Looking to start 3-0 for the first team since 1994, the Blue Devils will take on Kansas Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Wallace Wade Stadium. Every week throughout the football season, we'll break down a player on each team who could be the difference-maker in the upcoming contest.
Duke: wide receiver Jamison Crowder
The senior All-ACC performer has long been Duke's best deep threat, and the Monroe, N.C., native could have a big day Saturday as a result. Having already accumulated 163 yards and two touchdowns in his first two games this year, Crowder will seek to exploit a Kansas defense that forfeited three receiving touchdowns from outside the red zone in the fourth quarter to Southeast Missouri State in its first game.
Although they came away with the win 34-28 against the Redhawks and boast last year's Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year in junior safety Isaiah Johnson, the Jayhawks allowed Southeast Missouri State receiver Paul McRoberts to have a field day and accumulate 173 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Crowder should not have an issue emulating McRoberts with his lethal combination of speed and agility, especially against a Kansas secondary that let up nearly 300 yards in one game despite also intercepting three passes.
Kansas: wide receiver Nick Harwell
The senior transfer from Miami University helped lead the Jayhawks to victory in his first game in Lawrence. With 46 receiving yards, two touchdowns and four targets inside the red zone, Harwell emerged as the Jayhawks’ most dangerous red zone threat. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound receiver will for a repeat performance against Duke and will likely need to make some more big plays for Kansas to put up points against a dangerous Blue Devil secondary.
However, if anyone on Kansas’ roster is poised to find the end zone against the Blue Devils’ stout defense, it’s the man who caught as many touchdowns in his first game alone for the Jayhawks as Kansas' entire receiving corps did in all of 2013. Jayhawks head coach Charlie Weis has been quoted as saying that he believes that Kansas' talent matches up quite well against heavily-favored Duke, so don't be surprised to see him try to back-up his statement and test the one-on-one matchups on the edge.
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Jacob Weiss is a Trinity senior. His column, "not jumping to any conclusions," runs on alternate Fridays.