August 29, 2014

the chronicle

august 29, 2014

ACC FOOTBALL PREVIEW

THE COALITION: SECONDARY STEPS UP • PREVIEWS: LEARN ABOUT ALL OF DUKE’S 2014 OPPONENTS

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2 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

Helton and Reeves step up in light of recent injuries Daniel Carp Beat Writer In football, every play has the chance to be your last. One false step or unlucky cut and a player’s season can end in the blink of an eye. Conversely, every other player on the team is just one play away from being thrust into a bigger role.

As training camp drew to a close, Duke lost two fifth-year seniors—middle linebacker Kelby Brown and tight end Braxton Deaver—for the season to ACL injuries in the span of one week. Brown, an All-ACC performer and team captain, was the Blue Devils’ top returning defensive player. Deaver was the team’s second-leading receiver a year ago and a dynamic playmaker.

Losing key starters and vocal leaders on both sides of the ball, Brown and Deaver’s injuries dealt Duke a major blow before the 2014 season even began.

Stepping into the spotlight to fill each of their respective roles are Brown and Deaver’s soft-spoken counterparts, David Helton and David Reeves.

“It’s always hard to see one of your boys go down, but after that you know you have to keep the ball rolling,” said Reeves, a redshirt junior. “I just want to embrace that.”

The prospect of missing both Brown and Deaver for an entire season is not one with which Duke is unfamiliar. Both Brown and Deaver missed the 2012 season due to injury as well.

As a redshirt freshman, Reeves played in Deaver’s stead and caught 18 passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns. C.J. France filled in for Brown at linebacker and registered 60 tackles with a forced fumble and an interception.

“It was almost like a deer in the headlights initially,” Reeves said. “I think that this time I’ll be able to take a better approach to the game—see things as they’re happening and know how to

Jack White /Chronicle File Photo

Just as he did in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against Texas A&M, redshirt junior David Reeves will look to make the most of his opportunity as the Blue Devils’ new starting tight end. react to them.”

Helton, a senior, was Brown’s partner in crime playing at weak side linebacker last season, where he led the ACC with 133 tackles. Brown did not hesitate to point this out more than a month before his injury.

“It seems like I got all the glory and David did all the dirty work,” Brown said at July’s ACC Kickoff event in Greensboro. “He led the ACC in tackles and barely got any recognition for it. He’s not a guy who needs that.”

Sliding over to middle linebacker, Helton’s challenge will be adjusting to a more vocal role in the defensive playcalling and spending more time covering opposing tight ends, something he did not have to with the reliable Brown at his side.

France, a redshirt senior, is the favorite to take over Helton’s spot on the weak side. Redshirt freshman Chris Holmes, who has impressed Duke’s coaching staff

since moving from safety to linebacker but has been limited with a hamstring injury during training camp, could see some time there as well.

At the tight end spot, 6-foot-7 redshirt sophomore Erich Schneider—who has spent time at wide receiver during his collegiate career—and true freshman Davis Koppenhaver could be in the mix as well.

Tactical changes could also come with the injuries to Brown and Deaver. Redshirt junior safety Jeremy Cash will likely spend more time in the box to make up for the loss of Brown’s run support, and Duke’s offense could employ more four- and five-receiver sets, showcasing its depth at wide receiver and filling the void left by Deaver, who often split out into the slot as a receiver.

Both Brown and Deaver have missed multiple seasons due to injuries and would be compelling cases for a rare

sixth year of NCAA eligibility, which was utilized by Blue Devil defensive end Kenny Anunike a year ago. The pair of Blue Devils were expected to be well-regarded NFL prospects heading into the year, and would be significant additions to Duke’s 2015 team.

But for now, Duke’s fallen stars are still taking active roles in the team’s bid to repeat as ACC Coastal Division champions. Brown and Deaver are making up for their absence on the field with their presence off of it. Brown was elected the Blue Devils’ fifth team captain this season, and the duo provides valuable leadership in the locker room.

It is guidance Reeves and Helton will need as they step in to fill some big shoes.

“We always have contingency planning,” head coach David Cutcliffe said.

“It is never ideal, but I think we are more equipped to handle it.”

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CALLING THE SHOTS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 | 3

Offensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery is more than ready for his new job and promises to spice things up for Duke Michael Schreiner Beat Writer When head coach David Cutcliffe announced Scottie Montgomery as the Blue Devils new offensive coordinator in February, he described the the former Steelers wide receiver’s coach as bringing some “spice” to the Duke offensive system.

Heading into Montgomery’s first regular season as offensive playcaller, Blue Devils across the board have tasted the difference.

“It is always fun when you have a guy calling the plays who played receiver,” Cutcliffe said. “He has a bunch of energy [and] brings a bunch of tempo....

Scottie is a good thinker, an aggressive thinker.”

Montgomery, a former Duke and NFL player before turning to coaching, assumed the offensive coordinator role following Kurt Roper’s departure to the Florida Gators in January. Roper guided the Blue Devil offense to single-season records for total yards, points and touchdowns in 2013, and his exit left his successor big shoes to fill.

Cutcliffe chose Montgomery—then Duke’s wide receivers coach—in part because he felt the Cherryville, N.C. native’s level of comfort with the Duke system would smooth the transition.

“Kurt Roper is incredibly good, and

Chronicle File Photo

Redshirt senior quarterback Anthony Boone will be key in running new offensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery’s high-tempo style offense this season. was incredibly good for us,” Cutcliffe said. “But change will always encourage some growth. It’s just some new fertilizer on the same crop.”

Montgomery’s current stint in Durham is his third since coming to Duke as a freshman wide receiver in 1996. After graduating in 2000, he went on to play in the NFL for four seasons before returning to the Blue Devils as a wide receivers coach in 2006. After four seasons under head coaches Ted Roof and David Cutcliffe, Montgomery left Duke to serve as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But following three seasons with the Steelers, Montgomery was back in Wallace Wade to lead

the Blue Devil wide receivers through a historic 2013 campaign before assuming his current role as offensive coordinator.

“It’s great because Scottie is a veteran of our offense,” Cutcliffe said. “So really, you’re not missing a beat of growth.”

Montgomery has not shied away from bringing his own flavor to the Duke offense, however. Since taking the reigns from Roper, Montgomery has focused on a higher tempo in practice and more aggressive play across the board.

“I like to put a little more pressure on every situation in everything that we do,” Montgomery said. “I want our mentality from a standpoint of what we do to remain aggressive and to make sure that

our guys know up front when I call, it’s an aggressive play.”

The Scottie Montgomery era has already made an impression on some of Duke’s most seasoned veterans.

Captain and starting quarterback Anthony Boone worked with “Coach Mo” during the offseason on improving his agility and footwork, and the redshirt senior has seen a difference in the intensity with which his teammates approach and finish individual drills in practice.

Junior running back Shaquille Powell has noticed the change as well.

“Coach Montgomery wants to be a lot more high-tempo—he brings a lot more energy to the offense,” Powell said. “He wants to be perfect. He wants to run the ball a lot more and not make us so one-dimensional.”

Montgomery recognizes the level of intensity with which he coaches, and he believes that the energy he brings will be a force of good for his players. “[I’m] probably a little bit more forceful sometimes with my words than they’ve heard in the past, but I think that’s a good thing,” Montgomery said. “Pressure is going to prove itself to help us find out who the true competitors are.”

With regular season kicking off Saturday and an ACC Coastal title to defend, the pressure remains on the Blue Devil offense as they attempt to deliver a successful repeat performance.

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4 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

OPINION: DUELING COLUMNISTS

Will Duke rule the Coastal Division again?

The Chronicle’s Brian Mazur and Zac Elder debate Duke’s chances to win the Coastal two years straight.

Soft Coastal Division prime for Duke’s taking Injuries too much for Blue Devils to overcome Brian Mazur Beat Writer Two years ago, the task of replacing a leading rusher, a top red-zone threat, a consistent receiver and the undisputed leader of the defense would have decimated a Duke football team.

But the goal amongst head coach David Cutcliffe’s players—injured or in good health—has remained the same. They have their eyes set on the ACC championship.

Although Duke needed to take advantage of a handful of mistakes and occasionally needed some fortuitous bounces to topple imposing divisional foes, they showed that they could win against the best teams in the Coastal last year.

With the team teeming with young talent this year and upperclassmen who have played in a number of high-pressure games, the Blue Devils can repeat as ACC Coastal Division champions.

A Favorable Schedule First, the obvious. Duke will play one of the easiest schedules in the ACC. The non-conference schedule consists of Elon, Kansas, Tulane and Troy, teams that went a combined 18-31

last season.

The biggest early test will be a Sept. 27 game at Miami, which is starting a true freshman at quarterback and is still facing questions about its defense. Even if Duke suffers a demoralizing loss to the Hurricanes, with only two games in October—at home against division bottom-feeder Virginia and on the road at Georgia Tech—Cutcliffe’s squad should be able to use October to regroup and heal.

Before last year, Cutcliffe had only won one game in the month of November in his tenure at Duke. But that all became a bitter memory when Duke churned out four straight wins to capture the division crown. With another challenging November looming, the Blue Devils can point to past experience and know that they can win important games down the stretch. Even three wins out of the five November games could put Duke in the driver’s seat to win the Coastal.

The most enticing part of Duke’s regular-season schedule might be the teams not listed. For the second consecutive year, the See Mazur on Page 5

Zac Elder Beat Writer The Blue Devils put together a 10-win dream season in 2013 and almost pulled out a victory against Texas A&M in one of the year’s most exciting bowl games. A strong recruiting class joins a bevy of returning starters, and Duke is receiving more national attention heading into the 2014 season than at any time in the past two decades.

But the Blue Devils have underlying problems that will prevent them from making another run to a Coastal Division title.

It starts with the schedule.

Duke begins the year with four games against some of the worst competition college football has to offer. Elon, the Blue Devils’ season opener, isn’t in the FBS. Tulane and Kansas are perennial cellar dwellers, finishing last season ranked 68th and 105th, respectively. Troy is marginally better but managed just six wins last year in a weak Sun Belt conference. In all likelihood, Duke will roll to four easy wins to start the season and won’t face a real challenge until the last weekend of September when it trav-

els to Miami Gardens, Fla., to take on the Hurricanes.

There is something to be said for building up confidence early in a season with wins, no matter what team they come against. But an early 4-0 record might also build complacency in the Blue Devils, a recipe for disaster playing against a hungry Miami team looking to avenge last year’s loss in Durham. And if Miami taliback Duke Johnson is healthy—he missed the end of the 2014 season, including the Duke game, with a broken ankle—the Hurricanes might roll over an untested Blue Devil squad.

It doesn’t get much easier after the trip to Miami, either.

Three of Duke’s next four games are on the road. First the Blue Devils take on Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where Duke has not won since 1994. After a home game against Virginia, the Blue Devils hit the road again. Duke heads to Pittsburgh and Syracuse for matchups against two of the newest members of the See Elder on Page 5

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MAZUR

continued from page 4 Blue Devils avoid both defending national champion Florida State and conference powerhouse Clemson.

The Crazy Coastal The chemistry of the Coastal Division works in Duke’s favor: there is no dominant team. For the past two years, the Blue Devils have had a legitimate shot at winning the division, but only locked up the top spot in 2013.

Why? Because the top three or four teams have ended up with similar records during the last weeks of the season, resulting in three-way, sometimes four-way ties in November. Even in 2012, Duke was two wins away from reaching the ACC Championship game.

Although North Carolina is expected to be a stronger team this year with a solid returning quarterback in Marquise Williams and a great supporting cast on offense, questions are still swirling around its defense, which gave up more than 400 yards per game last season. Inexperience pervades the rest of the division— Miami, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech are all starting first-year quarterbacks. If those fresh faces struggle out of the gate, the Blue Devils could have a quick leg up on the rest of the division.

All The Pieces Are Coming Together Unlike their division rivals, the Blue Devils enter 2014 with known, talented entities at the skill positions. They return their top quarterback, receiver and two experienced running backs.

Only three quarterbacks in the ACC returned to fall camp as undisputed starters: Florida State’s Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston, Syracuse sophomore Terrel

Hunt and Duke quarterback Anthony Boone.

Although Winston may be the most talented quarterback in the conference, Boone still has the most experience.

Boone has established veteran targets in Jamison Crowder, Isaac Blakeney and Max McCaffrey, who will be joined by younger players Ryan Smith and Johnell Barnes.

Crowder is the only returning player in a power conference to post more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past two seasons. McCaffrey had a breakout season last year and Blakeney should excel as an outside receiver, having improved his speed after running track this past spring.

These ingredients should help create a potent passing game that will join with a steady running game to create one of the most explosive offenses in the ACC. Kelby Brown’s loss is devastating for the defense, but look for senior David Helton to step out of the shadows and compete for a spot on the All-ACC team. He was the ACC’s leading tacklers in 2013 and will team up with redshirt junior safety Jeremy Cash to form a punishing defensive presence. The secondary returns four out of five starters and the defensive line’s losses have been filled by experienced upperclassmen Dezmond Johnson, Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo and Carlos Wray.

The Cut Factor A huge part of Duke’s success has been due to Cutcliffe and his coaching staff. Cutcliffe has proven during the past two years that he is one of the best—if not the best—coach in the Coastal Division. Don’t sleep on the reigning National Coach of the Year, who will be coaching possibly the strongest and most talented group of players ever to play a snap at Wallace Wade Stadium.

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continued from page 4 ACC in cities that the Blue Devils have not played in since 1975 and 1938, respectively.

Unfamiliar and unfriendly confines on the road rarely bode well for any visiting team, especially a Duke squad that can no longer fly under the radar as an underdog.

If the Blue Devils get off to a rocky start on a difficult road trip filled with important conference games, a run for the Coastal Division title will be in serious jeopardy in November when Virginia Tech and North Carolina come to Durham looking to swipe the division crown for themselves.

Scheduling issues are not the only roadblock toward a repeat Coastal title.

At the end of last season, Duke looked like it would be returning a formidable squad for 2014. But a lot can change in eight months.

It started before the 2013 season ended, with the announcement of sophomore running back Jela Duncan’s suspension for the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the entire 2014 season. In the wake of Juwan Thompson’s departure, Duncan would have been a key component of a trio of talented Duke tailbacks. Now the stable of four interchangeable running backs that opened up the ground game for the Blue Devils in 2013 has been reduced to the duo of Josh Snead and Shaq Powell, who will be forced to pick up Duncan’s carries in short-yardage situations.

More bad news came in April, when senior quarterback Brandon Connette announced his decision to transfer to Fresno State for his final year of eligibility. A native of Corona, Calif., Connette wanted to be

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 | 5

closer to his mother, who is battling cancer. Duke relied heavily on the dual-threat quarterback in 2013, and his loss leaves the backup quarterback role in the hands of either redshirt sophomore Thomas Sirk or redshirt freshman Parker Boehme, neither of whom have taken a snap in a college football game.

Those losses were tough, but manageable.

But then the injury bug struck this summer and stole away crucial components of the offense and defense.

First to go was senior linebacker Kelby Brown, down for the year with an ACL injury.

Brown was an All-ACC selection in 2013 and an integral part of Duke’s run defense. No one player will be able to match the 114 tackles Brown amassed in 2013, nor the leadership that he brought to a Blue Devil defense that found its confidence last season after years of playing pin cushion to ACC offenses.

Then came the season-ending injury to redshirt senior tight end Braxton Deaver, also sidelined by an ACL tear.

Deaver represented Duke’s second-best receiving option behind Jamison Crowder, and his loss will be dear to the Blue Devil offense.

Even an optimistic football fan does not count on an injury-free regular season, and any more significant losses could cripple Duke’s season even further. As is, the Blue Devils head into 2014 with some serious holes to fill after transfers, suspensions, injuries and graduation are taken into account. Couple that with a schedule full of tough tests in early conference games, and Duke faces an incredibly difficult road toward repeating as Coastal Division champs.

6 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

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BRINGING O The Coalition

Duke’s secondary—which goes by the name of The Cheetahs—is ready to take the next step toward establishing itself as one of the nation’s elite units Nick Martin Sports editor In nature, a coalition applies to the likes of cheetahs, usually two-to-three brothers that hunt together.

This fall at Wallace Wade Stadium, the Cheetahs will be set loose.

This name—the Cheetahs—is one of the names given to the Blue Devil secondary by defensive backs coach Derek Jones in the past year. And with the unit on track to be one of the most talented position groups Duke puts on the field this season, the Coalition has completely bought in to their new names.

“It’s very fitting for what we do on the field,” redshirt junior safety Jeremy Cash said. “There are a lot of good receivers in this league so we’ve got to run a lot. We’re supposed to be the fastest people on the team and that’s how it is…. We hunt in packs. One thing we always do is swarm the ball. And while hunting in packs, things don’t always go right but we have to understand that at the end of the day we’ll stick together as a unit. “ In the past, when a Duke unit lost its top player, the following year would be the start of a rebuilding phase because the Blue Devils did not have an abundance of talent waiting in the wings. This year could be different for the Cheetahs despite the loss of All-American cornerback Ross Cockrell to the NFL Draft because the group has two things it hasn’t had before—talented youth and depth.

“Ross left a legacy,” redshirt sophomore safety DeVon Edwards said. “When he was here, he was teaching us how to talk and how to know the defense and what to do in certain instances and how to teach the young guys. So that was a plus on his part because he knew the time was coming for him to leave Duke.”

In his final three seasons, Cockrell stood out as a playmaker in the defensive backfield. But now a new crop of players that spent the past two years watching and learning from the current Buffalo Bill will take up the mantle.

Following his standout 2013-14 season, Edwards has established himself as one of the brightest stars of the Coalition and is one of the reasons Duke’s defensive backfield has the chance to improve upon last year’s 11th-place conference ranking with 243.9 passing yards allowed per game.

Facing North Carolina with the ACC Coastal Division title on the line, Edwards made sure he was the player everybody was talking about at the end of each half. Following a Tar Heel score with 1:30 left in the first half, he took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to regain the lead for Duke. In the second half, on the final drive of the game, Edwards picked off Tar Heel quarterback Marquise Williams with 20 seconds remaining in the game to clinch the division crown.

Although last season produced several memorable moments and season-defining plays from the 5-foot-9, 175-pound safety, he knows he still has room to grow in just

his second year of eligibility.

“I feel like I’m getting better at defense at a collegiate level,” Edwards said. “Everybody wants to be the best and I know that. Last season didn’t do anything for me because I’m still hungry… We don’t look at last year. This year is a new year.”

Add in sophomore corners Bryon Fields, Breon Borders and sophomore safety Deondre Singleton, and it’s apparent how serious the Blue Devils have taken the process of bringing in raw talent.

But not every Cheetah has the same recruitment path to Durham.

For safety Jeremy Cash, that path took a slight detour through Columbus, Ohio, which is where he spent a year playing for Ohio State. But following the 2012 fall semester, he decided to make the move to Durham.

In his two years at Duke, the Coalition has been more than just an on-field group; it’s the realization of a second chance. And with his first year in Durham under his belt, he’s ready to carry the title as the leader of the Cheetahs.

“When I transferred, they gave me the opportunity to come here and play,” Cash said. “They saw what not too many people did see and for that I do respect Coach Cut a lot. I want teams to come at me again. I mean, I don’t know if they will but it will be a good challenge and opportunity for me to get better and learn more.”

Following his transfer from Ohio State and for the entirety of his breakout 2013-14 campaign in which he tied for the team lead with four interceptions and ranked second in tackles with 121, media pundits across the nation referred to him as “Ohio State-transfer Jeremy Cash”, as it was rare for Duke to ever pick up a transfer player from such a high-profile program.

But Cash is adamant that the only team he cares about being associated with is located in Durham, not Columbus.

“I’m a Duke player now,” Cash said. ”It was automatically assumed just because I came from there that I was this big-time player. It was a coincidence that I happened to have a great season last year. But I don’t try to be associated with any of that anymore. That’s in the past. As Coach Cut said… I’m home.”

In his home, Cash has established himself as the outspoken leader of the Coalition to join Fields, who has, according to Edwards, taken over as the leader of the corners.

This answers two of the biggest questions people had last year about the group, as the secondary has found a way to cope with Cockrell’s loss from a leadership standpoint in addition to replenishing its talent.

And although defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was quick to point to the fact that nobody should expect the secondary starters—all of which are in their second year playing for Duke—to be on Cockrell’s level just yet, it is clear that the Coalition will be one of the more entertaining groups to watch in the 2014-15 season.

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OUT THE BEST Boone readies for life without the phantom Brian Mazur Beat Writer

by Michael Schreiner THE CHRONICLE

When Brandon Connette transferred to Fresno State in April to be closer to his ailing mother, Duke’s offense lost more than its 2013 scoring leader. Now, four months later, the Blue Devils’ life without Brandon Connette is about to begin in earnest.

Redshirt senior Anthony Boone will start for Duke this season, as he did during last year’s historic campaign. But this year he will lead the Blue Devil offense without Connette sharing any of the snaps under center.

“Obviously Brandon Connette played a key role,” head coach David Cutcliffe said. “In all things, [he] was a fierce competitor and he found a way.”

During his time in Durham, Connette served a number of roles for Duke.

For four years he acted as a short-yardage rushing option for Blue Devil head coach David Cutcliffe and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper. Often relied on to pick up the short first down conversions or punch through for six points in goal-line situations, Connette led Duke in rushing touchdowns in 2010, 2012 and 2013 and is one of three quarterbacks in ACC history to notch 30 rushing touchdowns in a career.

“Sometimes in those red zone and short-yardage situations, it’s not what you call, it’s who’s doing it,” Cutcliffe said, referring to his former quarterback.

Always a dual-threat under center, Connette proved his versatility in 2012 when he became the first Blue Devil since 2001 to throw, catch and run for a touchdown in the same season.

Last season, he filled in for Boone after an injury sidelined the Duke starter for most of September. In his three and a half games heading up the Blue Devil offense, Connette threw for 967 yards and nine touchdowns against five interceptions, confirming him to be not just a special situation threat, but as a viable starting option under center.

As a Blue Devil, Connette emerged as a player that would single-handedly keep defenses second-guessing, and he allowed the offense to use an extra blocker when he carried the ball directly off snaps. Duke has a couple young quarterbacks that they hope will follow a similar progression in redshirt sophomore Thomas Sirk and redshirt freshman Parker Boehme, but the roles the two will play in Connette’s absence remains up in the air.

“I think we’ve got people that are faster than Brandon and throw it better than Brandon, but they’re not as polished,” Cutcliffe said.

Duke’s fortunes grew in line with Connette’s development, and now the Blue Devils will attempt to sustain that momentum without a vital piece of last year’s offense.

The lion’s share of that responsibility will fall to Boone. A redshirt senior and captain for the second straight year, Boone is the unquestioned leader of this season’s team. Lauded by coaches for his work ethic and presence on the practice field and in the locker room for much of his four years at Duke, the quarterback’s play on the field has not always matched his leadership abilities.

The Weddington, N.C. native finished last season with as many interceptions as touchdowns (13), and he ended up in the middle of the ACC quarterback pack in terms of passing yards per game and passing efficiency despite leading Duke’s pass-happy offense to eight of the team’s ten wins.

“I have had quarterbacks that threw interceptions because they were too cautious—they wouldn’t pull the trigger and when they did it was too late,” Cutcliffe said. “Anthony’s [mistake] most of the time is that he will take a risk every now and then.”

This offseason, Boone has worked with Cutcliffe and new offensive coordinator Scott Montgomery to improve his footwork and “burstability” to buy time inside the pocket and pick up yards when scrambling outside of it. After focusing on sprinting the few steps into and out of every drill this offseason, Boone hopes to translate quickness in practice to bursts of speed in games.

“I think a quarterback in this era has to have great short-space quickness to run the style of offense we do,” Cutcliffe said. “You can go make five yards in a heartbeat if you develop the type of quickness we aim to see.”

Combined with a continued emphasis on patience and selectivity when throwing the ball, the hope is that more time in the pocket will allow Boone to minimize unforced turnovers and take advantage of opportunities to pick up crucial yards on the ground.

Duke will miss the versatility and physicality Connette provided in the backfield, and the fortunes of the offense this season will be closely tied to Boone’s effectiveness as the team’s sole threat under center. The Blue Devils knew what they lost in Connette, and now the hope is that they know what they have gained in Boone.

“Until we play, you don’t know,” Cutcliffe said of Boone’s progress since last year. “But he certainly has done it in practice.”

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 | 7

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8 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

A look at Duke’s nonconference opponents Troy

Elon August 30, 2014, Wallace Wade Stadium Following a 2-10 finish in 2013, Elon football underwent an offseason full of change. The Phoenix hope that a new coaching staff, a new conference and a new year will be enough to change the fortunes of the program.

At the conclusion of the 2013 season, Elon gutted its coaching staff and lured Rich Skrosky away from his role as offensive coordinator at Ball State to lead the Phoenix. Since assuming the head coaching role, Skrosky has built out his staff of assistant coaches, signed his first recruiting class of 13 players, and reunited with players he helped coach and recruit during his stint as Elon’s offensive coordinator from 2006-2010.

Among the redshirt seniors that were at Elon for Skrosky’s final season as offensive coordinator are wide receiver Kierre Brown and quarterback Mike Quinn. The tandem will likely

the draw the focus of opposing defenses, as Brown’s athleticism will make him a tough assignment for any secondary.

In 12 games last season, Quinn tallied 17 touchdowns against nine interceptions and Brown reeled in 50 receptions for 448 yards while also serving as the team’s return specialist.

On the other side of the ball, Skrosky will be looking to tighten up a defense that allowed 32.75 points per game last season, including giving up 70 to Georgia Tech in the season opener. The Phoenix finished 2013 as the Southern Conference’s second-worst defense in terms of points allowed and the conference’s worst in terms of yards allowed, giving up an average of 468.5 yards each game.

This season will mark the first for Elon as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association.

-Michael Schreiner

Kansas

September 13, 2014, Wallace Wade Stadium For a team in a Big Five conference, the only direction Kansas can go is up. The Jayhawks have lost 46 games during the past five seasons, the most of any team in a Big Five conference, and their Big 12 losses a season ago came by an average of 27.6 points per game.

The defense was not to blame for Kansas’ 3-9 record in 2013.

Senior linebacker Ben Heeney is the Big 12’s top returning tackler and spearheads a defense that brings back nine starters. In addition to Heeney, head coach Charlie Weis returns top pass-rusher Michael Reynolds, who had 6.5 sacks a year ago, and strong safety Isaiah Johnson, a former wide-out who had 73 tackles and five interceptions in his 2013 campaign.

The offense, on the other hand, averaged just 4.3 yards per play

and just 15.3 points per game.

This year, however, Weis finally has some new talent and youth to develop.

Dual-threat sophomore Montell Cozart will be under center after struggling in limited action last season and completing just 36.5 percent of his attempts. Cozart’s top offensive weapon will be Miami-Ohio transfer Nick Harwell, who caught 23 touchdowns and amassed 3,166 yards in three seasons with the Redhawks.

The Jayhawks have some promise with new talent on offense and experience on defense, but with major concerns at quarterback and on the offensive line, the program remains unlikely to turn the corner in 2014.

-Ethan Andrzejewski

September 6, 2014, Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy head coach Larry Blakeney ranks sixth among active FBS coaches in wins—many of which came between 2006 and 2010 when the Trojans won five straight Sun Belt Conference titles—and has sent many big names to the NFL. Although he may not have many NFL talents on his current roster, Blakeney’s Trojans are poised for improvement after their 6-6 record last season.

The team’s strength is unquestionably its offensive line, headlined by preseason First Team All-Sun Belt selection Terrence Jones and former Mississippi transfer Ethan Huston.

The pass protection will help ease the to-be-named starting quarterback’s transition to the pace of collegiate play. Corey Robinson, who was one of four quarterbacks in FBS history with four 3,000-yard-passing sea-

sons, has graduated and there are four quarterbacks contending to replace him.

Redshirt freshman Brandon Silvers and junior college transfer Dontreal Pruitt lead the way as the frontrunners for Robinson’s old job.

Whoever takes over under center will not have the luxury of throwing the ball to Eric Thomas—who graduated as one of the best receivers in program history—but will target speedy junior Bryan Holmes instead.

In addition to losing offensive stars, Troy lost three starters on the defensive line and both of its starting safeties. The Trojans will build around preseason First Team All-Sun Belt selection Tyler Roberts on the line and lockdown senior cornerback Ethan Davis.

-Ethan Andrzejewski

Tulane

September 20, 2014, Wallace Wade Stadium A year ago Tulane earned its first bowl bid since 2002, but inexperience and a lack of depth will make a repeat postseason appearance difficult for third-year head coach Curtis Johnson and the Green Wave.

On the offensive side of the ball, Tulane has five key starters returning but will struggle to replace its two most explosive options, running back Orleans Darkwa and wide receiver Ryan Grant. Darkwa, a four-year starter, rushed for 863 yards and a dozen touchdowns a year ago, and Grant accounted for more than 43 percent of the Green Wave’s receiving yards and nearly half of its touchdown grabs. Throw in a three-way quarterback battle between last year’s primary starter, Nick Montana, sophomore Devin Powell and redshirt freshman Tan-

ner Lee, and the Green Wave offense will have some major question marks heading into week one.

Things look slightly more promising on the defensive side of the ball, but inexperience remains an issue. Tulane’s secondary should anchor the unit, returning four key pieces from a year ago, including talented Memphis transfer Taurean Nixon. The Green Wave also looks solid at the front four, but the loss of six contributors from a year ago has left the cupboard bare at the linebacker position.

Perhaps the biggest lost from a season ago for Tulane is former All-American kicker Cairo Santos.

Although the Green Wave returns its starting punter and return men, replacing the best kicker in school history will be no small task.

-Zac Elder

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Column

Sit back and enjoy the ride

We have heard all the noise by now.

Duke was college football’s Cinderella in 2013—a team that less than a decade ago suffered two winless seasons in three years won 10 games, which was more than powerhouse programs like Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas. On that magical ride, the Blue Devils even put an initial shock into Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston in the ACC championship game and were minutes away from toppling Johnny Football himself on primetime on New Years Eve. But this is a new season.

It’s time to turn the calendar and fire up the grill—football is back, and for the first time since many Duke students were born, the Blue Devils have some expectations to live up to.

If there’s one thing the 2013 season should have taught you, it’s that preseason expectations mean about as much as the optional readings your professor insists on including in your class syllabus. Duke was picked to finish dead last in the ACC Coastal Division a year ago and finished first. Florida was a top-10 team heading into the season and finished 4-8.

Welcome to college football, a sport that is every bit as volatile as it is unforgiving. A team that finishes 3-9 can go 10-4 two years later, and the same can happen in reverse. That’s why we watch this beautifully sadistic sport—to see how it all unfolds.

The 2013 Blue Devils were a good football team.

Anyone who writes the season off as a fluke wasn’t really watching. That being said, just about everything that could have gone right for Duke could have a year ago.

The Blue Devils had a favorable schedule, won ugly games, went undefeated on the road and missed very few starters due to injury, although quarterbacks Anthony Boone and Brandon Connette both missed games due to injury during the year.

Most of those things are a credit to Duke and not to chance, but for every single one of those things to go right in a football season is rare. Teams make mistakes and drop games they shouldn’t (some Coastal foes may argue that game was against the Blue Devils last year). Freak injuries occur. That is football, and it is a part of football Duke did not experience in last year’s historic season.

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Heading into 2014, the Blue Devils already have to deal with some of that adversity. Their schedule is still favorable for another winning season and a potential repeat at 10 games, but despite losing very few seniors Duke will kick off this season without its goal-line bulldozer, its leading rusher, best defensive player and second-leading receiver due to transfer, suspension and injuries.

These are the challenges that teams around the country deal with every year. The good ones push forward, and the average ones fold under the pressure.

Duke’s biggest challenge last year was an off-field one—establishing a football culture and proving the skeptics wrong. Now the Blue Devils have to make up for significant losses on the gridiron, but for the first time since I have been watching them, they may be talented enough to overcome those setbacks.

If there’s one thing you should know about this year’s Duke team, it is that they are just as hungry—if not hungrier—than last year. Winning is contagious, and the Blue Devils have tasted it. They understand the importance of this season in establishing that last season’s success was not a blip on the radar.

But most importantly, they still act like there’s a chip on their shoulder. Even as college football pundits discuss the Blue Devils’ chances to repeat in 2014,

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 | 9

they can’t say the words “Duke football” without being slightly patronizing. This team’s goal is to make people stop acting surprised.

Would you be disappointed if Duke only won seven games this year? Most would probably answer yes. That speaks as a testament to the University’s budding football culture, which head coach David Cutcliffe has worked tirelessly to foster since his first season in 2008.

That is the mindset at major programs around the country—bowl games aren’t goals, they are annual vacations at the end of the season. Big-time college football is all about winning championships, and the difference between an eightwin team and a 10-win team is not a big one.

If the bar is set high, that leaves significant room for disappointment. This year is just as likely to hold that disappointment as it is last year’s euphoria.

But that disappointment is also what makes college football so addicting. It’s what keeps people clamoring about next year all spring and summer until we find ourselves at the dawn of a new season. Because three wins or seven wins or 10 wins, there is always next year.

For the Blue Devils, the fact that you care about next year means they are accomplishing their ultimate goal. Now Duke has 12 Saturdays to write the rest of the story.

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10 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

2014-15 ACC opponents

Miami September 27, 2014, Sun Life Stadium After storming out of the gates with seven straight wins to start the 2013 season, the Hurricanes dropped four of their last six to finish the season 9-4.

The one key player missing for a chunk of the 2013 season: Duke Johnson. The hometown junior tore his ACL Nov. 2 against Florida State, ending the explosive All-ACC player’s season. But Miami expects to have him at full strength in 2014 and he has reportedly used the offseason to increase his strength and speed.

A major question has been who will be throwing the football when opposing defenses limit Johnson on the ground. Senior Ryan Williams, a transfer from Memphis, was set to take the job vacated by Stephen Morris, but tore his ACL in the offseason.

True freshman Brad Kaaya recently locked up the starting job, but don’t be surprised if Kansas transfer Jake Heaps comes in to relieve Kaaya if he struggles.

On defense, All-ACC linebacker Denzel Perryman and defensive tackle Anthony Chickillo will look to help improve a defense that gave up 426 yards per game last season. A more experienced secondary should help limit the passing games, as 2013 starters Tracy Howard, Deion Bush and Ladarius Gunter return along with former running back Dallas Crawford.

Duke travels to Miami Sept. 27 to play its first conference game, a contest that may have ACC title complications down the road.

-Brian Mazur

Syracuse

November 8, 2014, Carrier Dome Led by second-year head coach Scott Shafer, the Orange return 15 starters from their 2013-14 squad that finished the year 7-6 and surprised quite a few people following the departure of former head coach Doug Marrone to the Buffalo Bills after the 2012 season. Syracuse beat Minnesota in thrilling fashion in the 2013 Texas Bowl, scoring with 1:14 left in the game to secure a 21-17 victory and second consecutive bowl win.

Syracuse had an interesting season last year, as it was able to dominate Tulane in a 52-17 victory, but turned around and got thrashed by Georgia Tech 56-0 four weeks later.

This year, Shafer will look to establish some consistency on the defensive side of the field. Outside linebacker

Cameron Lynch will contribute this following a 2013-14 campaign in which he posted eight tackles for loss in addition to four sacks and two interceptions.

Offensively, the Orange return senior quarterback Terrel Hunt, who threw for 10 touchdowns, rushed for seven more, in addition to running backs Prince-Tyson Gulley and George Morris II. The duo combined for 831 yards on the ground and will have to replace the 953 yards put up by Jerome Smith, who left early for the NFL. The Orange will host Duke Nov. 8 in the first matchup between the two schools as conference opponents.

-Nick Martin

Georgia Tech October 11, 2014, Bobby Dodd Stadium Coming off a 7-6 campaign that included a loss in the Music City Bowl, Georgia Tech must face a difficult regular-season schedule with a roster that returns just 11 of last year’s starters.

The Yellow Jackets lost 20 lettermen from last season’s team and enter the 2014 slate with only 51 percent of last season’s defensive production.

Head coach Paul Johnson’s option-heavy flexbone offense, which averaged an ACC-best 299.3 rushing yards per game last season, will benefit from the return of three starting offensive linemen. Redshirt sophomore Justin Thomas will take over under center following Vad Lee’s transfer to James Madison in January.

Defensively, Georgia Tech will en-

ter the season using a 4-2-5 defensive scheme, the same one utilized by Duke, for the first time—previous teams used the more traditional 4-3 scheme. With only one defensive lineman returning, the Yellow Jackets must hope that the focus on shutting down opposing passing attacks will not come at the expense of their run defense.

Georgia Tech will face seven teams that qualified for bowls in 2013 and just two opponents that finished last year with losing records. The Yellow Jackets will need a strong start and some quality wins later in the season to earn an 18th straight bowl bid this December.

Georgia Tech will host Duke in Atlanta Oct. 11th.

-Michael Schreiner

Virginia Tech November 15, 2014, Wallace Wade Stadium Virginia Tech looks to reclaim its place atop of the ACC Coastal Division in 2014 after last year’s disappointing 8-5 season. The key for the Hokies will be improving on last year’s unimpressive offensive performance.

Offensive coordinator Scott Loefler plans to utilize the ground game to open up a limited passing attack, most likely headed by Texas Tech transfer Michael Brewer. Depth and experience on the offensive line and in the backfield should allow Virginia Tech to produce steadily on the ground and open up the secondary for wide receivers Joshua Stanford, Willie Byrn and Demetri Knowles, all of whom racked up more than 600 yards receiving last year.

There is no question in Blacks-

burg—the Hokies’ defensive unit is the strength of this team. Anchored by young but physically-gifted cornerbacks Kendall Fuller and Brandon Facyson, the Virginia Tech secondary is one of the best in the conference, if not the nation.

A strong defensive line will make up for a relatively weak linebacking core, allowing Fuller, Facyson, and senior safeties Detrick Bonner and Kyshoen Jarrett to lock down opponents’ passing games.

The Hokies might not resemble the iconic Frank Beamer teams of old, but an improved offensive attack and a potentially lightsout defensive secondary may be enough to improve on last year’s eight-win season.

-Zac Elder

The rest of the ACC Atlantic Division An overview of the remaining Atlantic Division teams including reigning national champion No. 1 Florida State Florida State Florida State is the No. 1 team in the nation for a reason.

Although they lost studs Timmy Jernigan, Devonta Freeman and Kelvin Benjamin, the Seminoles still return Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston as well as a pair of running backs who both ran for more than 500 rushing yards in Karlos Williams and James Wilder Jr. The defense is going to be fierce once again, following a 2013-14 campaign in which no team came within 14 points of the Seminoles until the national championship game. They return six starters from a squad that ranked third in the nation in total defense and first in scoring defense, as they held opponents to 281.4 yards per game and posted 12.1 points per game.

Defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. will lead a line that should dominate just about every offensive line it faces and with future NFL players P.J. Williams and Jalen Ramsey patrolling the secondary, scoring against Florida State will be about as easy as stopping it from doing the same.

The Seminoles will not face Duke unless the pair meet again in Charlotte for the ACC Championship game. Although last season’s 45-7 thrashing of the Blue Devils was not the outcome Duke was looking for, it was the only team to hold Florida State scoreless through the first quarter last season.

-Nick Martin Clemson Despite losing the ACC’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and one of

the best receivers in the country, the Tigers will still be able to make Death Valley a feared destination for opponents this year.

Quarterback Cole Stoudt will fill the big shoes of Tajh Boyd, and a platoon of receivers led by speedsters Charone Peake and Adam Humphries and a quartet of running backs will try to make the transition as easy as possible for the senior.

Up front, Clemson lost anchor Brandon Thomas to the NFL and projected starter David Beasley is suspended for the season opener at Georgia. Reserve Shaq Anthony recently announced his decision to transfer, so the Tigers’ depth on the offensive line could become an emerging storyline.

For a change, Clemson’s defense might be better than its offense, led by superstar defensive end Vic Beasley. De-

fensive tackle Grady Jerrett and middle linebacker Stephone Anthony are also All-American talents, so if the back-end of the Tiger defense holds up, Clemson could survive early trips to Athens, Ga., and Tallahassee, Fla., and contend for the ACC title once again.

-Amrith Ramkumar Louisville Bobby Petrino has spent nine seasons as a college coach, beginning at Louisville, moving to Arkansas, and continuing with a one-year stint at Western Kentucky. He’s now back at Louisville, leading the Cardinals into their first season as a member of the ACC. Redshirt sophomore Will Gardner replaces Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback and will look to take advantage of Petrino’s wide-open, pass-first offense.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 | 11

2014-15 ACC opponents

Virginia October 18, 2014, Wallace Wade Stadium The good news in Charlottesville is that it can’t be worse than it was on the gridiron last year.

The Cavaliers went 2-10 and lost all of their conference games, but return enough talent to turn it around if new quarterback Greyson Lambert can manage the team’s offense despite holes at wide receiver and on the offensive line.

Lambert will be able to rely on an experienced backfield that features 1,000-yard rusher Kevin Parks to move the chains, but the absence of a veteran receiver and questions lurking at every offensive line spot could make life difficult for the sophomore.

Virginia’s defense should keep the team in most of its games, as the unit

returns nine starters, including safety Anthony Harris—who led the nation with eight interceptions last year—defensive end Eli Harold and defensive tackle David Dean.

The addition of five-star defensive tackle Andrew Brown should only help the Cavaliers make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks and add depth up front, and five-star safety Quin Blanding could also start day one opposite Harris.

The Cavaliers open the season with UCLA, take on Louisville in their third game, and face daunting road contests against Florida State, Brigham Young, Duke, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.

-Amrith Ramkumar

North Carolina

November 20, 2014, Wallace Wade Stadium North Carolina is entering its third year in the Larry Fedora era, and although things have gotten off to a rocky start this year—four players were recently suspended amid an investigation into an alleged hazing incident—the Tar Heels are still the lone ranked team in the Coastal and are many analysts’ pick to meet Florida State in Charlotte this year for the ACC Championship game.

Last season the Tar Heels started off 1-5 and seemed to be going nowhere fast.

But then North Carolina—kickstarted by the play of quarterback Marquise Williams and receiver/returner Ryan Switzer—hit its stride, churning out victories in five of its final six regular season games, the sole loss a 27-25 defeat at the hands of the Blue Devils.

Unfortunately for Gardner, star wide receiver DeVante Parker—who tied a school record with 12 touchdown catches in 2013—injured his left foot and has been ruled out for six to eight weeks.

Louisville’s offense also features tailback Dominique Brown, who rushed for 825 yards last season, and a senior-laden offensive line headlined by center Jake Smith, guard John Miller and tackle Jamon Brown.

Defensively, the Cardinals lost their leader in safety Calvin Pryor to the NFL Draft, but return Lorenzo Mauldin, who will move to linebacker in the newly-implemented 3-4 scheme after recording 9.5 sacks a season ago.

Despite an extremely difficult schedule with games against Clemson, Florida State, Miami, and Notre Dame, Louisville could be a top-15 team in the na-

One of the positions that stands out for North Carolina is its depth at running back. They boast a speed demon in Romar Morris and a bruiser of a freshman in Elijah Hood. Pair those two with Khris France and T.J. Logan and the Tar Heel backfield starts to look scarily good.

North Carolina will make the short trip to Wallace Wade Stadium Thursday Nov. 20 to take on Duke in primetime on ESPN. Being the next-to-last game on the schedule, this one will be just as big as the past two grudge matches between the two, and is sure to have ACC Coastal title implications riding on the outcome.

-Nick Martin

tion, especially if Parker returns sooner rather than later.

-Ethan Andrzejewski Boston College It was an offseason of attrition for the Eagles, who return just 16 percent of their rushing yards, 31 percent of their receiving yards and .08 percent of their passing yards from a season ago. After reaching the Independence Bowl in 2013 under first-year head coach Steve Addazio—Boston College’s first postseason appearance since 2010—the Eagles have a lot to replace if they hope to make a repeat trip to the postseason.

Boston College’s most glaring hole is at running back, where 2013 breakout star Andre Williams will no longer roam the backfield. The Doak Walker Award winner had four games in which he

Pittsburgh November 1, 2014, Heinz Field Pittsburgh enters the third year of the Paul Chryst era looking to return to a bowl game for the sixth-straight season.

To do so, the Panthers must transition to a new quarterback and adapt to life without wide receiver Devin Street, who departed for the NFL. Sophomore Chad Voytik takes the reins from also-departed quarterback Tom Savage, and figures to always have his eye on sophomore sensation Tyler Boyd, who racked up nearly 1,200 receiving yards and seven scores as a true freshman in 2013.

Running back James Conner was a wrecking ball coming out of the backfield a season ago—the 6-foot-2, 250-pound sophomore used his strength and punishing running style to rush for 5.6 yards per carry during his rookie campaign. Four-fifths of Conner’s offensive

line returns from a season ago, meaning Conner will have the opportunity to bruise his way to a second successful season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Pitt must fill the sizable void left by defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the 13th overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Panthers return only five starters on defense. Redshirt senior defensive back Ray Vinopal is the Panthers’ leading returning tackler.

The Blue Devils and Panthers produced an epic shootout in their first meeting as ACC foes last October, with the Panthers leaving Wallace Wade Stadium with a 58-55 win. Duke will look to return the favor when it visits Heinz Field Nov. 1.

-Ryan Hoerger

Wake Forest

November 29, 2014, Wallace Wade Stadium The Demon Deacons will be trying to reach the postseason for the first time since 2011, but first year head coach Dave Clawson will face an uphill battle against a strong ACC Atlantic Division.

After winning four games last season, the offense must replace its three best skill players in quarterback Tanner Price, running back Josh Harris and wide receiver Michael Campanaro.

Price was a four-year starter who finished his career with more than 8,000 passing yards, second only in Wake Forest history to Riley Skinner.

Clawson will test the waters under center with true freshman John Wolford, who was a top recruit out of high school, but will lack the experience of the recently-graduated Price.

rushed for at least 260 yards—he turned in a total of 2,177 on the season—and was a workhorse for Adazzio, amassing 68 percent of the Eagles’ total carries last season.

Florida transfer Tyler Murphy is a new look under center for Addazio as well, beating out Darius Wade and James Walsh for the starting job. In the absence of Williams, the Eagles’ offensive scheme may trend toward more of a balance between the run and the pass.

Wideout David Dudeck is Boston College’s top returning receiver, but only caught 11 passes for 84 yards last season.

-Ryan Hoerger North Carolina State The Wolfpack face an uphill battle in the ACC’s Atlantic Division this season, finding themselves on the outside look-

Look for returning wide receiver Tyree Harris to step up his game this season, as he showed great potential in his freshman campaign, catching 23 passes for 225 yards in just eight games last season. Virginia transfer E.J. Scott will also be able to play immediately and will bring much-needed experience to the young receiving corps.

The secondary is the Demon Deacons’ most experienced group, as seniors Kevin Johnson and Merrill Noel will look to help Wake Forest limit opponents’ passing attacks.

The Demon Deacons travel to Durham to close the regular season against Duke Nov. 29 at Wallace Wade Stadium.

-Brian Mazur

ing in at top teams Florida State, Clemson and Louisville. In his second season, Dave Doeren will hope to lead his team back to bowl eligibility after going 3-9 last year.

Florida transfer Jacoby Brissett is set to make an immediate impact at quarterback after sitting out last season. Doeren is very high on Brissett, who will need to find new targets after the departures of receivers Quintin Payton and Rashard Smith.

Of major concern for the Wolfpack are back-to-back tilts against Clemson and Florida State after an uneventful non-conference schedule. Although two losses are expected against the ACC’s elite teams, a pair of blowouts could set back some of the team’s early-season momentum.

-Brian Mazur

12 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

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