Duke Football Team Preview: Running Back
In our first installment of our Duke Football team preview, I broke down the Quarterback position. Next up is running back where experience and talent is quite evident.
The dilemma for coach David Cutcliffe is who do you start and how will the carries be divided up? First, there is Shaquille Powell, a 5’10, 210 pound, senior, who returns from starting 10 games last year and led the team with 618 rushing yards. He scored two TDs on the ground while also catching 18 passes for 248 yards and one TD. His best performance might have come in the last game of the year against Arizona State in the Hyundai Sun Bowl where he rushed for 117 yards and had another 52 yards through the air. Powell will not do anything flashy but he is a fantastic well-rounded back. He can run between the tackles as well as catch the ball out of the backfield. He does not have ideal size to carry the load every single game as he might eventually break down. Powell while only being 5’10 is a power back who you can count on to get you the tough yards.
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Next is Shaun Wilson who established the school record for single-game rushing with 245 yards against Kansas last year. Wilson, a 5’9 180 pound, sophomore, had some electrifying moments his freshman year. He has speed and vision that you want in a running back and has to be looked at for major playing time this fall. Wilson can be the lightning to Powell’s thunder.
WAIT THERE IS MORE! Anyone remember Jela Duncan? He only rushed for 1,115 yards and 7 TDs in 2012-13. He returns from serving a one-year suspension for a violation of the university’s academic policy. Duncan, standing at around 5’9, is an angry runner who has excellent vision in traffic as well as hands out of the backfield. He delivers punishment to any defender that tries to tackle him. It will be interesting to see how Duncan has kept himself in shape and if he can be the same type of runner as he was two years ago. If he can, then the Duke backfield becomes one of the nation’s elite as they can rotate 3 very reliable backs who all have different skill sets and who all can have different impacts on the game.
There is also Joseph Ajeigbe who can come in and be a similar back to Powell as he will do everything well but nothing spectacular. As you can see, the Blue Devils have many options and many different kinds of running backs they can throw at opposing defenses to wear them down. Powell is the power back who will get the tough yards and most likely start the season on top of the depth chart. Wilson can come into the game and hit a home run at a moment’s notice. Duncan (if he can return to his previous form) can be your every down back who is clearly capable of going for 1,000 yards in a season. Ajeigbe is a solid insurance back in case of injury. The depth at this position is amongst the best on the team.
ACC Running Back Rank: 5th
If Duncan cannot be the same player he was 2 years ago then this position lacks a true number 1 stud running back like FSU’s Dalvin Cook. There is no denying the depth here and if Powell, Wilson and Duncan can mesh together, well then this ranking can only go up.