duke football news

[Liftee]

I'm hopeful that as time goes by, fewer players will keep looking. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is the year we retain the 4 star guys. That will break through the proverbial glass ceiling of recruiting for us.

Hate to say it, but the mess at Northwestern has to help Duke with the guys who want a top level education to go with their football.

 

[BlobfishRCool04]

That last sentence is a big one, for athletes looking for a top-tier education along with their athletics, then it's really between Duke, ND, and Stanford now (at least IMO, I could be forgetting somewhere else)

 

[jimlsumner]

That last sentence is a big one, for athletes looking for a top-tier education along with their athletics, then it's really between Duke, ND, and Stanford now (at least IMO, I could be forgetting somewhere else)

Could probably add Vanderbilt

 

[Devilinside]

Could probably add Vanderbilt

UVA, Michigan, Wake, BC. OFC

 

[hart2chesson]

UVA, Michigan, Wake, BC. OFC

DI agree, and I think UVA and Wake are ESPECIALLY GOOD examples. It seems like we compete for a number of the same student-athletes.

OFC

 

[Devilinside]

DI agree, and I think UVA and Wake are ESPECIALLY GOOD examples. It seems like we compete for a number of the same student-athletes.

OFC

Hart, the Cheaters probably believe they should be on the list, but we know better, don't we? OFC

 

[hart2chesson]

Hart, the Cheaters probably believe they should be on the list, but we know better, don't we? OFC

No way we're referring to the Cheats in category of "student-athletes" DI. 🤣🤣🤣 #RoyKnew

OFC

 

[surfdevil]

so DE tyshon reed has tweeted that even though he is committed he will be taking a visit to FSU. not cool. of course if he flips rivals will bump his rating.

 

[Liftee]

Do you think it's the money FSU can throw at him?

 

[hart2chesson]

Do you think it's the money FSU can throw at him?

I think so Lift. OFC

 

[hart2chesson]

So, the exodus begins at Northwestern....Interestingly Mike Elko offered this highly rated prospect in January of '22.

Northwestern four-star LB Glover enters portal

Northwestern freshman linebacker Nigel Glover entered the transfer portal Monday, the first Wildcats player to do so since the school fired coach Pat Fitzgerald on July 10.

www.espn.com

OFC

 

[surfdevil]

Don't expect Duke to be active here. We have 9 lb's on scholly now with a couple coming in. That's a bunch. Plus we are over the scholly limit for next year already. We are going to need a transfer or two just to get down to 85.

 

[ConorONeill]

ACC Kickoff is next week in Charlotte -- it's going to 3 days this year and Duke's day is the middle one, on Wednesday.

Duke is bringing QB Riley Leonard, C Jacob Monk and DT DeWayne Carter. It's a repeat appearance for Monk and Carter and Leonard was a pretty obvious choice (at least, IMO).

As a programming note, I'll be down there with stories throughout the week.

 

[BlobfishRCool04]

Love to hear it Conner, and thanks for your hard work

 

[hart2chesson]

ACC Kickoff is next week in Charlotte -- it's going to 3 days this year and Duke's day is the middle one, on Wednesday.

Duke is bringing QB Riley Leonard, C Jacob Monk and DT DeWayne Carter. It's a repeat appearance for Monk and Carter and Leonard was a pretty obvious choice (at least, IMO).

As a programming note, I'll be down there with stories throughout the week.

Thoroughly look forward Conor!!
OFC

 

[hart2chesson]

so DE tyshon reed has tweeted that even though he is committed he will be taking a visit to FSU. not cool. of course if he flips rivals will bump his rating.

Is this still a DEFINITE surf??

OFC

 

[surfdevil]

There seems to be some wobbling.

 

[BlobfishRCool04]

Tyshon Reed just said he will not take the visit

 

[hart2chesson]

Tyshon Reed just said he will not take the visit

As of this morning the tweet was not on his Twitter site. Thanks Blob, that's a relief!

OFC

 

[ConorONeill]

Another preview list as we approach the season:

5 most-important games for Duke to win this season.

(please read after you get all of the cliches like, "they're all big games" and "the most-important game to win is the next game," out of the way.)

 

[surfdevil]

Well shows how little i know. Evidently we are still actively recruiting a middle lb out of Massachusetts. I guess there is still room for another.

 

[hart2chesson]

Well shows how little i know. Evidently we are still actively recruiting a middle lb out of Massachusetts. I guess there is still room for another.

Hmmmm.....

OFC

 

[BlobfishRCool04]

Well shows how little i know. Evidently we are still actively recruiting a middle lb out of Massachusetts. I guess there is still room for another.

Yeah this is confusing me, from an outside perspective, we really don’t need another LB, especially an ILB. IMO, if we bring in anyone else, it should be a DL/DT. I trust in Elko though

 

[surfdevil]

we have plenty of DE kids (8) on the roster and replacements coming in next year. i would like one more DT recruit myself but we also are not there on campus seeing how aaron hall and wesley williams are progressing. if they add 10 lbs by the fall season then that gives us 8 DT kids over 280 lbs. with peebles, franklin and carter leading the way i feel good about this year. next year when those 3 are gone and only 1 coming in is my worry.

 

[BlobfishRCool04]

we have plenty of DE kids (8) on the roster and replacements coming in next year. i would like one more DT recruit myself but we also are not there on campus seeing how aaron hall and wesley williams are progressing. if they add 10 lbs by the fall season then that gives us 8 DT kids over 280 lbs. with peebles, franklin and carter leading the way i feel good about this year. next year when those 3 are gone and only 1 coming in is my worry.

Next year will definitely be up in the air if we lose who we think we are, but we could also add a transfer after this season. Guess we’ll see what happens.

Simmons is also someone I’m excited to watch

 

[ConorONeill]

One early nugget: Wesley Williams is probably going to be at DE this season and has had a really strong summer.

They're in dire need of DT depth; I think that's why Terry Simmons winds up in the rotation.

 

[surfdevil]

So Conor with what they are recruiting (lbs) and not recruiting (dt) I feel like maybe a 3-4 defense might be a main cog soon (?) with a 4-3 as a change up defense. I just figure 10 schollies on a spot that only has 2 spots on the field is crazy. We have 3 other kids in that s/lb hybrid spot so I am kinda confused. Ask Elko at the acc days please lol

 

[ConorONeill]

So Conor with what they are recruiting (lbs) and not recruiting (dt) I feel like maybe a 3-4 defense might be a main cog soon with a 4-3 as a change up defense. I just figure 10 schollies on a spot that only has 2 spots on the field is crazy. We have 3 other kids in that s/lb hybrid spot so I am kinda confused.

I doubt it will be that drastic of a schematic shift.

Think it has a lot more to do with with positional flexibility. HS linebackers can go to college and do one of three things, in my mind: stick at linebacker, put on weight and become DEs, or trim and move back to safety. Contrast that with HS DLs who, unless they're physical freaks and move back to LB, are going to stay on the DL for their whole career.

I look at somebody like Kobe Smith, who we've got at 6-3, 195 with a ridiculous number of sacks and pressures as an edge rusher, as a prime candidate to spend a year bulking up and then contribute as a hybrid DE/LB.

Somebody like Montreze Smith, at 6-foot, 192, would be a candidate to wind up at safety or nickel (if he's got enough cover skills). Tend to think you'll see more converted LBs playing nickel because of what's asked of that position in run support.

Know that doesn't necessarily answer your concern about DTs; losing Carter, Franklin and Peebles after this season is going to be significant. Think you'll see that as priority No. 1 in the transfer portal as a result.

 

[ConorONeill]

Did something a little different for a preview listicle today ...

3 bold predictions, glass-half-full edition.

As it says in the story, there will be a forthcoming glass-half-empty edition of this.

 

[Liftee]

These are bold predictions indeed, Conor!

I agree with everything you say except it's going to be a tall order to beat either ND or Clemson. 2-2 in those first 4 games seems reasonable to me.

If the offensive line can be strong against bigger and faster opponents, then we will succeed.

 

[ConorONeill]

Contract extension just announced for Mike Elko.

Here's my story.

 

[surfdevil]

So once again Nina King makes the smart move

 

[ConorONeill]

I think I've made this point before: It's obviously important to keep Mike Elko happy and at Duke. Until/unless it goes south, that's priority No. 1.

But I still come away from this thinking the most important part is the "enhanced and escalating model for the assistant coach and support staff salary pools."

Maintaining continuity on your coaching staff goes a long way in building a program. You can stomach personnel losses easier when you have established position coaches.

Support staff is where Duke had sagged in Cut's final years and it's an area Elko targeted immediately when he got to Duke. That's an overarching term because it applies to S&C staff with Feeley, recruiting staff, GAs and analysts, etc. -- basically all of the people beyond Elko and the 10 position coaches who get publicity.

 

[kwyjibos13]

From Elko's perspective, why move on? You are getting well compensated. Duke is in a power 5 that is not very good. We win a major bowl, you are a hero but a few subpar seasons wont hurt yoy, and a big job with a history, you are lucky if you get 5 years. Dont know why more football and bball coaches stay when they are successful at mid-majors in basketball or non-powerhouse power 5 schools...

 

[BlobfishRCool04]

I love this move, we needed to get it done soon and I’m glad we got it done before the season starts. I also don’t see why he would want to move on, as he seems quite happy and committed here, but if another big-time program does lure him away, I’m happy we’ll get a big payout check now. Fingers crossed that doesn’t happen still.

 

[jimlsumner]

I think I've made this point before: It's obviously important to keep Mike Elko happy and at Duke. Until/unless it goes south, that's priority No. 1.

But I still come away from this thinking the most important part is the "enhanced and escalating model for the assistant coach and support staff salary pools."

Maintaining continuity on your coaching staff goes a long way in building a program. You can stomach personnel losses easier when you have established position coaches.

Support staff is where Duke had sagged in Cut's final years and it's an area Elko targeted immediately when he got to Duke. That's an overarching term because it applies to S&C staff with Feeley, recruiting staff, GAs and analysts, etc. -- basically all of the people beyond Elko and the 10 position coaches who get publicity.

Ditto that. To add another data point last summer Duke's players went out of their way to praise Rosie Grant, the program's new nutritionist. Not only was the team getting better food but she and he staff were communicating to the players why this food worked best in this context and why another food worked better in another context and how to combine different foods for maximum benefit. Not only was the team eating better but the players had a better sense of buy-in because of the ongoing two-way communication.

 

[ConorONeill]

Wrote up an overarching story on Jim Phillips' State of the ACC today.

Here's the link.

Another link: Here's the 3 bold predictions, glass-half-empty version. It's premium only and yall know my spiel; no pressure to sign up, would love to have you subscribe, no hard feelings if you don't.

Programming note: Duke's turn at ACC Kickoff is tomorrow. Mike Elko and Co. (Riley Leonard, Jacob Monk, DeWayne Carter) are at the podium at 11 a.m. Believe they'll air at least part of the press conference on the ACC Network; here's the link to the ACC Kickoff homepage and here's the link to stream Duke's presser tomorrow morning.

 

[ConorONeill]

Feature story on Riley Leonard (this one is free).

Notebook on various topics (this one is premium).

 

[BlobfishRCool04]

4* LB Weston Port unofficially visited today and left with an offer. Has a prior relationship with our DC from his time at Texas A&M

 

[ConorONeill]

Preseason All-ACC ballot.