The Duke Blue Devil football team actually drew some interest on campus this week, despite the annual signal that basketball is here. The football team was introduced at Cameron Indoor Stadium during the annual blue/white basketball game, and there was plenty of newfound enthusiasm to go around on campus for a program that has always played second fiddle to basketball. That enthusiasm served the Iron Dukes well for the first quarter and a half, as they jumped out to an early 10-point lead over the Miami Hurricanes at home. In the end though, Miami still has too many athletes for Duke--even if they are still quite young. Freshman QB Jacari Harris outplayed his freshman counterpart, QB Robert Marve, and was the offensive star for the Hurricanes throwing to a pair of speedy young wideouts in #4 Aldarious Johnson, and #80 Travis Benjamin.

NOTE: DirecTV only taped up through the first minute of the fourth quarter...grrrr...so this is based on just 3 quarters. Anybody know how to make a DirecTV DVR tape AN ENTIRE GAME in pre-programmed mode, and not just the first three hours?

SCOUTING SUMMARY

College: Miami (FL) Conference: Atlantic Coast Columnist: Steve Martin
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

Javarris James 5 5' 11.0" 214 4.50 HB 2010: Just getting back on the field gradually for Miami in this game, and didnt do much. Has been injured. INCOMPLETE.

Anthony Reddick 26 5' 11.5" 197 0.00 S 2009: Starting to look like the pre-season all-American candidate he was in many circles. Not sure why he was so un-involved in the UNC game I scouted earlier. Was really a force in the run game in this one, especially in the first half. Hits like a bigger guy. Was not challenged in the passing game during the first three quarters. GRADE: Slightly positive

Bruce Johnson 22 5' 10.3" 176 4.50 CB 2009: Johnson just stays back there and watches the opposing QBs pick on the other side. Had a nice pick called back. Shows smooth footwork and the ability to play some man. GRADE: Slightly positive

Eric Moncur 94 6' 1.3" 250 4.70 DE 2009: DNP. Injured? or suspended? Haven't had a chance to look into it. Anybody know?

Spencer Adkins 48 5' 10.0" 246 4.68 LB 2009: See Moncur. Same question.

Darryl Sharpton 50 5' 10.1" 235 4.67 LB 2010: Sharpton was almost as loud on the field as his namesake Al today! He was the team's leading tackler and looked like a legitimate possible future draft pick the way he labeled people in this one. Reminds me of a slightly bigger Buster Davis (FSU '06). Not quite as fast as Davis, perhaps, but hits like he did. Good blitzer today too. Stay in school, young man, and lead the ACC in tackles in '09. Occasionally gets sealed inside and has a tough time getting off the blokc...OK POA guy. GRADE: Positive

Dwayne Hendricks 93 6' 2.8" 300 5.16 DT 2009: Steady plugger with good size. Hard to move, and moves himself pretty well. Looks like a solid late round guy who will make a team as a backup and work his way into the rotation after a year on the practice squad and in the weight room. GRADE: Neutral

Glenn Cook 3 5' 11.3" 228 4.65 LB 2009: Occasionally lost track of his responsibilities today, but had a very nice overall Vilma-esque game at MLB in this one. Really active tackler who has nice range. I'd actually like to see Cook and Sharpton reverse roles. I think Cook could be even more effective outside, and Sharpton inside...GRADE: Slightly positive

College: Duke Conference: Atlantic Coast Columnist: Steve Martin
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

Cameron Goldberg 74 6' 6.6" 277 5.15 OT 2009: This guy sure doesn't play like either the 265 Duke lists him at or the 277 we estimate him at. We really need an accurate number here. Anybody got any connections? Bill? He plays like a 300 pounder. Very good feet. Nasty and aggressive. Dumps you, and then dumps you again if you try to get up. Plays to (and even a little beyond) the whistle. Love his style. Good technician who inserts himself into every situation. Cuts OK. You can win with guys like this. A Matt Light clone in the making? GRADE: Positive

Vince Oghobaase 3 6' 5.5" 303 5.10 DT 2010: Not really concentrating on 2010 guys who won't declare, but he looks alright.

Michael Tauiliili 34 5' 10.7" 235 4.70 LB 2009: They say he's lost 20 pounds and can now play without getting tired. My question is, "So, was he 255 last year, or is he 215 now." My guess is the latter. Active tackler and leader. Had a nice PD but should have had the game-changing pick 6 on the play. Hustles all around. OK laterally, but doesn't have NFL MLB range. May have to be 3-4 ILB candidate but will always be a pass D liability because of his height. GRADE: Slightly positive

Raphael Chestnut 5 6' 1.6" 190 4.60 WR 2009: Steady go-to guy who's camp fodder for the next level but may have a CFL/AFL future. Pretty good hands, and does the best he can after the catch. Nothing to write home about. Steady and relaible. Had a 10-yard TD catch during the first 3+ quarters. GRADE: Neutral

Clifford Harris 4 5' 9.5" 220 4.55 HB 2009: Versatile guy who can catch a little, has played QB for the Iron Dukes in the past, and actually runs up the middle with no fear and breaks some tackles once in awhile. No track star, but pretty good feature back at this level. Not sure what you do with him if you bring him in though. Jack of all trades. Master of none. No "change of pace" or "3rd down" future here either. GRADE: Slightly negative.

Marcus Jones 6 6' 2.6" 225 4.75 LB 2009: eh....ho hum. Nothing to say. Plays LB for Duke. GRADE: Incomplete.

Eron Riley 15 6' 2.2" 206 4.61 WR 2009: Intriguing guy who was third in the country in average yds/catch last year (20.8). Definitely flashes some big play potential, but had three drops in three quarters and I need to see more. Goes over the middle, but really seems to hear footsteps. Quick reactions. Need to see more. GRADE: Incomplete

OTHER NOTES:

Miami: The freshman QB rotation might settle in with Harris over Marve based on today's road victory for Miami. They needed this game and Harris was the reason they got it.

Both #4 Johnson and #80 Benjamin (who's also a stud returner) have future star potential.

RB #2 Graig Cooper does too...

Need to know what the heck is going on with Adkins and Moncur...


Duke:

Junior QB #9 Thaddeus Lewis was recruited by Miami as an athlete, and that is what he is. CFL guy with very nice intangibles.

Fr. RB #27 Jay Hollingsworth looked good.