One of the nation's top tight end recruits in 2014 is set to transfer to Duke, but it will be awhile until fans get to see him in action.
Daniel Helm, who spent his freshman season at Tennessee, will transfer to Duke and will be eligible to play in the 2016 season, the school announced Wednesday afternoon. Helm was a consensus four-star prospect coming out of Glenwood High School in Illinois and was ranked as the nation's eighth-best tight end by ESPN.
The Chatham, Ill. native, caught six passes for 37 yards during his freshman season with the Volunteers, who went 6-6 this season and will play in the TaxSlayer Bowl Friday in Jacksonville, Fla.
The addition of Helm to the program will provide future depth at the tight end position. Both David Reeves and Braxton Deaver, who have started at the position during the last three seasons, will graduate after next season. That leaves Helm, current freshman Davis Koppenhaver and current redshirt sophomores Dan Beilinson and Erich Schneider to compete for playing time in 2016. The Blue Devils also have a verbal commitment from four-star 2016 tight end Mark Birmingham.
Two notable transfers have had a huge impact on the Duke football program. All-American Safety Jeremy Cash joined the team after transferring from Ohio State back in 2012 and tight end Cooper Helfet transferred to the program after spending two years at Santa Rosa Community College in California. Helfet caught 77 passes for 775 yards and six touchdowns in two seasons at Duke and is now playing for the Seattle Seahawks.
The addition of Helm to the Blue Devils may not be the teams only acquire in the transfer market this season, as Duke is rumored to be pursuing Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel and even Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, according to 247Sports' Adam Rowe. Both players would be eligible to play in 2015.
Be sure to follow us at @chroniclesports and check the Blue Zone for recruiting updates and other Duke football news during the offseason.
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