Duke Football Team Preview: Defensive Tackle
In our previous Duke Football Team Preview the defensive ends were highlighted. Now the attention turns to the interior and the tackles. Just like the ends, tackle is a position that does not return much in terms of proven talent. One positive Duke fans can look for is the play of senior Carlos Wray.
Wray started all 13 games from a season ago where he registered 39 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three QB pressures. He is 6’2, 290 and a player that will be heavily relied upon to provide leadership to not only the other tackles but the whole defensive line. Wray should be a stout run defender on a defense that had a tough time stopping the run last year. He is active and as physical a player as you can ask for. He holds his gaps well and will stop ball carriers in their tracks.
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A.J. Wolf is the other defensive tackle that returns with any valuable experience. A 6’4, 270 pound junior, Wolf played in all 13 games last year with 18 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. ESPN named Wolf as one of their spring breakout performers in the ACC and he hopes to continue his play into fall camp and the season. As a 4th year junior, Wolf needs to step up in a big way if the Blue Devils want to improve their run defense and pass rush.
There are others that return such as sophomore Mike Ramsay and junior Keilin Rayner, who will be asked to provide solid depth for Wray and Wolf. Ramsay is 6’2, 295 pounds. Rayner is 6’3, 260 pounds. They both played in 6 games last year where they combined for 6 tackles and nothing else. Not good considering they will be relied upon to spell Wray and Wolf in situations. But the real players that will determine the strength of this position are redshirt freshmen Edgar Cerenord and Quaven Ferguson.
Cerenord is 6’1, 300 pounds and a road-grading type of player. He has the prototypical body you want in a defensive tackle and his physical capabilities are much greater than Wray and Wolf. Cerenord is the type of player that the SEC schools snag.
Ferguson is also a big body at 6’2, 305. He does not have the athleticism that Cerenord possesses but his strength is above average. These two are the key as to if the defensive tackles can be an average to below average unit or an above average group. Hopefully a year of weight training and the adjustment to college life will impact if these two can be productive on the field.
I do not expect Brandon Boyce or Zach Morris, the two incoming freshmen to make much of an impact. They will most likely be red-shirted.
ACC Rank: 8th
I would expect Wray and Wolf to start the majority of the season, if not all of it. They are solid and if Wolf can continue where he left off in the spring this is a solid unit. They will not be spectacular but the run defense cannot get much worse than it was last year. Cerenord and Ferguson hopefully will prove they are ready for major college football as they are the most talented players at this position.