education and football there. Nebraska is a football program with a lot of tradition, and USC and UCLA are right at home.”

Though Dillon hasn’t been able to visit Duke yet, he’s heard a lot of good things from teammate Blair Holliday, who recently committed to the Blue Devils after a visit to Durham and “he loved everything about it,” Dillon said, “I’ve known him since we were like 6 years old. We played tee ball together and traveled the nation playing basketball. Now we ended up at the same high school. He’s really pushing me to go to Duke, but I haven’t even seen it yet.”

Dillon is looking forward to a busy fall of football and official visits, but has several great opportunities available to him. With the guidance he’s received from his parents and coaches, he will be making a big impact both on and off the field, wherever he goes to school.

Duke Football

Duke Football lands sure handed wideout Blair Holliday

Blair HollidayCoach David Cutcliffe and the Blue Devil football program received another commitment for the class of 2011 on Monday evening from Blair Holliday, a 6’3” wide receiver from Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California. BDN caught up with the sure-handed receiver shortly after his commitment.

“My interest in Duke was based on the academics, I mean, Duke is one of the most prestigious colleges in the country academically. That’s what drew me to it first,” Holliday explained, “but then when I went for my visit, I just loved the family atmosphere. Coach Cutcliffe and Coach Lubick and the whole staff are such a family – I knew that coming from California to North Carolina, that would be hard and I would need that kind of family atmosphere. That’s when I knew it was for me.”

Prior to his commitment to Duke, Holliday had received offers from Boise State, Cal Poly, Colorado State, Northern Arizona, and San Diego State, and also had interest from Boston College, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, and UCLA, Utah, and Washington. In his junior season, Holliday hauled in 48 catches for 857 yards, including 8 touchdowns and a 17.5 yards per catch average. Highlights from his junior year can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nug31hJ-IU4.

Blair continued to elaborate on his decision to attend Duke: “Coach Cutcliffe and the staff have really turned the program around, they’re only getting better and better. One of their receivers last year was a freshman All-American [Conner Vernon], and as a receiver that gets you excited. They told me, ‘we love to throw the ball,’ and that’s why their receivers can have such success.“

In closing, Blair wanted the Blue Devil Nation to know the following: “I’m excited to be a Blue Devil. Whatever they need me to do for the team to be successful, I’ll do it. That’s how you win as a team.”