There was a point in receiver Ben Erdeljac's football career when he thought he might never set foot on a football field again. Last Saturday against Georgia Tech, however, he found himself in a starting role.
After missing all of last season while redshirting, the sophomore began the season as the second-string receiver behind Richmond Flowers. But when coach Carl Franks grew unhappy with Flowers' play, he turned to Erdeljac.
The redshirt sophomore responded by pulling in four balls for 51 yards in Saturday's 38-31 loss to the Yellow Jackets. Since he has been getting solid playing time all season, Erdeljac has put his new assignment in perspective.
"I don't really see starting as a new opportunity," Erdeljac said. "In this offense, receivers are put in a position to make plays. Whoever is put in that position is expected to make the plays. I'm happy to be starting, but that's not the story. The story is who makes the plays."
There was, however, a point when Erdeljac was unsure if he would have another chance to make the big play. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in May 1998 to repair a small cartilage tear, and further bone irritation forced him to miss all of last year. Sitting out the season, it seems, was harder than any diving catch he might have to make.
"Last year was very frustrating," he said. "It was tough not playing.... It was hard mentally and physically. I did rehab every day, doing the same thing over and over, and it starts to really wear on your body.
"Mentally, it's the same thing. You're doing the same stuff over and over. And just seeing everyone else playing and [knowing] you can't; it's tough."
This year, Erdeljac is making up for lost time. In addition to making 12 catches for 189 yards, he is also the return specialist with 14 punt returns and five kickoff returns.
Erdeljac and the rest of the receiving corps must be on top of its game on every offensive play, as the Blue Devils have put the ball in the air 251 times already this season.
"This offense is made for a lot of passing, and as a receiver, you have to like that," he said. "It's made for a lot of receivers to be put into the position to make a big impact on the game."
It was this lack of impact that led Franks to demote Flowers to second string behind Erdeljac. Flowers, who made a game-tying touchdown catch against Virginia in Duke's only win, had been the starter in the season's first five games.
"There were guys playing better than [Flowers] was and they just deserved to start," Franks said.
He then went on to say that Flowers was not benched permanently and could easily get his starting job back.
In a wide-open style offense like the one the Blue Devils run, there is plenty of opportunity for players to step up at any point in the game and contribute.
"[Flowers] still played Saturday and we're still going to throw a lot of balls to him [this Saturday]," Franks said. "You just hope the message gets across. All we are asking is that everyone execute their assignment correctly and at full speed every play."
Franks is leaving the door open for Erdeljac to get the job done, but he also hopes to send a message through to Flowers, and the rest of the starters.
"Sometimes you just have to communicate to the players just what is expected of them," Franks said. "A coach's best ally in getting a player's attention sometimes, as John Wooden said, is the bench."
Franks knows he needs all of his players giving 100 percent for the season's final five games, as Duke's bowl hopes rest on the winning each of the remaining games.
Erdeljac certainly sees a five-game win streak as a possible finale to the regular season.
"I think [winning out] is definitely a possibility," he said. "Coach Franks told all of us it's now a five-game season. We just have to take it game by game and be ready to play each Saturday."
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