As the old cliché goes, “every cloud has a silver lining.” Although the first three games of the season have resembled more of a storm than a cloud for Duke’s football team, there have also been a fair share of pleasant surprises. With the team suffering from a deluge of injuries at the major skill positions, several true freshmen have seen some serious playing time early in their college careers.
“They’ve played in every facet. In special teams, they play a huge role in that. I think we’re getting more and more athletic with them on the field,” head coach Ted Roof said. “On offense, at the skill positions at running back and the receivers, you see a lot of them and then defensively, at outside backer and in the secondary. They’ve had a big impact on our team.”
True freshmen are playing primarily at positions where the Blue Devils opening-game starters have gone down with injury. This was somewhat expected as a number of true freshmen started high up on the depth chart; however, Roof was expected to play a number of his younger players.
Among the freshmen who have stepped up is tailback Justin Boyle, who is helping to fill in for junior Cedric Dargan. After carrying the ball only five times in the team’s first two games, Boyle’s workload increased against a tough Virginia Tech defense, running the ball 10 times for 29 yards.
“It’s a cool experience,” said Boyle. “It’s a lot different than high school. It’s a lot more stuff thrown out you and it’s real fast. I’m still getting used to it. We’ve had some injuries and need those guys to get well, but I’ve been adjusting to it pretty good.”
Another true freshman who has seen action is wide receiver Corey Thompson, who is filling in for senior Senterrio Landrum and sophomore Deonto McCormick. Thompson has only caught two passes for 29 yards, but after starting a game and taking 54 snaps, he has quickly become acclimated to the faster-paced collegiate game.
“Basically, the big difference is going full speed every play and learning the plays of being in an NFL offense,” an exhausted Thompson said after practice Tuesday. “In high school, at receiver you just line up and throw it.”
Thompson, however, is not the only freshman wide receiver to make waves. Both Chancellor Young and Jomar Wright have seen considerable playing time, each contributing in different ways. Young has split time between offense and special teams and was the team’s leading kickoff returner against Virginia Tech. Wright lead the Duke receivers against the Hokies, catching two passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side, cornerback Daniel Charbonnet, who has taken the place of the injured Kenneth Stanford, has started the past two games and recorded 11 tackles, six of them solo.
The challenges for these true freshmen go beyond the football field. Many of the freshmen have to cope with their first set of midterm exams while they combat the anxiety associated with the home opener.
“Throw in [a] home game where several of them are playing a key role [with] their first round of testing at Duke—not just at college, but at Duke University—that adds another dimension to them,” Roof said. “It’s a lot for freshmen to absorb in the transition, [but] it’s onto the next thing for them.”
Furthermore, this past weekend marked the end of the three-game grace period for redshirting players. Although Roof does not like redshirting, he acknowledges that it takes some players longer to transition than others. Injuries, however, may force Roof and his coaching staff to grant eligibility to more of the true freshmen than he had expected at the start of the season.
Roof praised his freshmen for their resilience and their determination, singling out the unity that has prevailed despite this mix of internal and external pressures.
“I’m really proud of the freshman class,” he said. “They’ve really bonded and become a tight knit group. I feel like they’re going to be a big part of turning this program in the right direction, where we need to go. It’s critical that these guys feel that, not only for themselves but for each other.”
Both Boyle and Thompson reaffirmed Roof’s statement, praising their fellow classmates for turning the team into a family.
“The upperclassmen [have made it] the best environment I’ve been around as a team,” Thompson said. “Everybody’s working hard to get better, everybody’s got the same goal, winning.”
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