Riley, Georgia Natives, Ready For Revenge

For 15 players this weekend, going on the road to Georgia Tech really means going back to their home state.

And for one player in particular, that means it’s time for revenge.

“I know that with Georgia Tech, Eron Riley is ready to play,” quarterback Thaddeus Lewis said. “You could cut one of his fingers off and that guy’s still going to play in this game.”

Riley, out of Windsor Forest High School in Savannah, Ga., has made a habit of producing big plays against the Yellow Jackets. In  three games against Georgia Tech, the senior wide receiver—who has the most touchdown catches in the ACC and third-most in the country—has caught passes of 38, 47 and 64 yards, with the last two resulting in touchdowns. Although Riley has only managed seven total catches and two touchdowns in those games, those receptions have gone for 208 yards on nearly 30 yards a catch.

Riley, who was a two-star recruit and did not receive an offer from Georgia Tech, was not available Tuesday at the team’s weekly media luncheon, but Lewis did not hesitate in expressing Riley's excitement for Duke's first road game.

“You want to shine on the people you play against—tell them, ‘Just because I’m not playing with y’all, I’m still doing big things on this end,’” Lewis said. “[With Riley] being from Georgia, there might be a little Facebook talk going back and forth and some text messaging.”

SEE FULL STORY IN THE CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY.

—by Stephen Allan