Duke Blue Devils National Signing Day: Offensive Skill Positions
Beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Duke fans can follow National Signing Day with live updates and video on GoDuke.com. GoDuke.com’s 2012 Signing Day Central will feature biographical sketches and video highlights of Duke’s signees. Tune in here to keep up-to-date with all the signings and get over to the Washington Duke from 5:30-7 for the Signing Day event with Coach David Cutcliffe!
With National Signing Day upon us, the Duke Football program has earned commitments from a number of quality athletes to keep the pool of talent on the roster filled. Unlike basketball, it’s unusual for freshmen to make a large impact in college football but last year a number of them made valuable contributions for the Blue Devils. Out of the 30 players listed as freshmen on Duke’s roster for 2011: Jamison Crowder, Blair Holliday, Britton Grier, David Helton, and Jonathan Woodruff all took some snaps.
During the 2012 season you will definitely see some new faces hitting the field as the players who took redshirts last season will step into roles left open by departing seniors. On the offensive side of the ball, departing seniors like Cooper Helfet (David Reeves will get more time), Jay Hollingsworth (Josh Snead, Dez Scott, etc.), Kyle Hill (Lucas Patrick, Cody Robinson, Marcus Aphramian), Donovan Varner(Holliday, Brandon Braxton), Alex King (Will Monday) leave big shoes to fill.
A look at Duke’s 18-man 2012 recruiting class shows a strategic effort to supplement the departing players with talented prospects from all over the country. Duke is still waiting to hear from North Carolina native Keilin Rayner tomorrow. He will make his decision known live at 11 AM Wednesday. Let’s get to know the members of this class, starting with the offensive skill position players.
Quarterback
- Thomas Sirk — Status: Committed/Signed LOI/ Enrolled
- Height 6’5″ | Weight 220 lbs
- Rankings — 3-Star #19 Pro-Style QB (Rivals) | 3-Star #62 QB (ESPN) | 2-Star #83 QB (Scout)
- 4.51 40 Speed, 4.5 GPA according to Rivals
- Just started playing QB in his senior year of high school
- Scouting Report from ESPN:
- Sirk is blessed with an ideal quarterback frame as well as very good straight line speed, he will have a chance as a senior to take the reins for the first time as a full time starter. Shows a good over the top release point that, combined with his height, is ideal for a pocket passer. Good feet, comes to balance quickly at the top of his drop. Does a poor job of stepping to his target when throwing to the left bringing up accuracy concerns. Shows good arm strength in his workout but just average on game tape. Tremendous upside from the standpoint of his physical tools, concerns arise given the fact that he has not been able to earn the starting job until his senior season. As a safety/wide receiver he’s not a sudden athlete but shows very good straight line speed for his size. Shows soft hands, lacks wiggle to make defenders miss in space. Could easily add the weight to develop into a tight end at the next level. Overall, Sirk will have a chance to prove himself at the quarterback position this season; he needs to show that his skill set he has can be displayed consistently in game situations through a full season.
- Stats according to MaxPreps.com:
- 209.4 Pass Yards/Game
- 68 Rush Yards/Game
- 127 QB Rating
- 26 Pass TD
- Video:
Running Back
- Shaquille Powell — Status: Committed
- Height 5’9″ | Weight 159 lbs
- Rankings — 4-Star #6 All-Purpose RB (Rivals) | 3-Star #56 RB (ESPN) | 3-Star #44 RB (Scout)
- 4.59 40 Speed, 4.31 Shuttle according to Rivals
- Nevada Football Player of the Year according to ESPNHS.com
- Scouting Report from ESPN:
- Powell is not a real flashy back but is well-rounded and has the between the tackles toughness you like to see in a college running back prospect. Lacks ideal size but is well-built with some good thickness for a sub-200 pound back and runs much bigger. Has carried the load with good production and with added bulk and power he could develop into an every-down back at the next level. Has good speed not elite. This is a downhill, one-cut and go productive runner but he does show the sharp change-of-direction skill to make the first defender miss through the hole. Lateral agility and jump-cut skill are solid. Reaches top speed quickly through the first level showing good burst but doesn’t consistently see the cutback. Would like to see him run with a bit more patience to make the extra cut but does flash the ability to get thin and knife through the smaller creases. Shows above average stop-start ability and quick acceleration out of his cuts making him a threat in the open-field but we do not see the loose hips or elusiveness to be a difference-maker at the college level. Speed is more straight-line. Makes a lot of his yards after contact; a finisher and second effort back. An aggressive runner when he decides to plant and get North. Lowers his pads, drives his legs and looks to finish. He has a sturdy frame with a lower running base and when he gets low with downhill momentum it’s difficult to arm-tackle him. Retains balance well and consistently falls forward. Good short-yardage and goal-line runner. We do question if he has the frame and power to carry the load early at the next level and continue earning solid yards after contact. He does show good hands out of the backfield and has the size and toughness to block which should allow him to develop into a three-down back but it may take some time and continued physical development for Powell to do so productively at the major college level.
- Video:
Wide Receivers
- Max McCaffrey — Committed
- Height 6’2″ | Weight 180 lbs
- Rankings — 2-Star (Rivals) | 2-Star #232 WR (ESPN)| 3-Star #68 WR (Scout)
- 4.7 40 Speed according to Scout
- Son of former Stanford All-American and NFL receiver Ed McCaffrey (Giants, 49ers, Broncos) and the nephew of former Duke basketball player Billy McCaffrey…
- Scouting Report from ESPN:
- McCaffrey is a lean and lanky athlete that is deceptively fast and plays the game with excellent overall instincts and ball skills. Plays both as an offensive weapon and defensive cornerback, but if he were to remain on defense he would likely need to move to safety. Due to his size and pass catching ability he is likely a better fit on offense as a wide receiver. Is very smart and savvy as a player. Offensively he catches everything. There will be bigger, stronger, faster guys, but McCaffrey is darn reliable and knows how to get open. Plucks on the run and gets upfield immediately after the catch. Does not allow balls to get into his frame and will make the difficult grab look easy. Once he gets into the open field, he shows a little second gear and seems more explosive with room to move. Has the height to match-up out wide and shows red-zone upside on jump balls. Is a crafty route runner that can stem and drive DBs and create enough separation to give him an advantage over more talented DBs. With McCaffrey you do not have a physically imposing player. He is skinny and needs significant bulk and strength added to his frame. He is a late-bloomer physically. May be limited in his overall change-of-direction to make big plays after the catch. appears to have more reps and experience on defense and is extremely productive, but for the FBS level we are not sure he could hold up there. McCaffrey is an FCS/FBS level ‘tweener. He has many redeeming traits and intangibles and will out smart many competitors. Good player.
- Video: McCaffrey Brothers are Double Trouble
- Anthony Nash — Committed
- Height 6’5″ | Weight 185 lbs
- Rankings — 2-Star (Rivals) | 2-Star #187 WR (ESPN) | 3-Star #148 WR (Scout)
- 4.4 40 Speed according to Rivals
- 2010: Caught 52 passes for 1,172 yards and 16 touchdowns…
- Scouting Report from ESPN:
- Video:
- Nash is a tall and lanky possession receiver that is reminiscent of a poor man’s Duval Kamara from the 2007 class. He has excellent measurables for a potential redzone target and underneath weapon that knows how to use his size and wingspan to his advantage. He has long levers and is deceptively quick and athletic. Shows good coordination and body control for a tall player with such an long body. Looks smooth coming up with difficult grab and is a difficult one-on-one matchup for any corner with his height and leaping skills; has the make up to become a big-play possession receiver at the next level. Comes off the ball with good surge. It is hard for DB’s to judge his movement skills and although he is not a burner, his height makes him dangerous on deep routes. He has a long wing span and can out-reach and outmuscle smaller defenders. He is not yet a crisp route runner yet, but he is imposing so he shields himself well between the ball and DB. He plays with confidence and you get the feeling he thinks he can make big plays on every play. He is better after the catch than most big players and shows some suddenness in space. He needs to be a movement type slot where he acts almost like an H-back and works the middle of the field and crossing routes. The issue with Nash is that he lacks wiggle and flexibility with the ball in his hands. Runs tall and is high cut with some tension in the hips so he is a bit straight-lined in all his movements. This also affects his ability to go into and out of his breaks without gearing down and telegraphing his intentions. Nash has a lot of fine qualities, but may be a best fit inside working underneath zones for the next level and also as an outside jump ball guy. Is a non-BCS/lower end BCS level ‘tweener.
Tight Ends
- Dan Beilinson — Committed
- Height 6’5″ | Weight 220 lbs
- Rankings — 3-Star #34 TE (Rivals) | 3-Star #22 TE (ESPN) | 3-Star #29 TE (Scout)
- From Panther Creek High School in Cary, NC
- Scouting Report from ESPN:
- Beilinson is a tight end prospect with good height. He needs to work to fill out that frame some and add more good bulk. He is a kid that displays the ability to be a productive part of a passing attack. He has good hands and while he can trap the ball at times he displays the ability to pretty consistently extend and bring the ball in with his hands. He displays good concentration to be able catch the ball in a crowd and displays good body control to be able to adjust to the ball. He may be tall and lean, but comes across as a tough kid willing to take a hit to make the grab. He has good straight-line speed. Not necessarily a field stretching threat that will keep defenses awake at night, but he can run well and attack the seam. After the catch he will not elude many defenders, but he fights to break tackles and get what he can. He can be active as a receiving target, but with added size and strength and continued development in technique he could be a productive in-line blocker as well. He will deliver a good initial pop. He brings his hands, but needs to work get better placement. He will work to get his man blocked, but can tend to get overextended and needs to get his hips under him so he derive more power from his lower and close the space between him and the defender. Beilinson needs some work physically and as a player, but shows the tools to develop into a good blocker. Beilinson will not wow you in any one thing he does, but the sum of his parts could produce a good and well-rounded college tight end.
- Video:
- Erich Schneider — Committed
- Height 6’6″ | Weight 200 lbs
- Rankings — 3-Star (Rivals) | 3-Star #151 WR (ESPN) | 2-Star #239 WR (Scout)
- 5.20 40 Speed, 4.62 Shuttle, 27″ Vertical according to ESPN
- Scouting Report from ESPN:
- Schneider is your quintessential possession receiver that has great size, long arms and terrific ball skills and hands to compete in traffic. He is somewhat of a deep threat because of his size and ability to win on the jump ball. He has excellent measurables, an extremely wide catch radius and while he is effective on the outside, in the short and intermediate passing game for the next level he is a better fit on the inside. Has big, soft hands and does a good job plucking the ball over smaller cornerbacks. Very difficult matchup on the jump ball and fade route. Tracks the downfield throw well and shows good body adjustment tracking the football. Knows how to attack the ball at its highest point. Also shows good body control and the ability to adjust well to poorly thrown balls. Good leaping skills and overall athleticism. Not a real sharp route runner but is precise of his steps. Catches the ball relatively smoothly in stride. Not going to make many people miss in space after the catch but is a very long-strider who can quickly cover ground in the second level. However, Schneider does lack great initial burst and acceleration. Could struggle separating versus faster, quicker BCS level DBs after the catch and as a vertical route runner. In the short-to-intermediate game, he shows very little burst out of his cuts and has difficulty sinking his hips and being crisp out of his breaks due to his size. It is the role as an H or slot that fits him well where he can work the underneath zones, find soft spots in coverage and attack the seams. There is no questioning Schneider’s ability to catch the football and he is a big target. He works at it and is a guy that you know will come down with the football.
- Video
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