The next installment in our Duke Football Team Preview brings us to the WR group where the Blue Devils will look to replace Jamison Crowder, who tied Conner Vernon’s school record for career pass receptions with 283. Not only will they have to replace Crowder but also Issac Blakeney who caught 47 passes for 559 yards and a team-high seven TDs. That is a ton of production to replace especially from Crowder who was a jack-of-all trades player that should thrive in the NFL.
Those players are gone, hopefully to successful careers, and the current crop of wide receivers for Duke is not without talent. First, Max McCaffrey returns as a 6’2, 190 pound, senior, who provides needed experience for a position that is void of it. McCaffrey ranked third on the team in both receptions and receiving yardage. He has deceptive speed which he uses to separate from defensive backs effectively. Also, his overall instincts and ball skills make him a solid option to the team. At this point in his career, we all know what we can expect from McCaffrey, which is a solid number 2 or 3 option that will do his job in the slot.
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Johnell Barnes, a 6’0, 175 pound, junior, returns to the team as a great in-traffic receiver. Barnes has long arms with above-average hands along with a very good wingspan. He makes extremely difficult catches look routine because of his hands and the way he fights for the ball. Not really known for his speed but most linebackers should not be able to stay with him. He will be Duke’s receiver that will catch highly contested passes and should thrive with throws over the middle.
Coach David Cutcliffe should expect Terrence Alls, a 6’1, 180 pound, redshirt-sophomore, to take over some of the production that both Crowder and Blakeney will leave behind. Alls played in 13 games last year but only caught 2 balls for 14 yards. I would expect for him to get a chance to show what he has early in the season but if he cannot produce then the young, new kids on the block should be able to pick up the slack.
Everyone is probably thinking where are Chris Taylor, Trevon Lee and TJ Rahming? Calm down crazies. I am getting to them. All three have loads of potential. Potential is a funny word. It can mean hope and optimism for fans but also can lead to disappointment and misery. First there is Chris Taylor. Taylor is a 6’1, 170 pound, redshirt-freshman. This is what a number 1 receiver looks like and he was listed as the ACC’s number one breakout candidate heading into the 2015 season. He has a fantastic size-strength-speed combination. He can separate from most defensive backs and plays the ball beautifully in the air. He is just another under-the-radar 3 star player from South Florida. You know what they say about skill players from South Florida? A three star from South Florida is a five-star anywhere else in the country. Now Taylor is not a five-star but he has the potential to be an All-ACC type player.
Next is Trevon Lee. Another redshirt-freshman, who stands at 6’1, 175 pounds. A highly regarded player out of Cardinal Gibbons high school in Florida, has many of the same skills as Taylor. They are similar heights and weights with many of the same playing habits. He has good size, speed and strength and he should provide big play ability right away.
Lastly, TJ Rahming, a member of the U.S. Army All-American team last year, should remind every one of Jamison Crowder. He is almost the same height and weight as Crowder and his playmaking ability cannot be questioned. Every Duke fan should be excited for the potential (there is that word again) of a player like Jamison Crowder. Of course he has to prove it on the field but the talent in this group is there. There is no denying it.
Juniors Anthony Nash and Ryan Smith also return but unless all the young receivers on the roster fail, then I highly doubt these two see the field.
I expect McCaffrey to be the slot receiver with Barnes and Taylor starting as your number 1 and 2. Barnes could get bumped by Lee and Rahming because they might be too good to keep off the field. This position boasts tons of skill, potential and depth.
ACC Rank: 4th
Florida State is loaded with all the freshmen they have coming in along with Travis Rudolph and Ermon Lane returning. Clemson has Artavis Scott, Miami has Stacy Coley and Virginia Tech has Isaiah Ford. It would not be out of the realm of possibilities that Duke could have the best overall wide receiving group in the ACC. If they had a returning starter who put up All-ACC numbers last year then you could argue that they should be number 1. This group should have Blue Devils’ fans excited this upcoming year.