DURHAM, N.C. – A dozen years ago David Cutcliffe took over a woeful Duke football program that was 2-33 the previous three seasons, including 0-12 in 2006. He needed fresh talent and he found some with three true freshmen.
Jay Hollingsworth led the team in rushing, albeit with only 399 yards and one touchdown. Johnny Williams was the second-leading receiver and Donovan Varner fourth.
But those days of true freshman pushing aside veterans are supposed to be over now that Cutcliffe has Duke seeking its seventh bowl game in the last eight seasons.
Right?
Well, based on Saturday’s first scrimmage of fall camp, Duke may have a surprising number of true freshmen playing when the Blue Devils open the season against Alabama on Aug. 31 in Atlanta.
That’s a reflection of the respect the program has gained – more highly recruited true freshmen are committing to Duke in 2019 than 2008.
“This is what you’re supposed to do when you grow a program and build things around it,” said Cutcliffe, referring to not only wins and bowl games but improved facilities. “You should attract more and more high quality players. Not that we haven’t signed high quality players, but it should get better.”
Jacob Monk, who enrolled for spring ball out of nearby Corinth Holders, is pushing returning starter Robert Kraeling at right tackle. Jalon Calhoun has moved into the starting slot role with an injury to sophomore Jake Bobo, but Calhoun had earned his No. 2 designation before the injury.
Other true freshmen that have worked with the second unit were wide receiver Darrell Harding, wide receiver Eli Pancol, running back Jaylen Coleman and running back Jordan Waters. The latter was switched from safety after a couple practices and Cutcliffe plans to keep him on the offensive side of the ball.
Defensively, second-unit true freshmen included cornerbacks Tony Davis and Isaiah Kemp. Others with significant snaps were defensive end R.J. Oben, son of the 12-year NFL veteran offensive tackle, and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter.
“What you saw I’m seeing in triple in practice,” Cutcliffe said. “I had a theme to start with our coaches: It’s easy to play the guy that knows what to do. There is a comfort zone. But if you churn, meaning coach hard enough, the cream rises to the top. If veteran player has somebody playing past you, you better churn. I knew we had competition at these positions.”
They nearly form a dirty dozen out of a recruiting class of 21. The Blue Devils’ class was ranked No. 49 in the nation, up from 65 in 2018, 46 in 2017 and 31 in 2016. The 2008 class was No. 65.
But for an individual recruit, the class ranking doesn’t slow the recruit that is more mentally mature to adapt his talent to the next level.
“The beauty of it is this class still embraces our whole belief system of being a complete student, a complete person,” Cutcliffe said. “I congratulated our staff on that aspect. This group has been complimented on campus already in every circumstance they’ve been this summer. I’ve gotten unbelievable feedback.”
HOLMBERG UPDATE
Cutcliffe reported redshirt freshman quarterback Gunnar Holmberg suffered only only a partial meniscus cartilage tear when his injured knee was surgically repaired.
Holmberg enter fall camp in a battle with redshirt sophomore Chris Katrenick for the No. 2 job behind Quentin Harris.
