Every team has a motivator.
This type of player is frequently portrayed as a loud and enthusiastic screaming lunatic. On a football team, this player often comes from the offensive line.
Although Matt Rumsey is from the line, he does not fit the typical mold.
"He gets it--he gets it in his own way," head coach Ted Roof said. "He's not a real vocal, outspoken guy, but he leads by example."
The junior is Duke's lone returning starter on the offensive line. At center, he is the glue that holds the line together and serves as the first line of defense between quarterback Marcus Jones and 11 swarming defenders.
The Blue Devil offensive line collectively has 12 starting assignments to its name-11 of which are attributed to Rumsey-the fewest of any team in the nation.
"He's our most experienced player up there by far," Roof said. "He's a guy that we're counting on to bring the other players along. He knows what to do, he knows the tempo and speed of the game, and he knows how to prepare."
As a sophomore, Rumsey started all 11 games for Duke and played 711 snaps-fourth most of any Blue Devil last season.
"He's our motivator," Jones said. "He's like a senior leader even though he's not a senior yet. He's been a lot of help to everybody."
Although the junior is clearly more experienced than the rest of his teammates on the line, he doesn't see it as an issue.
"I don't feel older than them and I don't feel better than them," Rumsey said. "We are a unit. We can't think of ourselves as five different people, we have to think of ourselves as one unit."
Rumsey's most experienced counterpart up front is redshirt--sophomore left tackle Cameron Goldberg. A season ago, Goldberg saw action in 10 games, earning a start in the final game against North Carolina, and a spot on The Sporting News' Freshman All-ACC team.
"Having Cameron right there next to me helps a lot," Rumsey said. "Offensive line is one of those positions where you have to pick it up fast-if you're slow, then stuff behind you starts screwing up and nothing goes right. Having him out there with game experience is a huge help."
Duke needs the offensive line to support an attack that finished last in the ACC in 2005 in total offense, pass offense, and scoring offense.
Alongside Rumsey and Goldberg, the Blue Devils plan to start sophomore Fred Roland at right tackle, and junior Zach Maurides and sophomore Rob Schirmann at the guard positions. The three linemen last season combined for 299 snaps and zero starts.
Nonetheless, Rumsey doesn't see the inexperience as a huge obstacle.
"Coming from spring and into the fall and through camp, we've come a really long way," Rumsey said. "We've got young guys, but everyone's played in games before-everyone knows the speed and the tempo and what they need to do on the field."
Despite his humble nature, other members of the offensive line have come to rely upon Rumsey's leadership--which will be crucial to the Blue Devils' success this season.
"Matt's been great," Goldberg said. "He always meets with the guys when they need him and he's always doing extra work. All these young guys are really taking in a lot from him."
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