When the football team opens its season at East Carolina this Saturday, three upperclassmen may be having freshman jitters. Malcolm Ruff, Patrick Bailey and Demetrius Warrick all agreed to switch their positions in the off-season, and the trio has been working during the preseason to adjust to their new roles.
The Blue Devils already suffer from inexperience—head coach Ted Roof said as many as 18 true freshmen might see playing time in the team’s opener Saturday—and these three major position changes may make Duke even less prepared in one of the best college football conferences.
Ruff, a former running back in high school, is no longer a starting linebacker and will return to the offensive side of the ball as a fullback.
“I’m liking being back on the offensive end a whole lot,” the senior said. “Being a blocking back is especially good for me because if I do well, I get to see somebody else do well because of me.”
With Bill O’Brien coming to the Blue Devils as the new offensive coordinator, the entire offensive squad had to learn a new playbook. Ruff said that being in the same situation as the rest of his playing mates made the transition significantly easier.
Already having played running back, Ruff should have some understanding of the fullback position, and Roof said Ruff may get some carries under the new offensive scheme. The transition may be difficult, given that the high school game is significantly slower paced than ACC play and Ruff is now four years removed from his days at Gilman School.
“I’m glad to be on the punishing side of the football this year, I’m going to get to play my style of football and try and run some people over,” Ruff said. “Fullback hasn’t been too hard to learn. I’m just trying to keep it simple and play with a defensive mentality.”
Bailey played on the line last year as a defensive end, but is switching to outside linebacker for the upcoming season.
“He’s one of our better football players and I didn’t want him on the side watching the game with me,” head coach Ted Roof said. “There’s definitely a learning curve for him, but he’s picking it up very quickly because he works so hard at it.”
The only player of the three to not switch sides of the ball, Bailey, is being forced to learn a new stance. As a defensive end, Bailey was accustomed to the three point stance, but now has to learn how to start with his hand off the ground.
“From the defensive end, you have to read the tackle, but now [I have to focus on the] middle three and I have to train my eyes to pick them up,” Bailey said. “Instincts are instincts, it’s just going to be a matter of time to learn what I have to read. I know I’m going to make a few mistakes, but I hope to learn from them and get better.”
Warrick opened the 2004 season on the defensive line but injured his leg five games into the season and was sidelined for the rest of the year. The senior will return to the gridiron as the team’s right offensive tackle.
“The amount of concentration you have to have is a little bit more,” Warrick said. “You have to make faster decisions at the line of scrimmage and your decision can change in a split-second if the defense shifts.”
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