Redshirt freshman linebacker Joe Giles-Harris flashes potential in Duke football season opener

With ACC Defensive Player of the Year Jeremy Cash and Dwayne Norman no longer with the Blue Devils, sophomore linebacker Ben Humphreys seemed like the logical choice to be the next Duke player to eclipse the 100-tackle mark in a season.

Humphreys, Duke’s starter at mike linebacker this year, had 11 tackles in the Blue Devils’ Pinstripe Bowl win against Indiana and added about 15 pounds to his frame this offseason.

But in Duke’s staunch defensive effort Saturday night against N.C. Central, it was another linebacker who stole the show.

Redshirt freshman Joe Giles-Harris recorded six tackles—two for loss, including a sack—and a pass breakup in barely two quarters of playing time in Saturday’s 49-6 rout of the Eagles. On a night that saw Duke turn in one of its best defensive performances of the David Cutcliffe era, the linebacker’s play caught the eyes of many and helped the Blue Devils allow just 71 yards on 30 plays in a dominant first half, before surrendering just 41 more yards in the second half.

After combining for 370 yards in its last two games against Duke, N.C. Central gained four first downs Saturday evening, scoring two field goals only because of two of the Blue Devils’ five fumbles. Duke pledged to come back as a more aggressive team in 2016, and that work paid off for the first time Saturday evening.

“That was just the whole preparation from the summer,” Giles-Harris said. “We’ve really worked at what [Cutcliffe] says. We focused on getting stronger and being able to hold the line of scrimmage.”

Giles-Harris, who beat out Tinashe Bere for the starting spot at will linebacker this offseason, wasted little time getting his name in the box score. On the Eagles’ first possession, the Nyack, N.Y., native contained N.C. Central quarterback Malcolm Bell, eventually bringing him down for a sack. 

Throughout the opening half, Giles-Harris seemed to be in the right place at the right time, keeping up with Eagle backs and receivers in pass coverage and making timely tackles.

And one of the reasons the 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker was so effective was because of defensive tackle A.J. Wolf’s play in the trenches.

The Blue Devils’ only returning starter on the defensive line, Wolf controlled the point of attack throughout the contest, helping Duke limit N.C. Central to 38 yards on 29 rushing attempts. The Eagles averaged 174.7 yards per game on the ground last season.

Wolf also showed a quick first step rushing Bell, accumulating three sacks—the most by a Blue Devil in a single game since 2003 and more than any Duke player had all of last season. 

“[Getting three sacks in a game] definitely isn’t a bad thing,” Wolf said. “I needed the whole defense to do it. If some guy busted a coverage, one second drop and then they’re throwing a touchdown. It’s cool to have three sacks but credit the whole defense. I just ended up getting the credit on those plays.”

To the redshirt senior’s point, arguably the Blue Devils’ strongest position group, the secondary, made sure N.C. Central did not find life over the top of Duke’s defense. 

Bell finished the game 7-of-25 for 74 yards and an interception for the Eagles, converting just one third down against a Blue Devil secondary featuring five starters who have been at Duke for at least three years.

Senior cornerback Breon Borders—who led the Blue Devils in interceptions in each of his first three seasons—picked off a tipped pass in the first quarter, and the Statesville, N.C., native also got his partner in crime back.

Redshirt junior cornerback Bryon Fields returned after tearing his ACL and missing the 2015 season, allowing two early completions before settling down. Like Borders, Fields created an explosive play, crushing N.C. Central receiver Khalil Stinson after allowing a reception to get the ball back to Duke’s offense.

With veteran safeties DeVon Edwards and Deondre Singleton also flying around on the back end of the defense, the Blue Devils’ defensive linemen and linebackers showed little indecision against the Eagles, attacking the line of scrimmage to set a positive tone heading into their ACC opener next week. 

“When you have a veteran secondary like the one we have that’s been playing together as long as they have, you’re able to do a lot of different things,” Giles-Harris said. “With them back there, there’s more trust in us to play freely and you know they’re going to help make up for whatever we miss out on.”