As college football goes through spring games across the country, it’s time to take a look at some of the new players who’ll be joining head coach David Cutcliffe’s squad next season. Cutcliffe and his staff signed 20 freshmen to make up the recruiting class of 2011, and this is a look at eight of the key signees.
The clear focuses for the Blue Devils were the offensive line and the secondary: Duke inked five offensive linemen and three defensive backs. It’s somewhat unusual to see a class without a quarterback or running back, but Cutcliffe’s offensive attention was all directed toward players who can help in the trenches. Offensive linemen Cody Robinson, Lucas Patrick, Marcus Aprahamian and Matt Skura all merited three-star ratings from Scout.com, and all will be strong and versatile options for the offensive front.
The coaching staff is also pleased with the geographic breakdown of their class. 15 recruits from 10 states other than North Carolina were pointed to as a sign of Duke’s increasing reputation.
OG CODY ROBINSON 6-4/305:
Cutcliffe’s efforts to strengthen his offensive line are clear, as he landed three of the top 33 offensive guard prospects according to ESPN. Robinson has excellent size and strength at more than 300 pounds, and he’s also played some center to add to his versatility.
K WILL MONDAY 6-4/185:
Monday is believed by some to be the best player at his position, so he’ll be a tremendous asset for a program that has struggled to find consistency in the kicking game. He’s drawn praise for both distance—consistently punting over 60 yards in the air—and accuracy on his punts.
WR Blair Holliday 6-3/185:
Recruiting hype can come and go quickly, and Holliday is one of the players that saw his stock rise the most in the months leading up to Signing Day. With excellent size, fluid body control and deceptive speed, Holliday could quickly become a favorite target for Sean Renfree.
TE David Reeves 6-5/246:
Reeves was a surprise commitment for Duke, as he was the only Blue Devil signee not to announce his decision until Signing Day. The graduations of Brandon King and Brett Huffman leave a void at tight end, so Reeves’ impressive athleticism should be on display soon.
S Chris Tavarez 5-11/200:
Nicknamed “Hollywood” in high school for his playmaking skills, Tavarez is fast, physical and relentless. Cutcliffe has praised his ability to blitz from the safety position, and he’s known as a ballhawk due to his sideline-to-sideline range and attacking mentality.
CB Tim Burton 5-10/170:
The entire 2011 recruiting class is notable for its speed, and Burton led the pack in speed times at camp. He’s small, even for a cornerback, but his explosive speed and ability to change direction could be an immediate asset in the return game.
LB Kyler Brown 6-5/215:
Brown will follow his brother Kelby into the Duke linebacking corps. Kyler is rangy and quick like his brother, but he’s already listed at two inches taller and the same weight as Kelby, who was an impact player on defense as a freshman last season.
CB Jamison Crowder 5-9/175:
What Crowder lacks in height, he makes up for in quickness and shiftiness. His position is listed by ESPN as “athlete,” which is a testament to his excellent playmaking ability, and hints at the fact that he could play either cornerback or wide receiver at the collegiate level.
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