Duke's success on the gridiron this season hinges on a stable.
It's not the famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales that scored touchdowns and kicked field goals in so many commercials but rather a trio of thoroughbred running backs.
Juniors Justin Boyle and Ronnie Drummer and sophomore Re'quan Boyette comprise the Blue Devils' best offensive threat. Like their animal counterparts, they are strong and fast, but, more importantly, they are willing and able to put the weight of the team on their backs.
"We're going to be carrying most of the load on offense," Boyle said. "We got to be able to hold on to the ball and wear defenses down."
Boyle, who coined the nickname, began saying it merely as a joke before realizing how significant a role the running backs would have in Duke's success, he said. The Georgia native is listed as the starting halfback, but backup Boyette is also expected to have a large impact. Drummer will be featured in the unique "Devil Back" position, which will allow him to utilize his speed at running back and wide receiver.
"Each one of us has a different style, and all the styles complement each other," Boyette said. "That will be pretty bad on the defense. It will be very hard to adjust to three different running backs."
Boyle is one of the strongest members on the team, ranking first in the power clean and third in the squat lift, and he resorts to a hard-nosed kind of running. Boyette's rare combination of speed and toughness allows him to be used in many different ways, Drummer said. Drummer himself is one of the fastest players in blue.
"His speed is his best asset," junior center Matt Rumsey said about Drummer. "He is one of the fastest people I've ever seen with the ball."
Together the corps hopes to alleviate some of the pressure on all of the young players on the offense.
With sophomore Marcus Jones starting his first game at quarterback this Saturday after switching from receiver, the trio knows that they will be counted on to make Jones' transition easier.
"If we go in and bang it around on the inside, it will open it up for the pass and [Jones] will have clear throwing lanes," Boyette said.
The offensive line, which head coach Ted Roof has identified as a potential weakness, has only one returning starter in Rumsey. As much as the Stable is capable of assisting Jones with his job, the three backs all know that it starts with the men up front.
"No matter how well we play as a group, our whole success will be on our offensive line," Drummer said, "Only thing we can do is just hope that they block for us, and we'll run for them and we'll operate as a family."
Although victories are what Duke looks to accomplish on the field, the idea of the team existing as a family off the field is extremely important to the three offensive leaders. The Stable has taken on the responsibility of leading the charge for the Blue Devils, both on and off the gridiron.
"As a Stable, we all invite each other to watch film together," Drummer said. "We try to involve everybody. It's not just on the field, it's even at the dinner table. Everybody eats with each other. Everybody is trying to become more of a family, become closer to each other."
These three thoroughbreds may bring Duke closer to its goals as well. Roof wants his team to run what Boyette called a "championship operation," but he'll need a lot of mileage and horsepower out of the Stable for that to happen.
"We're all ready to go out and hit someone and score some touchdowns," Drummer said.
The stable is open, and the race is on.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.