Duke football might not kick off its season for another 29 days, but it is a glimpse at the team’s future that has made headlines this summer.
After signing four four-star recruits to the Class of 2014 in February , a flurry of top prospects in Class of 2015 have made verbal commitments to the program this summer, continuing the program’s momentum which has been the result of the Blue Devils’ historic 10-4 season. Head coach David Cutcliffe and his staff have been hard at work on the recruiting trail this summer, signing 17 of 19 prospects to the Class of 2015 since May 23. Two of these prospects, tight end Tyler Petite and wide receiver Keyston Fuller, are ranked in the ESPN 300. If Duke can ink the signatures of Fuller and Petite in February, it will be the first time in program history that Duke has signed two ESPN 300 prospects in the same class.
Duke has quietly risen in the national recruiting rankings this summer, ranking 21st in the nation and fifth in the ACC behind Clemson, Miami, Florida State and North Carolina according to 247Sports Team Rankings. ESPN ranks the class the 23rd-best in the nation, notably ahead of Florida, Baylor and Wisconsin.
As the Blue Devil coaching staff looks to lock up the 2015 signing class, Cutcliffe’s Class of 2016 got off to a great start when wide receiver Scott Bracey verbally committed to Duke last week. Although he is the program’s only 2016 commit, according to ESPN he is the 32nd overall ranked player in class and would be the most heralded football recruit to ever play in Wallace Wade Stadium this century.
Here is a look at the top players in the 2015 recruiting class:
Tyler Petite • Tight End • Moraga, Calif.
Rankings
Overall: 132 (ESPN 300) • 306 (247Sports Composite)
Position: 4 (ESPN) 12 (247Sports Composite)
Petite made national headlines last month when he chose to verbally commit to Duke over in-state favorite Southern California. He is a versatile tight end who, at 6-foot-6, will be a much-needed big target in the years to come. His physical aspects are comparable to senior tight end Braxton Deaver, who could be playing on Sundays next fall. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Petite become a tight end/wide receiver hybrid like Deaver and fellow senior Isaac Balekeny. Although his junior numbers weren’t eye-popping with 24 receptions for 495 yards, coaches around the country recognized his potential at the NCAA level. That potential could bloom in Durham next fall.
Keyston Fuller • Wide Receiver • Griffin, Ga.
Rankings
Overall: 197 (ESPN 300) • 546 (247Sports Composite)
Position: 23 (ESPN) • 62 (247Sports Composite)
Fuller was the class’s first ESPN 300 commit in the 2015 recruiting class, leaving offers from Auburn, Clemson and Georgia on the table to take his talents to Durham. Fuller is part of an impressive geographical contingent of the 2015 class, as he is one of six commits from the state of Georgia. Fuller could also play defensive back for the Blue Devils, but it is too early to tell what his best fit will be. He doesn’t have a height advantage, but he is one of the faster prospects of the 2015 class and can burn through secondaries on his way to the end zone. Duke wide receivers have been some of the best skill players on the field during the past five years and Fuller’s commitment should continue that trend.
Ben Humphreys • Linebacker • Santa Ana, Calif.
Rankings
Overall: 215 (247Sports Composite)
Position: 34 (ESPN) 15 (247Sports Composite)
Humphreys became the fourth Californian in the 2015 recruiting class when he announced his verbal commitment on July 19, becoming the 18th member of the class. He received offers from a number of top programs, including Miami, Oregon State, Wisconsin and Arizona State. Alabama, UCLA and Southern California were also interested. Humphreys will help replace All-ACC linebackers Kelby Brown and David Helton, who will be graduating after this season. Humphreys' 38 tackles—14.5 went for a loss—during his junior season seem promising, and he has the potential to become the latest workhorse in the 4-2-5 Duke defense.
Reno Rosene • Offensive Tackle • Westlake Village, Calif.
Rankings
Overall: 450 (247Sports Composite)
Postion: 48 (ESPN) 53 (247Sports Composite)
The Blue Devils’ depth and talent along the offensive line have helped them become one the most explosive offenses in the ACC. Rosene’s commitment should be one that ensures the Duke offensive line remains dominant in the conference. At 6-foot-8 and 344 pounds, his massive presence will be impossible to miss on the gridiron and he will be able to lead the way for future runners.
Trevon McSwain • Defensive End • Buford, Ga.
Rankings
Overall: 571 (247Sports Composite)
Position: 34 (ESPN) 27 (247Sports Composite)
McSwain may have the best chance to make an early impact, with defensive lineman Dezmond Johnson, Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo and Jamal Bruce graduating after this season. He has the speed to elude offensive lineman and get to opposing team’s quarterbacks quickly, which should make him a sack leader early in his career. He also held offers from Tennessee, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, Boston College and Georgia Tech.
Other Recruits:
Flynn Nagel • WR • Chicago, Ill.
Quentin Harris • QB • Watertown, Conn.
Aaron Young • WR • Murrieta, Calif.
Zach Morris • DE • Ringgold, Ga.
TJ Rahming • WR • Powder Springs, Ga.
Brandon Boyce • DL • Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Marquies Price • DE • Fort Valley, Ga.
Zach Baker • OG • Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Jordan Hayes • DB • Loganville, Ga.
Joe Giles Harris • LB • Montvale, Nj.
Brandon Feamster • DB • Exton, Penn.
DePriest Turner • QB • Montgomery, Ala.
Keith Washington • ATH • Prattville, Ala.
Austin Parker • K/P • Mount Pleasant, N.C.
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