X Factor: Duke vs. Army

Duke welcomes Army West Point to Wallace Wade Stadium to debut the 2018 season. Army was one of the teams that defeated the Blue Devils in their six-game losing streak last season. However, Duke looks to clamp down on the Black Knights’ unique triple option offense in order to come away with a victory this time around.  

Every week throughout the football season, the Blue Zone will break down a player on each team who could be the difference-maker in the upcoming contest.

Duke: Defensive End Victor Dimukeje 

Last season, Victor Dimukeje made an excellent case for Duke football rookie of the year. ESPN's first-team Freshmen All-American ended his season with 40 tackles while leading ACC rookies in tackles for loss. Against Army’s unorthodox triple option offense, it is imperative that Duke’s defensive line stays disciplined and makes quick, smart decisions at the snap. True sophomore Dimukeje now has the experience and athleticism needed to both read the quarterback correctly and get to him or the halfback on time to stop the run from tearing up Duke’s defense. 

The Baltimore native will get an even bigger chance to show his talents this season, as his excellent rookie debut should encourage defensive coordinators Ben Albert and Matt Guerrieri to use Dimukeje more as a defensive focal point. With an Army team that led the nation in rushing yards in its 2017 campaign at 362.3 yards per game, Dimukeje’s expertise at the line of scrimmage could help Duke avenge its 2017 loss to the Black Knights and make the Blue Devil run defense even stronger than it was last season. 

Army: Quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. 

Since Army alumnus Ahmad Bradshaw graduated after leading the Black Knights to a 10-3 record, junior Kelvin Hopkins Jr. will take over as the starting quarterback for the Black Knights against Duke. Though he did not see the field much last year, never having played an entire collegiate game, Hopkins Jr. performed well in his limited opportunities. In seven games, he rushed for 40 yards and passed for 76 yards. Hopkins Jr.’s speed will prove especially important for Army’s triple option offense, as it will put even more pressure on Duke’s defense to keep an eye out for his quarterback keep option.  

While the triple option can be very challenging to defend, the quarterback at the helm has to make good decisions in order for the offense to run effectively. As a first-year starter, Hopkins’ ability to correctly read the Blue Devil defensive line will either make Army’s offense click immediately, or fall by the wayside under an inexperienced quarterback.