Athletic prospect, Dontae Aycock looking to trim his list

If you go to Central Florida and mention the name Dontae Aycock, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t heard of him.  Aycock plays for quarterback Chamberlain H.S. in Tampa, Florida and is often reffered to as a human highlight reel. He is rated the 65th best athlete in the class of 2009 by ESPN and projects by most scouts as a running back at the college level.

“Georgia Tech is the only team that’s recruiting me to play quarterback in that they run the option and that’s what I run in high school,” said Aycock during last evenings interview with BDN.  Aycock recently visited the Georgia Tech campus and was rumored by some to be a heavy lean towards the Jackets.  “I like the visit a lot, but as far as almost committing, I never said that.”

According to a recent article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Tech Coach Paul Johnson had little contact with Aycock of late and they are rumored to have their eyes on another prospect.  Another recent AJC article feels that Duke and Tech are running even for the talented young mans services.

Aycock was first offered by Kansas, but 22 schools have now offered.  Among those are Duke, Rutgers, UCF, Illinois, West Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville and the aforementioned Georgia Tech.  Aycock said that Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Louisville and Duke were the most active schools regarding his services.

He then mentioned that Coach Johnson of West Virginia was the lead recruiter for the Mountaineers and different coaches from Tech and Louisville had called. 

When asked of Duke, Aycock replied, “I know they’re a great academic school and they’re a team coming up.”  He continued, “I actually just heard from Duke.  It was the first day they (teams) could call and I just got off the phone with them,” said Aycock. 

Aycock seemingly had high regard for the Blue Devils saying, “I’ve talked to all their coaching staff and I think all the coaches are nice … I like them.”  He also mentioned that Coach Jim Collins was the lead recruiter for Duke.

BDN asked one of our staple question in that we asked Aycock to describe himself in three words as a person.  “Fun, outgoing and determined,” he answered, while never hesitating.  When asked to describe his game in one word for those who haven’t seen him play, he said, “I would say exciting.”

His Chamberlain HS team won their recent Jamboree (exhibition) game and will kickoff the season this week.  He gained 1155 yards on 155 carries.  He passed for 941 yards last season connecting on 65 of 162 passes.

Aycock looks to narrow his long list to five schools he’d like to visit by the midway point of his high school season.  When asked of the most important factors that would go into his upcoming collegiate decision, Aycock replied, “The school environment, the academics and the coaching staff.”

Scouting Report – Aycock is a very shifty runner capable of breaking one any time he touches the ball.  Aycock will likely be a running back in college but has the tools to be a top notch safety as well.  Has the frame to carry about 210 pounds at the college level.  Has been clocked last season at 4.5.  His height will likely keep him from playing quarterback at the college level.  He was not very consistent with his passing last season and needs work on his mechanics.  Aycock is a solid student.    In short, he is an athlete who will make his way onto the field with his talent. 

If he ultimately chooses Duke – Should Dontae choose the Blue Devils, he will be attending one of the best academic institutions in America.  Aycock would be in a position to compete for immediate playing time on team that is clearly an up and coming program under first year Coach David Cutcliffe. 

Visits scheduled – None at this time.  He is expected to narrow his final list of schools in October.

Notes - His brother is is NFL veteran Dwight Smith, who is currently playing safety for the Detroit Lions.  Smith was the MVP in Super Bowl XXXVII.  His family was originally from Illinois before moving to Florida.  Aycock was also born in Atlanta where his Dad still resides, but moved to Detroit at a very early age.

Meet the Devils, Scrimmage Coverage

The Blue Devil Nation was on hand for yesterday’s scrimmage which included fan day.  We will bring you up close and personal coverage this afternoon.  So, check back for our thoughts and a picture gallery from the event.

Duke’s New Offensive Coordinator talks about the coming season

The Blue Devil Nation was on hand for media day and we secured this interview with new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper.  We will have an article daily on Duke Football leading up to the home opener against James Madison.  We will also bring you practice coverage and comments for Blue Devil Nation Premium members.  The Blue Devil Nation loves Duke Football and we will aspire to bring you the same great coverage you have seen with concerns to the basketball program.  If you are a football fan, please pay us a daily visit during the month of August.  You’ll be happy you did!

So!  Are you excited to finally get back on the field?

(Wide smile) Oh yeah!  It’s like Christmas … Christmas Eve anyway.

Tell me a little bit about tomorrow.  Will you just have a walk trough?

The NCAA changed the rules a few years ago to try and help with all the heat strokes.  So, the first five days we can only practice once a day.  We will have about a two hour practice these first few days and on Saturday, we’ll have our first two a days.  We’ll have some intense practices this week.

Are you looking forward to seeing if any freshman can possibly help?

Sure, like I said it’s like Christmas Eve and tomorrow we get to unwrap the presents which is always an interesting thing.  We will try to help them catch up.  It wasn’t that long ago when you use to have two or three days of freshman where you could get out there and work specifically withthem  With all the rules changes they’ve taken those practices away which has been a change.   So, we’ve got to see who can step in and see  guys can play and possibly help right away. 

So, I’m assuming the staff will get together and talk about who they might redshirt and such.  What is a realistic time line where you think you might have a feel to make the decisions?

Well, in college football is different than say the NFL, where they get four preseason games.  We schedule in three scrimmages with ACC crews … it’s a daily process, but at the end of those scrimmages, you’ve got to make those decisions and move on.  Our last scrimmage is the 19th of August.  We’ll put them out there and see who makes plays and the ones that are ready show up.

You’ve had a chance to get to know some of the guys here by now.  Are the players where you want them to be at this point and time?

I’m really comfortable with the players and the entire staff.  It’s a day by day thing.  Obviously I know the offensive players better and I think it’s a good group of guys who understand  what we want to do as an offense.  If they buy in and I think they have then that gives you a chance on Saturdays.

Is it safe to say there will be a lot of changes in your offensive schemes?

Well, there’s only so many ways you’re going to skin a cat.  Football is football, there’s eleven on the field.  When you develop tour schemes you do it based on people or personnel as much as anything else.  We’re going to be an offense that … (brief pause) … at the end of the day we want to score one more point than the opponent.  You do that by taking care of the ball and making big plays.

So, it’s safe to say that there is a gray with concerns to how you may call a game?

Sure, sure!  And it changes as the game changes.  We have to find out who the guys are that are going to make plays for us and then make it so guys get the football.

Some felt that the Duke offense wasn’t aggressive enough last season.  Even in the one win, they kind of scaled back the offense in the second half but still managed to hold on.  How do you make those decisions on when to go for the jugular so to speak?

I don’t think anybody say let’s go into the third of fourth quarter and say let’s protect the lead.  But there are certain situations in the game where you don’t want to put our self a bad situation and this is from years and years of position study and down and distance study.  If you take a close look at it and you get the ball within your own twenty yard line the percentages go way down.  Obviously the percentages improve as you get closer.  You have to be smart with play calling.  I learned a long time ago from some food football coaches that you beat yourself a lot more than that opponent beats you with turnovers, negative plays, penalties … before you win a football game you can’t be yourself.  There is that happy median where you want to be aggressive but still be smart.  We want to be our self and be a sound football team and you want to pick up chunks of yardage on big plays.  But you don’t win a game in the first three quarters.  You and I know when you play teams like North Carolina, Clemson and Virginia Tech, well you’re not going to run them off the field.  That’s not realistic I don’t care who you are even if you are number one Georgia.  We want an opportunity to win the football game in the fourth quarter.  You want a drive at the end of the game … that’s why everyone  wants a that great quarterback.  When you look at it those great ones have found a way to take that last drive and score with it just like Eli Manning did in the Super Bowl

I’m assuming you have had a chance to watch some film of last years games in getting an idea of your personal.  In the Miami game in Wade two years ago, Duke had an opportunity to score late in the game after a sustained drive, yet bogged down and turned the ball over.  The same thing pretty much happened there last season.  Have you seen that film and would you have done anything differently?

I wasn’t in that situation, so It’s hard to say what they were doing was the wrong em.thing.  They coached their team the way which seemed right to them.  Does that mean I would do it exactly the same?  No.  But our philosophy … we’re going to be pretty multiple and aggressive, but we are going to be smart.

Speaking of quarterbacks, have you had a chance to look at Thad and what were your thoughts of him coming out of spring practice?  What do you like and dislike about his game?

I think he’s a guy that can throw the football well,  He runs a little bit hot and cold at times but he can throw the football well.  The thing that needed improving were his fundamentals.  You can’t ever take that lightly because when the fundamentals start fading are when the turnovers happen and that isn’t just an interception.  It could be fumbles in the pocket, the center exchange … all those things that you have to concentrate on as a coach.  He’s got to learn in our offense the fundamentals that are important.

I think it’s reps, I think it’s fundamentals.  It’s where he sets the ball up when he finishes his drop.  I think how he keeps both hands on it before he delivers rather than panicking and separated.  In situations like that I think you get your feet too far out of whack and you are not on balance.  He has to understand the timing of plays and apply that to have himself be active.  He was at 55% last year which is okay.  But you need to be 60 and above to really be throwing well.

So what will the team have to do to help ensure his success?

We have to figure that out … how we’ll protect him and how we do it best.  We have numerous protections in our package, no doubt.  So we will find the ones we are good at.  The other thing that you have to look at is that you have to build routes where he can get the ball out of his hands faster.  There are really good routes you can build up, but you will have to be able to protect a little bit longer.  If you can’t protect it, then there is no reason calling it.

You say in your offense …

Our offense is different, the drop back, the run schemes, all the footwork is different and that has to appl into to how you hand the ball off, how you get back into position and set, reading the coverage … which has to apply to the way we will run our offense at Duke.

How do you feel about the time you’re allowed to prepare for the home opener?

You know, when you really think about fifteen practices isn’t very much.  I’m anxious to see how much carry over we had (Spring).  There needs to be carry over and then there needs to be progress.  I’ll be able to tell you here in a couple of weeks exactly what I think.

 Is it safe to say that Duke will be running the backs on routes and utilizing the tight ends more?

Sure.  I think last year one of our tailbacks caught 39 passes and he made a big difference in what he was doing.  Our tight ends>  We had four catch TD passes last year at Tennessee.  The goal is to get 55 to 60 percent completions their way for you really don’t have to throw it that far.  You hope those guys then make plays with their feet.

The running game was atrocious last year.  WIll improved quarterback play help there?  What can you do to try and develop a running game which averaged around 50 yards a game?

It’s a good question but a very long discussion when you get into it.  You have to be balanced, there is no doubt about it.  Typically an offense will go one way or the other with what they are good at.  The emphasis went more towards the passing game at Duke last year.  You’ve got to balance up your practice time to get good at both of them.  You’ve got to pick a few things and try to get good at it rather than saying okay that didn’t work let’s try something else.  You have to rep and rep and rep and rep until you become good at anything.  We didn’t come out at Tennessee last year and try to out physical everybody and the same will apply here.  You’ve got to create lanes horizontally and vertically in your running game.

Coach Cut has talked a lot about the speed of the ACC defenses.  The SEC is obviously fast.  Will you approach things differently in this conference?

I don’t think so.  The ACC, especially a couple of year ago was as talented as the SEC on defense.  When you are talking conferences, don’t gage it on offense but on the defensive side of the ball.  Florida won the national championship a couple of years ago because you couldn’t block their front four.  LSU last year won the title.  They were good on offense, but you couldn’t block their front four,  When you look at the ACC you start seeing players like that.

You are the OC and coach most of that side of the ball.  How do you guys work together like with Coach Cutcliffe?

Very well.  He’s done it a lot of years now  so he understands all the verbiage and all the terminology, every scheme we are running he is seen before.  If he sees something he likes or dislikes, he’s going to make a comment.  He is very involved with the process.

Pictured are Coach Kurt Roper and his wife and daughter and Thad Lewis and Coach Scottie Montgomery.  All pictures are the sole property of  Blue Devil Nation and you must have permission to reprint them in any way.

Duke Football ready to begin a new era under Cutcliffe

Duke Football is about to kick off the 2008 season under new Coach David Cutcliffe.  The Blue Devils held their annual picture day on Sunday in Wallace Wade Stadium and the Blue Devil Nation was there to cover the event.  We secured several interviews and will have articles almost daily leading to the home opener with Division II power, James Madison.  We will also be bringing you some coverage from football practices as Duke Football readies to embark on a new era.  As always the BDN will bring you plenty of illustration, so check back in for a photo gallery tomorrow and a one on one with new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper later today.  Until then, enjoy the links below.

Today’s Football Links -

Duke Football begins new era

WRAL Video

New staff determined to change the culture of Duke Football

Lewis talks of meeting the Manning brothers

Will a summer of hard work pay off?

Duke Football Updates and Links – 41 days to kickoff

There are just 41 days left before kickoff of the David Cutcliffe Era begins at Duke.  Duke Football used the summer to prepare for the coming season where Vince O showed a lot of leadership off the field.  Of course, Duke continues to trim the fat.

Duke Football signed another local prospect recently.  Here is another local link  on the Raleigh Sanderson product.

Here is the College Football New’s Duke Football Preview.  Talk about early predictions!  Here is an article which already previews Clemson versus Duke and picks the Tigers to win with ease.  Scan down in this link for the Cufcliffe effect.

Hear David Cutliffe in person – The Raleigh date is Thursday, July 31 with dinner starting at 6 pm and is being held at the Raleigh Marriott Center City.  Cost $15.

The Durham date is Friday, August 8 at Tyler’s Restaurant and Taproom (next to the DBAP).  Doors open at 5 pm.  Cost is $18 which includes a ticket to the Bulls’ game that night (Coach will throw out the first pitch) or $10 w/o the ticket.

You must register in advance for these events.

Duke FB to Help Rescue Mission – Auto, Pic Session

The Duke Football team will visit the Durham Rescue Mission on Sunday, July 13 from 1-3 p.m. The visit will include lunch, an autograph/photo session and activities.
 
Head coach David Cutcliffe and selected student-athletes will be available for interviews during the event.  The Durham Rescue Mission is located at the Good Samaritan Inn at 507 East Knox Street (off I-85 at Exit 177).
 
The Durham Rescue Mission, originally a shelter for men, was founded in 1974 by the Reverend Ernie C. Mills.  The Mission expanded in 1993 with shelter for women and children.   Currently the Mission houses a men’s campus at 1201 East Main Street while the Good Samaritan Inn located on 507 East Knox Street provides housing for women, children and families.  In addition, the Rescued Treasures Thrift Store is at 3220 N.C. Highway 55 South.

New Duke AD meets with the media

New Athletic Director Kevin White met with the media on Monday and came off as a breath of much needed fresh air for Duke Athletics.  If he were a politician, one might say he said all the right things, not only addressing many long standing issues, but going into detail about fund raising and college athletics in general.

He left no doubt that he will bring new ideas to the table and that he already loves Duke University and what it stands for.  White admitted to not having all the answers to the media questions, stating that he was still familiarizing himself more with many of the programs faculty and coaching.

It’s safe to say that he is familiarizing himself with the community as well and that he would also be acclimating his family to the area.  In fact, his wife and daughter are driving down today and they along with their two Labs, will settle in to an apartment near campus until they can shop for a home.

Yes, Kevin White was very personable even sharing his concerns about his daughter, a rising senior adjusting to a new school and having to leave her long time friends in Indiana.  He took the time to introduce himself to all of the media and showed a genuine interest in the questions with quick and solid answers all while occasionally nibbling on a chocolate chip cookie from the prior buffet.

While down to earth,  White certainly showed the ability to see the big picture and seems to be man of action.  The  media wasted no time asking about the dormant football program that new Coach David Cutcliffe will try to resurrect.  “Everybody has got to get behind the program, especially when it’s down, said White.  He continued, “David can’t do it by himself.  He’s hired an outstanding staff and he was a tremendous hire.  It will take the whole university to rally around David to make this happen.”

Naturally the conversation then segued into Wallace Wade Stadium.  In terms of Wallace Wade … we need to do a lot in Wallace Wade.  White quipped, “This facility is antiquated at best and we have got to come in here and do a pretty significant makeover.  Not a face lift, but a make over.”

When asked if Duke Football had already outgrown the Yoh Center, he paused and then responded, “I think our needs are out here in Wallace Wade.”  FWIW, the media was seated at a table in the Yoh Center in which Wade was the backdrop. “I think we need to get some experts in here, so that they could kind of give us a sense of what it could be.”  White even talked of price point breaks and expressed the need to look at a lot of “what ifs”.  “We need to make it fan friendly.  The whole environment needs to be reshaped and re cultured.”

White did mention that a new Field House was first on the horizon and talked of elongating the practice field.  He also expressed the need for a great game day experience.  Some of those close to him at his former school Notre Dame, say that he is a hands on guy with concern to game day atmosphere.

He then stated that Duke need an athletic master facility plan which would address the next seven to ten years.  “It’s really important that we show people exactly what we are trying to do,” said White in reference to benefactors.  White was then asked about a capital investment plan and responded, “When institutions get to the point where they feel that they need to make a significant investment, they typically go about the business of creating one and I think we are just at that point.”

Oddly, White wasn’t asked of Coach K until five minutes left in the thirty minute session.  “”What Mike K has created here is  unparalleled at this point and has a mystique.  As a department we need to leverage that and I know Mike is very interested in helping the other programs.”  He also mentioned the basketball facilities, saying, “We will find ways to maintain the mystique of Cameron Indoor Stadium, the cathedral of college basketball, but at the same time move forward into the 21st century.”

The keyword for me during his interview was “Excellence,” which was used in reference to a common theme among those he has already met in his short time at Duke.   ”There is a real strong theme of excellence.  Everybody wants to excel and compete at the highest level.”

Synopsis – White seemed well versed in the need for change in football and mentioned the baseball team and Coombs Field as well.  There is little doubt he will put emphasis on these two sports and maintain the behemoth men’s basketball program.  White seems to have a lot of contacts in college athletics and hands on experience in many important areas which will certainly help him on the job.  In a nutshell,  White was again, very personable, articulate and more importantly approachable.