ACC Football Preview 2015

DARBI GRIFFITH/THE CHRONICLE

the chronicle

september 2, 2015

ACC FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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2 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

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PUTTING THE SPECIAL IN SPECIAL TEAMS Sam Turken The Chronicle This past offseason has been a period of great turnover for Duke.

The Blue Devils will try to overcome the departures of starting quarterback Anthony Boone and linebacker David Helton, and the loss of wide receiver Jamison Crowder to the NFL. Couple that with a season-ending ACL tear to linebacker Kelby Brown and a partially torn pectoral muscle suffered by redshirt junior running back Jela Duncan, and there are new faces in several spots, with a number of those faces switching positions entirely in order to make things work.

But at kicker and punter, two veteran leaders remain in senior Ross Martin and redshirt senior Will Monday.

When David Cutcliffe became Duke’s head coach in 2007, he emphasized the vital role that special teams—the allimportant third phase—would play in the team’s success. It took time for that philosophy to be put into action: In 2011, the year before Martin arrived in Durham, Blue Devil kickers combined to go 9-of-20 on field goal attempts.

But led by Martin and Monday, Duke’s special teams unit has answered Cutcliffe’s call, becoming one of the best in the ACC—and in the nation. In 2014, the Blue Devils ranked first in conference in field goal percentage, as Martin knocked 90.5 percent of his field goal attempts through the uprights.

Monday’s 43.0 yards per punt ranked third in the league, but his hang-time allowed the Blue Devils’ kick coverage team to set up and prevent big plays. Duke allowed the fewest punt return yards in the ACC at just 33.

“Special teams, at the end of the day, is a huge focus for us as a whole team,” Martin said. “That’s a huge part of Coach Cutcliffe’s philosophy here. Our approach in this is we want to be the best special teams unit in the ACC.” As a three-time All-ACC selection, Martin is Duke’s career points leader and the ACC’s active leader in field goals and extra points. With four more field goal conversions, he will surpass former Duke kicker Sims Lenhardt for the most career field goals in program history.

Martin has also come up big in key moments, hitting a couple of field goals that proved to be decisive. Two years ago, the Solon, Ohio, native nailed the go-ahead 27-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter against North Carolina, clinching the Blue Devils’ Coastal Division title. Earlier in 2013, his 53-yard boot at the end of the first half sent the Blue Devils into the locker room at Virginia Tech with a 6-0 lead and all the momentum, which they would need to hold off the Hokies for their first win against a ranked opponent on the road since 1971.

Darbi Griffith | The Chronicle Kicker Ross Martin and punter Will Monday have turned the Blue Devils’ special teams unit into one of the best in the ACC in their time in Durham.

Duke’s four-year starter missed only two field goals in 2014, but they proved costly—misfires in the second half against Virginia Tech allowed the Hokies to escape Durham with a win, just two weeks after Pittsburgh kicker Chris Blewitt’s missed field goal at the end of regulation gave the Blue Devils extra life in a 51-48 double-overtime shootout.

“There were three games last year that were decided from special teams,” senior wide receiver Max McCaffrey said. “And that’s a big difference right there between nine wins and six wins.”

Another three-time All-ACC pick and a Ray Guy award watch nominee—awarded to the nation’s best punter—Monday is not only known for his strong leg, but also for his knack for pinning opposing teams within their own 20 yard-line. During the past three seasons, the Flowery Branch, Ga., native has downed opposing teams within their 20-yard-line 57 times. One of those occasions occurred in the 2012 Belk Bowl against Cincinnati, when Monday launched a 79-yard punt from the Blue Devil’s 19 yard-line, pinning the Bearcats at their own two yard-line.

Special teams coordinator Zac Roper works with Martin, Monday and the Blue Devil coverage teams to identify room for improvement. Monday said the unit spends about an hour working on various aspects of the game before practice, then an additional 12 to 20 minutes during practice. But the learning is not limited to on-the-field preparations.

“When we watch our practice tape or game film on the other teams, we’re looking at every single player, every single rep,”

Martin said. “We have that kind of attention to detail to correct all the little things.”

This season, despite the departure of Crowder—who returned all but two punts last year—a special teams unit that scored a conference-best three touchdowns in 2014 should once again be a strength. Cutcliffe has several available options to fill in for Crowder—including starting punt returner Ryan Smith, who had two runbacks for 45 yards a year ago—and freshman T.J. Rahming. Duke will also have DeVon Edwards—a two-time All-American return specialist—fielding kickoffs.

In addition to honing their individual skills, the kickers also help prepare the returners for the specific style of return they expect to field in their next game.

“Coming into college football, I didn’t know special teams was as huge as it was,” Edwards said. “[Will and Ross] are the best punter and kicker combo I’ve ever seen. Even in practice, when we need scout team looks, they can kick like any other kicker. They can give us pooch kicks, bird kicks, onside kicks.

It’s a lot of things that they can do. That really helps in the game when we need them to flip field or we need some points, we can count on them to come out there and give it to us.”

When the Blue Devils open their season at Tulane Thursday night, there will be plenty of question marks. Thanks to Martin and Monday, the kicking game will not be one of them.

Amrith Ramkumar contributed reporting.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 | 3

An unlikely star: The rise of DeVon Edwards Brian Mazur The Chronicle From unknown to unstoppable. Yet still an underdog.

DeVon Edwards heads into the 2015 season with a wealth of accolades under his belt.

The redshirt junior has garnered All-America accolades at kick returner, is a preseason AllACC selection at safety and has been charted as one of the top safeties in the nation entering the year.

Anyone who follows Duke football closely has come to know Edwards as a dynamic playmaker who has been a driving force behind the program’s recent turnaround. He has become one of the key playmakers in the secondary and a staple on special teams.

“We’re better athletically and the productivity is just pretty special,” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said of the growth of his secondary. “DeVon Edwards—how many plays has he made? Back-to-back interceptions for touchdowns, which only two players in the history of the game have done.”

But despite his success during the past two years and the praise he receives from coaches and teammates, Edwards is not one of the stars everyone is talking about in the college football world heading into the season. Most of the attention has fallen on redshirt senior Jeremy Cash, a preseason All-America selection who is a top safety prospect in the 2016 NFL draft.

Although he has not received a great amount of attention for his accomplishments, Edwards has come a long way in the last four

Khloe Kim | The Chronicle Redshirt junior DeVon Edwards was lightly recruited out of high school, but his skills in the return game have played a big role in putting Duke back on the college football map.

years. Edwards was an unknown two-star recruit coming out of Alcovy High School in Georgia, nearly bypassing the gridiron for the hardwood. His FBS offer came from a then-struggling Blue Devil program that was coming off of a 3-9 season in 2011.

Edwards watched from the sidelines as a redshirt in 2012 as the Blue Devils won six games and reached the postseason for the first time since 1994. When he was not in class or training, he served up smoothies at the Quenchers Snack Bar in Duke’s Wilson Recreation Center.

With talented players like Cash and Ross Cockrell anchoring the secondary at the beginning of the 2013 season, it was unclear whether Edwards would see the field during

his redshirt freshman season. But when injuries and suspensions opened up spots in the secondary and at kick returner, the Covington, Ga., native finally got his shot.

Edwards got a nod at kick returner in the Oct. 12 game against Navy, nearly breaking off a huge return before being tackled by Midshipman kicker Austin Grebe. Two weeks later, Edwards made his first start in one of the most pivotal games in program history—Duke’s 13-10 win on the road against then-No. 16 Virginia Tech.

“You’re always nervous when you first come out there and start,” Edwards said. “I remember that feeling during my first start against Virginia Tech [in 2013]. Everything seemed so different.

But the more you play, the better it is.”

Just weeks later Edwards would bounce

into the national spotlight by scoring three touchdowns without ever playing an offensive snap in a crucial victory against N.C. State en route to the team’s 2013 ACC Championship game appearance. Nearly two years after his breakout moment, the redshirt junior has emerged as one of most dangerous playmakers in the ACC, in the secondary and on special teams. He finished the 2014 season as one of the ACC’s top tacklers and was seventh in the nation with five forced fumbles, and added better than 25 yards per kickoff return, including a touchdown against Pittsburgh last November.

For a player who almost did not get a shot at the FBS level, Edwards admits that he did not envision this kind of success when he was coming out of high school.

“It’s been a crazy journey,” he said. “I’m the type of guy who likes to learn new things every day and develop each day I get out there and play.

It’s different because you never see something like this coming. A lot of people come out of high school and go through college, but don’t really get to develop their game.”

In many ways, Edwards’ story is one of many that reflect the rise of Duke football itself. Many of the key playmakers that have personified the rise of the program, including Edwards, did not arrive in Durham as heralded recruits. A number of them rose to stardom by proving themselves—breaking program and conference records and contributing to one of the great turnarounds in college football.

It is increasingly evident that the efforts of multiple players, with stories and backgrounds See EDWARDS on Page 5

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4 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

OPINION: DUELING COLUMNISTS

Can the new-look Blue Devils contend for a crown?

Fresh talent poised to leave its mark for Duke Progress.

Duke has made tremendous progress on the gridiron and on the recruiting trail just since 2012, when it reached the postseason for the first time since 1994. Since then, head coach David Cutcliffe has led his team to back-to-back bowl appearances and a rare appearance in the ACC Championship. With so many successes during the past three seasons and the fact that many of the players who personified the rise of Duke football are gone, it’s not out of the question to wonder if 2015 will be the year when the program’s rise begins to level off.

But there is too much talent, experience and confidence on this year’s squad for the Blue Devils to take a step back. With another favorable schedule, a number of key players returning on both sides of the football and several prized recruits hitting the field this season, Duke could do more than reach nine or more wins for the third straight season, with a chance to

Brian Mazur

squeak out another appearance in December’s ACC Championship.

Following the graduation of some of the best players in program history such as wide receiver Jamison Crowder and offensive guard Laken Tomlinson, it would be easy to emphasize the notion that the Blue Devils do not have the athletes to replace All-America-type talent. But Duke actually returns a number of key players from last year’s squad.

Safety Jeremy Cash postponed his NFL career to return to Durham and will be one of the best safeties in the country this season. His teammate, DeVon Edwards, also returns to the secondary and might be one of the most underrated defensive players in the nation. The duo will be joined by third-year starters Breon Borders and Deondre Singleton in a secondary that has the potential to become one of the best in the ACC and make up for a lack of size up front—even with starting cornerback Bryon Fields lost for the season due to injury.

See MAZUR on Page 5

Too many pieces to replace for Blue Devils in 2015 My high school football coach told us every day after practice, “You either get better or you get worse, but you don’t stay the same.” I’ve seen this turn out to be true in every sportsrelated instance, and this season, unfortunately, will be a step back for Duke.

This isn’t about the Blue Devils losing the players that defined their meteoric rise—it’s that Duke simply doesn’t have the same combination of talent and experience waiting in the wings to replace them. That’s not to say the fresh faces are bad—the days of Duke’s recruiting woes are long gone. But the ascension the Blue Devils have become so used to for the past three years will take a sharp, but brief, downturn.

If you have been following the Blue Devils since 2012, you can attest to the fact that every subsequent year had a sense of excitement about it—a sense that this season would be better than the last. And instead of going out and disappointing, Duke actually came through, bowl games aside. This season breathed more of an air

Nick Martin

of uncertainty. Not that Duke would be bad, per se, because those days seem to be behind us. But this past year’s graduating class was a devastating one for Duke and a welcomed one by the rest of the ACC Coastal.

Plenty of folks want to cast shade in the direction of Thomas Sirk, but I will pass for the time being. Anthony Boone was a serviceable quarterback and usually put the Blue Devils in position to win, but as he proved in multiple losses and each of Duke’s past two bowl games, there was good Boone and bad Boone. Sirk, for what it’s worth, seems to be much more even-keel of a player because he knows his role well.

But the quarterback needs someone to throw to, and this year’s squad has a glaring weakness in comparison to last year’s—no Jamison Crowder.

There is not one player—or even two— on Duke’s roster who come close to affecting a game in the way Crowder did in his time in Durham.

You can add together the 2014 receiving yard totals of every returning receiver and it still doesn’t really come that See MARTIN on Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 | 5

MARTIN from page 4

Sanjeev Dasgupta | The Chronicle With just 14 career pass attempts to his name, redshirt junior quarterback Thomas Sirk will need to grow up this season for the Blue Devils to contend in the Coastal Division.

MAZUR from page 4

EDWARDS from page 3

On the offensive end, the Blue Devils will benefit from a new face under center, redshirt junior Thomas Sirk. Although two-year starter Anthony Boone was the winningest quarterback in program history, he struggled with accuracy and consistency, only completing 56.3 percent of his passes last season. Before Sirk sustained an Achilles injury in early 2013, he was pushing Boone in spring camp for the quarterback job.

From the praise he has received from players and coaches, Sirk is not only ready to take over the starting job, but could even become one of the surprise players in the ACC this season. Cutcliffe has said that Sirk might be the fastest and most athletic quarterback he has ever coached, making him a threat all over the field. The Glen St. Mary, Fla., native is surrounded with a solid offensive line and will have experienced weapons in the backfield with Shaquille Powell and Shaun Wilson. Through the air, Sirk should benefit from the return of Braxton Deaver at tight end and the consistent play of senior wide receiver Max McCaffrey. There are a number of receivers, including Johnell Barnes, Chris Taylor and T.J. Rahming, who could make a splash with their speed to emerge as dangerous playmakers just in time for the ACC slate.

The Blue Devils added a wealth of talent on the recruiting trail during the past three years, and we are finally seeing these players mature on the field, meaning they will see valuable playing time this season. Although Duke will have less experience at key positions this year, the program has recruited bigger, faster and stronger athletes. Rahming has seen first-team reps throughout fall camp at wide receiver and we will also get to see a number of former top prospects play for the first time this season, such as Taylor, Trevon Lee, Marquies Price, Ben Humphries and Edgar Cerenord.

Duke also stands to gain from another easy schedule in which it avoids conference powerhouses Florida State, Clemson and Louisville. The Blue Devils still have to face Miami, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech this season, but two of those games are at home. Duke should win games against relatively weak non-conference opponents and ACC games against Boston College, Virginia and Wake Forest.

The Coastal Division has been unstable in the past few seasons, with the division winner finishing with two losses during the past two years. Inconsistent play marred teams such as Miami, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and North Carolina in 2014, evening out the division and giving Duke and Virginia a shot at first place. Expect more of the same inconsistencies and surprises this season, and the Blue Devils could benefit if they rack up wins late in the year.

Bowl eligibility with six wins should be just the beginning for this year’s squad, and an upset win against the Hokies or Yellow Jackets could propel Duke atop the Coastal Division standings late in the season. With a number of experienced and potential All-ACC caliber players on the roster, joined by a group of some of the most explosive players to ever play for the program, the Blue Devils will take another step forward in 2015.

similar to Edwards’, have bought into the vision Cutcliffe has laid out for the program. This has led to wins and postseason appearances that have made Duke football relevant again.

“Our program has changed because of a lot of people,” Edwards said. “Different people who were having success here at Duke were able to win games and get better recruits. Coach Cutcliffe has built this organization so strong that there are a lot of talented guys coming in and contributing in different parts of the team.”

Despite the success they have had during the past three seasons, the Blue Devils still enter 2015 expected to finish toward the bottom or middle of the ACC, and there are questions about how they will handle the loss of the talent that has transitioned to the NFL. Just as so many in the college football world have overlooked Edwards during the past two years, many appear to be writing off Duke’s chances in the Coastal Division heading into the season—the Blue Devils were picked fourth in the division in the preseason media poll.

But being the underdog has not bothered Edwards or anyone in the Blue Devil program. In fact, that attitude has in part fueled the three straight postseason appearances and consecutive nine win seasons, meaning he—and Duke— should thrive again in 2015 as they seek to break a half-centurylong bowl win drought and continue to earn back respect from the college football world.

close to Crowder’s 1,044.

Yes, the Blue Devils have a pair of redshirt freshmen in Chris Taylor and Trevon Lee that are expected to come in and make an impact, but even with them, Max McCaffrey and Johnell Barnes, the passing game is going to suffer because Crowder was, for Duke, an all-time great. Sirk missed out on throwing to Crowder, but if his mid-range game is fine, then the passing game will be fine. But don’t expect anyone to come close to matching the numbers Crowder racked up or compiling the list of game- and season-saving plays that he did.

This then begs the question: Should this be all that concerning? The Blue Devils still return three of their top four running backs and three of their starting five on the offensive line, so having a less explosive passing game is something they can survive for a season while the young guns develop. But again, you have to look at who you have back in the fold and who is gone.

Laken Tomlinson and Takoby Cofield were the two best linemen on the Duke line last year, though you could make an argument for center Matt Skura. But even so, Tomlinson was an All-American and first-round draft pick who will probably end up starting for the Detroit Lions very soon. Tomlinson’s talents were definitely improved a lot in the past two years, but he was what Gabe Brandner, Lucas Patrick and Cody Robinson are not— consistent. And with an offense that is going to lean heavily on the run this year, having to replace your two best linemen with players who rank as average at best is not exactly a great look.

Duke still has seven games I think the Blue Devils should win, and the rest are all still contests that the Blue Devils could win.

That is to say that none of their games can be deemed unwinnable, especially considering Duke knocked off Georgia Tech—which went on to win the Coastal—in Atlanta last year. The Coastal is both weak and unstable, so Duke can be in the conversation, even if it’s clear that if the Yellow Jackets plays like they did at the end of 2014, they will run away with the division. Duke’s schedule is easy, but the Coastal is an unpredictable beast, so I’m going to hold off on saying any game is easy and instead say that the Blue Devils’ chances to be bowl eligible look pretty good.

Duke has placed us in the mindset of thinking about shouldwin games instead of games that are just winnable, and that’s a success on its own. But in terms of overall football quality and end result, this year won’t be one in which they take another step forward, and that’s okay. The Blue Devils are replacing bona fide stars out wide and up front, and the guys stepping in for them are going to need some time before they can really explode. After all, sometimes you need to step back to set yourself up for the leap forward.

Amrith Ramkumar contributed reporting.

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6 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

Who’s got next?

After the departure of a talent-laden class that put Duke football back on the map, who will step up for the Blue Devils to make sure that they stay there?

Brian Pollack The Chronicle In last year’s season opener, the Blue Devils put 52 points on Elon. Quarterback Anthony Boone tossed four touchdown passes—two apiece to Jamison Crowder and Issac Blakeney— and Laken Tomlinson helped pave the way for a 275-yard rushing performance, led by a team-high 74 from Josh Snead.

Duke’s offense looked formidable, and that reputation was solidified even further when it averaged more than 40 points per game against its next three opponents.

This season, none of those five offensive mainstays will be suiting up for the Blue Devils.

As Duke tries to build on its turnaround of the past few years, it is now faced with a challenge arguably more difficult than the initial ascension—sustained success. The driving forces for the past two nine-win seasons are gone, and now new players will have to step in and carry the torch.

“Playmakers, we’ve had some that’ve left and now it’s a new regime,” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said. “I see from an offensive standpoint, playmakers on that side of the ball that I think will be diverse and a pretty high number, which is an advantage for us.”

The most noticeable change will be at quarterback, where Thomas Sirk will replace Boone—the winningest quarterback in school history—as the primary signalcaller. The redshirt junior saw some action as the Wildcat quarterback last season, accounting for 11 total touchdowns—including a team-high eight on the ground.

Still, Sirk has just 14 career pass attempts and the jump from situational short-yardage quarterback to every-down passer is a big one. The Glen St. Mary, Fla., native can add another dimension to the offense with his nimble feet and elusiveness, but questions remain about his throwing accuracy and deep-ball ability.

Sirk often took snaps at the most crucial times in games last year—most notably when he tossed the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against Virginia— and noted that learning to execute in those high-stakes situations should help him with the transition this season.

“I think the snaps are important because you come out, you’re ready. You feel the pressure,” Sirk said. “Last year when I came out and had those meaningful snaps, I didn’t have any pressure. Just come in, get in the zone, block out the noise and the crowd and everything that’s going on around you. [You’re] focusing on what you need to accomplish and focusing on executing the offense at a high level.”

The next issue is figuring out who will be catching Sirk’s passes. With the graduation of Crowder and Blakeney— who combined for 1,603 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014—the Blue Devils will have to replace more than 55 percent of their aerial attack, in addition to the electrifying punt return skills of the two-time All-American Crowder.

Cutcliffe has a pair of experienced upperclassmen ready to slide into the starting wide receiver slots in Max McCaffrey

and Johnell Barnes. Both saw significant action as the No. 3 and No. 4 receivers last year, with McCaffrey in particular distinguishing himself as a valuable possession receiver.

After those two, however, the depth chart at wide receiver is unproven. The return of 6-foot-5 tight end Braxton Deaver—who was granted a sixth year of eligibility after an ACL injury sidelined him last year—should help give Sirk a physical red zone target to replace Blakeney, but the receiving corps still lacks a player with the experienced game-changing potential Crowder brought to the table.

Cutcliffe will look to a pair of rookies in true freshman T.J. Rahming and redshirt freshman Chris Taylor to try to fill those shoes, and so far the early returns have been mixed. The pair has drawn rave reviews for their raw talent and burning speed, but offensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery said there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

“As we continue to go forward, those guys—the Chris Taylors of the world and the rest of the guys that are in that area—they’re going to have to compete,” Montgomery said. “What I want to see is that position for third, fourth, fifth position, I want them to be so angry with each other at the end of practice that they want to show every single time not that they’re trying to be the No. 3, but they’re trying to beat Max and they’re trying to beat Johnell.”

Replacing Crowder as a wide receiver is a tough task, but replicating his impact as a punt returner could be even more difficult. Crowder led the ACC in punt return average in 2014, and with four career return touchdowns, he was a threat to take it to the house every time he touched the ball.

Cutcliffe has tabbed junior Ryan Smith—who racked up 45 yards on two returns last year—as the punt returner for the season opener, but McCaffrey, Barnes, Rahming and safety DeVon Edwards are still in the mix for touches.

“Ryan Smith will be there. We’ve had an intense battle.

Ryan’s doing a great job with his decisions, his catches.

He’s explosively quick, his short-space quickness is special,” Cutcliffe said. “Max McCaffrey’s done a good job, T.J. Rahming has done a good job, Johnell Barnes has done a good job. All of those guys may get their shots, but right now what you do is you make a decision on who’s having the best camp, and that’s been Ryan.”

Regardless of who fills that role, there is a changing of the guard underway in Durham. The playmakers who sparked Duke’s successes the past few seasons have moved on, and it’s up to their successors to continue their work and put points on the board.

“It’s difficult when you look at the guys like Jamison Crowder—they’re incredible players, NFL caliber guys,” McCaffrey said. “I know the other guys are ready to step up. They were ready even last year. They were wishing they had their shot and knew that they had to wait their turn.

Now it is. They’re on stage.”

Jake Herb, Ryan Hoerger and Amrith Ramkumar contributed reporting.

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Duke finds strength through tragedy Ryan Hoerger The Chronicle Dealt a hand with far more misfortune than they deserve, the Blue Devils have bonded together in the face of adversity, revealing more to head coach David Cutcliffe about their character than perhaps he ever wanted to know.

Duke endured a tough few months away from the gridiron this summer, collectively absorbing the pain of losses felt by two of their teammates. Senior running back Shaquille Powell lost his younger brother, Malachi Briggs, to cancer in mid-June, and redshirt freshman cornerback Johnathan Lloyd’s mother, Angela, also passed away.

The deaths added even more weight to what has already been a heavy emotional burden on the Blue Devils in recent years, testing the strength and will of everyone in the program. But that emotion has been funneled and diffused into a group that sees itself as more of a family than a football team, with a leader in Cutcliffe to chart a course for Duke through stormy seas.

“My philosophy is this: Everything we do every day should prepare them for those types of difficulties, not just injuries but anything that comes at you,” Cutcliffe said. “I don’t think that you can handle extreme adversity in your life if your habits aren’t good on a day-to-day basis, so you try to build a group of people that are equipped for whatever comes your way.”

During the last few seasons, Cutcliffe has seen that philosophy put to the test far too often.

In July 2012, then-sophomore wide receivers Jamison Crowder and Blair Holliday collided while on jet skis, leaving Holliday in critical condition. The Sherman Oaks, Calif., native would recover, but his football career was brought to an abrupt end, and he remained on the team as an undergraduate assistant.

Later that year, coach Jim Collins’ wife, Geri, passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. In December 2013, backup quarterback Brandon Connette was told his mother would require emergency surgery to treat brain cancer. A California product, Connette would transfer to Fresno State after the Chick-fil-A Bowl to be closer to her as she went through treatment. And last summer, punter Will Monday learned that his mother had been admitted to the hospital with a blood clot, and she began receiving treatment for lung cancer that had spread to her brain.

Cutcliffe’s door has remained open as his players and coaching staff deal with each situation, a veteran head coach ready to provide counsel for any Blue Devil needing assistance.

“He is just very upfront with us,” redshirt senior defensive end Britton Grier said. “He just lets us know what’s going on and how it can potentially affect us. If we need anything we don’t have to feel ashamed or afraid to go talk to him.”

Despite the string of success—three consecutive bowl appearances and back-to-back nine-win seasons—Duke has faced its share of bad news on the field as well. Right before the start of the 2014 campaign, stalwarts Kelby Brown and Braxton Deaver each suffered torn ACLs that ended their seasons. After being granted a sixth year of eligibility

last November, Brown rehabbed hard all throughout last season—only to sustain another ACL tear this summer.

After a year-long suspension, redshirt junior Jela Duncan returned to the backfield, but was sidelined early in camp with a partially torn pectoral muscle. And just a week before the season opener, starting cornerback Bryon Fields went down with an ACL tear as well, thrusting sophomore Alonzo Saxton II into a bigger role. The injuries triggered a next-man-up response inside the locker room—the show must indeed go on, beginning Thursday in New Orleans—but also reinforced Cutcliffe’s lessons about developing personal resolve.

“Every single day, we’re obligated to build something inside of us that’s far greater than any adversity or any horrific event that we’ll face. And if you focus on doing that, you’re going to be okay,” Cutcliffe said. “No lecture by me is going to work at that point if we haven’t done our job on the front end.”

In September 2014, Powell discovered that his brother had late-stage cancer.

Briggs’ cancer treatment seemed to be progressing, but took a turn for the worse earlier this year. Enrolled in Duke’s first summer session, Powell stayed in Durham as long as he could, but as his brother’s condition worsened, he flew home to be with his family. Briggs passed away in mid-June.

“My family needed me and my brother needed me, so that’s what I needed to do,” Powell said of his trip home.

Powell stayed at home in Las Vegas for more than a month, thanking his professors for being especially accommodating. Instructors recorded lectures and gave him the time he needed to get his work done when he returned to campus in late July as the Blue Devils prepared to open camp.

His teammates and coaching staff gave him the space he needed to mourn, but were always available when called upon.

“It’s not really something you can bombard somebody with,” Deaver said. “There’s nothing but family here, and that’s what’s awesome about Duke football.”

Assisting a teammate going through a death in the family can be a difficult balancing act of attempting to strike the right chord between checking in to offer support and allowing the appropriate amount of personal space to grieve. But when Powell returned to the field to reunite with his teammates, they were waiting for him.

“When he came back it was kind of like seeing a family member you hadn’t seen in a while. Everyone was nostalgic,” redshirt freshman wide receiver Chris Taylor said. “I know personally, the minute I saw him, I ran up to him, gave him a big hug.”

It was the perfect example of how Cutcliffe has taught his players to react to the difficult situations they find themselves in.

“The other part of [dealing with tragedy] is teaching people how to be great teammates,” Cutcliffe said. “When you’re surrounded by great people and great teammates, doesn’t it make it a whole lot easier to have the right people around you to pick you up?”

Amrith Ramkumar and Jake Herb contributed reporting.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 | 7

8 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

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The Chronicle

Defense adds wrinkle with the ‘devil position’ Seth Johnson The Chronicle Everybody on Duke’s defense seems to want to play linebacker.

With the graduation of senior David Helton and the loss of redshirt senior Kelby Brown to an ACL tear, converted safeties Zavier Carmichael and Dwayne Norman will man the middle of the field for the Blue Devils. Up front, Duke’s defensive ends will occasionally get the chance to play a hybrid linebacker position as well.

After the departure of harder-hitting, more traditional linemen like Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo and Dezmond Johnson in the offseason, the Blue Devils have placed more emphasis on speed, agility and intellect on the defensive front. With this transition from power to speed, Duke has patented a new approach to counter opposing offensive lines—the “devil position.”

“It’s kind of a mix between [the defensive end] and an outside linebacker who might have a little more pass coverage responsibility,” senior defensive end Deion Williams said. “We get to stand up and kind of read as a linebacker would do, but we’re still close enough to be able to be a force on the line.”

Although a defensive end traditionally lines up in a three-point stance, with both feet and one hand planted firmly in the ground, the “devil position” creates a unique hybrid between a linebacker and defensive lineman up front. Stepping back from the line, raising up into a two-point stance and mirroring an additional outside linebacker provides more options to rush into the trenches or drop back in pass coverage on the outside.

The transition to the “devil position” seems intuitive for a defensive front lacking in size. Although Trevon McSwain—a freshman from Suwanee, Ga.—is the largest defensive end on the roster at 265 pounds, the average size of the top four players on the depth chart is just 242.5 pounds, putting the Blue Devils at a significant size disadvantage in the trenches against the typical ACC offensive line.

Three of Duke’s four top defensive ends have linebacker experience at the collegiate level, making the transition to the hybrid position more natural.

Eric Lin | The Chronicle Defensive end Kyler Brown will spend some time playing the ‘devil position’ in 2015, a hybrid between linebacker and defensive end that will give Duke’s defensive front added flexibility.

Williams shifted from linebacker to defensive end during spring drills this year, and redshirt seniors Britton Grier and Kyler Brown switched during spring practice in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Relying on former tendencies they developed in their time as linebackers, the unit has been able to focus on the speed, agility and reaction required for the new position.

“We looked at a defensive end position that had a deficit with all of our graduations and we said we had these linebacker types in Kyler and Deion, and now even Dom McDonald has gotten into the mix, so [we thought] let’s grow the idea,” Duke defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “Sometimes [DeWaltOndijo] stood up and he kind of roamed around and rushed from different places [last year]. We want to add to that further, taking guys who have linebacker skills and experience to be able to cover the pass or rush.”

The idea is not entirely new, however. Knowles has developed the position at various stops throughout his coaching career on the defensive side of the ball,

refining the concept as the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan from 2001-02 with current New York Jets linebacker Jason Babin.

With Babin working out of what is now called the “devil position,” the Broncos led the MAC in total defense in 2002 and ranked 28th nationally. Babin was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year after posting 26 tackles for loss and 15 sacks as a junior.

By bringing the “devil position” to Durham, Knowles—now in his sixth season—has injected a new outlook into the defensive front for the Blue Devils. But in order for the concept to replicate the success of Babin and the 2002 Western Michigan squad, Duke’s defensive front will have to rely heavily on communication.

Since Brown played has logged time as a linebacker for three seasons, the Matthews, N.C., native will take the reigns directing the rest of the down linemen on how to approach the new role.

“Being a linebacker before, I already know what the defensive front should be doing,” Brown said.

“The linebacker is the quarterback of the defense and having been doing that, I can also help the linebackers out with whatever the defensive line needs to know. I can be talking throughout the defensive line.”

If communication breaks down on the defensive front, however, the Blue Devils could be on their heels or lying on their backs defending larger teams with stout offensive lines. As a result, the traditional defensive ends will have to be aware of the “devil” and how each defensive package corresponds to the assignments on the field.

“The ‘devil’ and the defensive end—[they] kind of work hand-in-hand,” Grier said. “If I’m playing defensive end and Kyler Brown is playing ‘devil’ and we get stuck on one side, we just communicate.

Communication is key.”

Given all of the changes in Durham this season, the implementation of the “devil position” will serve as another piece of the puzzle in rebuilding the front of the 4-2-5 defense in 2015. Opening the season Thursday against Tulane on the road will allow Duke to test the waters with its new scheme against the successful and experienced ground game of the Green Wave, which burned the Blue Devils for 231 yards on the ground in last year’s meeting between the teams.

R yan Hoerger and Brian Pollack contributed reporting.

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A look at Duke’s nonconference opponents Tulane September 3, 2015, Yulman Stadium

Starting quarterback Tanner Lee will have to improve after a tough 2014 season. Last year, the redshirt sophomore threw 12 touchdowns against 14 interceptions—three of which came in a 47-13 loss against Duke—and had difficulty reading defensive schemes, but is expected to take strides in 2015.

Lee’s targets consist of wide receiver Teddy Veal—who had 40 receptions for 381 yards in 2014—and tight ends Charles Jones and Trey Scott. Tulane’s multi-headed rushing attack consists of Sherman Badie, Lazedrick Thompson and Dontrell Hilliard. The Green Wave

carved up the Duke defense on the ground, rushing for 231 yards, 124 of which came from Thompson.

Despite the departures of safety Sam Scofield—who led Tulane in tackles each of the last two years—and Lorenzo Doss, the Green Wave defense returns key contributors like cornerback Parry Nickerson, who intercepted six passes last year, will lead a talented secondary.

Up front, junior defensive tackle Tanzel Smart will try to improve Tulane’s run defense, which ranked 50th in the nation last year.

—Sam Turken

Northwestern September 19, 2015, Wallace Wade Stadium With a tough non-conference schedule and road games at Nebraska, No. 20 Wisconsin and Michigan, 10thyear head coach Pat Fitzgerald will face an uphill battle this season.

Northwestern must replace graduated quarterback Trevor Siemian, who threw for more than 2,000 yards in 2014 but also tossed a costly 11 interceptions compared to seven touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Clayton Thorson is slated to start, but senior Zack Oliver could step in if Thorson struggles.

Dynamic running back Justin Jackson returns after rushing for

1,187 yards and 10 touchdowns as a freshman. Jackson will be the squad’s most potent offensive weapon this fall and should relieve some of the pressure on the passing game.

Defensively, a strong secondary must make up for inexperience up front. The Wildcats return All-Big Ten cornerback Nick VanHoose who ranks in the top five in tackles and passes defended.

He’ll need help stopping the run and a pass rush from a defensive line that struggled last season if Northwestern wants to return to the postseason.

—Brian Mazur

N.C. Central September 12, 2015, Wallace Wade Stadium

N.C. Central returns 15 starters from last year’s 7-5 squad as it joins Duke in aiming to become a consistent program in the Bull City.

The Eagles’ strength lies up front in a massive offensive line, which returns four starters. First team All-MEAC guard Clevonne Davis will lead his team in the trenches at 305 pounds, and redshirt senior Zachary Giles and sophomore Sterlin Houston will be tough to move for opposing defensive lines as well, with each listed at 320 pounds.

The combination of size and experience on the should help maintain last year’s

4.0 yards per rush on the ground despite the loss of running back Andre Clark.

Defensively, N.C. Central will rely on the experience of four returning defensive backs, a big reason why the Eagles ranked third in the FCS with a turnover margin of plus-12. FCS AllAmerica selection Mike Jones recorded a team-high five interceptions and 13 pass break-ups in 2014.

With games at Duke and Florida International within the first month of the season, N.C. Central’s ability to build on last year’s success will be tested early.

—Seth Johnson

Army

October 10, 2015, Michie Stadium The Black Knights’ vaunted rushing attack ranked fifth in the country last year with 296.5 yards per game, but only converted that yardage into 25.0 points per contest.

Army lost its top offensive threats in quarterback Angel Santiago and running backs Larry Dixon and Terry Baggett. The trio combined for 2,487 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground, and sophomore Ahmad Bradshaw is slated to step in as the starting quarterback. Classmates Joe Walker and John Trainor will join

Bradshaw as the main offensive weapons in the Black Knights’ tripleoption offense.

Army returns plenty of experience on defense—Jeremy Timpf, Josh Jenkins and Chris Carnegie totaled all 11 of the Black Knights’ interceptions in 2014, and all three return for another season.

Army allowed 5.3 yards per carry on the ground last season—an area the talented Blue Devil backfield could exploit as a way to control possession.

—Brian Pollack

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2015 ACC opponents

Georgia Tech September 26, 2015, Wallace Wade Stadium Running the vaunted triple option requires a signal-caller with next-level vision, breakneck speed and elite decisionmaking abilities. The Yellow Jackets have found just that in Justin Thomas.

In 2014, Thomas led Georgia Tech to an 11-3 record, including a ACC Coastal division title and a 49-34 Orange Bowl victory against Mississippi State. Thomas concluded his redshirt sophomore season with 1,719 passing and 1,086 rushing yards to go along with 26 total touchdowns. Expect those numbers, and the Yellow Jacket offense, to improve in 2015 with Thomas back for his junior campaign.

If the Yellow Jackets want to repeat as division champions, they must do it without six starters from last year’s offense.

Luckily for Georgia Tech, four of the five returning starters are offensive linemen, and the other is Thomas. The Yellow Jackets will have to replace their backs and receivers, but Broderick Snoddy and Stanford transfer Patrick Skov should be able to handle the duties as starting backs.

The loss of receiver Deandre Smelter, last year’s leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, will also be felt, but the Yellow Jacket attack should be just fine.

Defensively, Georgia Tech was not great in 2014, allowing 25.7 points per game, a number that jumped to 38.7 in its three losses. But the Yellow Jackets do not have to compete against the nation’s best offenses in the ACC Coastal, making Georgia Tech the favorite to win the divison.

—Nick Martin

Virginia Tech October 24, 2015, Lane Stadium In 2013, the Blue Devils rode four interceptions of Hokie quarterback Logan Thomas to beat then-No. 16 Virginia Tech for the first time since 1981. Last year in Durham, head coach Frank Beamer’s squad got revenge, capitalizing on an sloppy day by Duke, which committed three turnovers and missed two field goals.

Redshirt senior Michael Brewer returns for his second year under center in Blacksburg after tossing for 2,692 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. If Beamer’s squad is to return to the top of the ACC Coastal Division in 2015, the 6-foot-1 quarterback will need to cut down on his mistakes—his 15 interceptions stalled too many Hokie drives. Brewer’s favorite red-zone target, 6-foot-7 tight end Bucky Hodges, returns with intentions of replicating his team-leading seven-

touchdown campaign as a freshman.

Virginia Tech employed a by-committee approach to the ground game, racking up almost 2,000 yards on the ground without a dominant rusher. J.C. Coleman led the way with 533 yards and three scores and Marshawn Williams added 475 more, but an ACL tear leaves the sophomore as a question mark entering the season.

Defensively, the Hokies boast two returners on the line that have each earned All-ACC recognition during their careers, and 2014 second-team All-America cornerback Kendall Fuller will anchor the secondary, long been a stalwart of Beamer’s program.

The Hokies open the season Sept. 7 in primetime against defending national champion Ohio State.

—Ryan Hoerger

Boston College

October 3, 2015, Wallace Wade Stadium

In each of head coach Steve Addazio’s first two years, the Eagles finished 7-6 and in the middle of the Atlantic Division. Last year, the Eagles struggled down the stretch, losing three of their last four contests, including a nail-biter against then-No. 3 Florida State.

In 2014, the Eagles averaged 254.7 rushing yards per game—good for the 14th-best mark in the nation.

This year’s plan should be no different.

Boston College has a deep stable of running backs led by Jon Hilliman and Myles Willis, who racked up 1,409 yards combined last season. But with a new offensive line and a potential upgrade at quarterback in sophomore Darius Wade, the Eagles may open up the aerial attack. But Wade will have

to develop his weapons on the outside.

Boston College’s two top returning receivers combined for just 29 catches a year ago.

Defensively, the Eagles return one of the best defensive lines in the ACC. Led by its front seven, Boston College finished 2014 with 33 sacks and ranked as the nation’s No. 2 rushing defense and No. 11 total defense. Generating pressure up front again will be critical for the Eagles, who must make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable to prevent passes from reaching its young secondary.

Boston College will ease into its 2015 schedule with games against Maine, Howard and Northern Illinois during the month of September.

—Sam Turken

Miami October 31, 2015, Wallace Wade Stadium Miami will have its work cut out for it after losing running back Duke Johnson—the all-time leading rusher in program history. The Hurricanes also lost offensive lineman Ereck Flowers and All-American linebacker Denzel Perryman to the draft, and must also find a new option at wide receiver after the departure of leading receiver Phillip Dorsett.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Hurricanes appear to be set at quarterback with Brad Kaaya—the 2014 ACC Rookie of the Year— looking to improve on his solid freshman campaign. The signal-caller will be joined by sophomore running back Joseph Yearby and junior wide receiver Stacey Coley, both of who have flashed the potential to be special

during their time in Coral Gables.

Although the Hurricanes were the No. 14 defense yardage-wise in the nation a year ago, the unit struggled to get big stops when needed. Miami will hope that its talented secondary— led by senior Deon Bush—can help compensate for a young but talented front line that could experience growing pains early in the season.

The Hurricanes’ quest to reach double-digit victories for the first time since 2003 will be difficult, as their schedule features tough matchups against No. 10 Florida State, No. 12 Clemson and No. 16 Georgia Tech.

Miami will visit Duke Oct. 31 in a game that could hold division title implications.

—Sameer Pandhare

Previewing the rest of the ACC Clemson The No. 12 Tigers are the preseason favorite to win the ACC, looking to reclaim the conference crown for the first time since 2011, when Clemson blew out then-No. 3 Virginia Tech 38-10. After breaking his finger Oct. 11, 2014 against Louisville, quarterback Deshaun Watson is poised to return to action and has emerged as the preseason favorite to win ACC Player of the Year honors.

Watson is surrounded by weapons at wide receiver, with both Artavis Scott and Mike Williams returning after scampering for more than 950 yards each last season. Redshirt sophomore running back Wayne Gallman rushed for 769 yards in 2014 and is expected to take the majority of the carries.

The biggest questions facing Dabo Swinney’s squad are on defense. With former All-American defensive end Vic Beasley now playing for the Atlanta Falcons and defensive tackle D.J. Reader leaving the program temporarily for personal reasons, there is cause for concern up front. Luckily for the Tigers, junior Shaq Lawson has been a bright

spot on the line and a solid secondary led by redshirt sophomore Mackensie Alexander— who started all 13 games in 2014 and recorded six pass break-ups—should make Clemson a well-rounded team that will likely find itself in Charlotte come December.

—Brian Mazur Florida State The last time Duke shared a field with Florida State, it was not much of a contest.

Riding high with a 10-2 record, the upstart Blue Devils clashed with the undefeated No. 1 Seminoles in the ACC Championship game in December 2013 and held the game scoreless for the first quarter before Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston kicked his offense into gear en route to a 45-7 win.

Florida State is not on Duke’s regularseason slate this year, so if they meet in 2015 it will once again be in the conference championship. Winston is now gone after being selected first in the NFL draft, but the cupboard is far from bare in Tallahassee. Head coach Jimbo Fisher has quickly rebuilt the

Seminoles into a national football power, with a 58-11 ledger that makes him the winningest Power Five coach ever in his first five seasons.

Following an undefeated regular season that ended in a blowout loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Florida State garnered the No. 10 spot in this year’s preseason poll. The Seminoles’ four selections on the All-ACC preseason team were tied for the most in the conference, and they were one of only two teams—the Blue Devils being the other—with a representative from all three phases of the game.

Former Notre Dame signal-caller Everett Golson will assume the starting role and try to follow in Winston’s footsteps, and sophomore Dalvin Cook will look to top his 1,008-yard freshman campaign in the backfield. Despite the graduation of All-American receiver Rashad Greene, the biggest change on offense could be on the line, where four new starters must replace a unit that was one of the strongest in the country during the past few seasons.

Defensively, the Seminoles will lean on an experienced secondary paced by All-American Jalen Ramsey. Tyler Hunter and Nate Andrews

also return as starting safeties for a group that forced 32 turnovers last season. Florida State will also have an advantage against most opponents in the kicking game, thanks to Robert Aguayo, who led the country in field goal percentage in 2014 as an encore to his national-scoring-record 2013 campaign.

—Brian Pollack Louisville Following an impressive 2014 defensive season in which they finished tied for first in the country in interceptions and fifth in defensive passing efficiency, the Cardinals and head coach Bobby Petrino will look to challenge Florida State and Clemson in the Atlantic Division. With a struggling offense last season leading to an open opportunity for starting roles, Louisville has yet to name a starting quarterback for the upcoming season.

The biggest concern for the Cardinals will be replacing the production from standout wide receiver DeVante Parker. Parker caught 43 passes for 855 yards in just six games for Louisville in 2014 after missing the first

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2015 ACC opponents

North Carolina

November 7, 2015, Kenan Memorial Stadium Despite finishing the regular season on a 4-2 run, four straight losses early on and a disappointing bowl loss against Rutgers left the Tar Heels with a 6-7 record and a lot of unanswered questions heading into 2015.

Although the offense has averaged more than 425 yards per game since head coach Larry Fedora’s arrival in 2012, the defensive efficiency has been lacking. North Carolina surrendered 497.8 yards and 39.0 points per game in 2014, handing the offense a tall order to keep the Tar Heels close. With the hiring of Gene Chizik—a national champion at Auburn—as the new defensive coordinator, the Tar Heels are hoping to rectify the problems from last season. The return of seven starters will provide Chizik some experience to work

with, but if the team hopes to reach the postseason for the third straight year, the defense has to make an impact.

North Carolina returns 10 starters to a strong offensive unit. Dual-threat quarterback Marquise Williams is back to lead following a 3,068-yard season that included 35 total touchdowns—21 passing, 13 rushing and one receiving.

Williams retains all of his pass blockers as well as four targets at wide receiver with more at least 455 yards receiving— including speedy junior Ryan Switzer and senior Quinshad Davis.

The Blue Devils will make the short trip Nov. 7 to Kenan Memorial Stadium looking to bring the Victory Bell back to Durham for the third time in four seasons.

—Seth Johnson

Virginia November 21, 2015, Scott Stadium The Cavaliers have questions at quarterback. With the transfer of ninegame starter Greyson Lambert—recently named the starter at Georgia—junior Matt Johns will now lead the Cavalier passing attack. Although the Chalfront, Pa., native only started three games last year, he played in all 12 contests and threw for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns. Virginia will need him to improve his accuracy—he completed just 55.9 percent of his passes in 2014—and make better decisions in order to contend in the ACC’s Coastal Division.

Despite the uncertainty under center, there are upsides to the Cavalier offense.

Virginia returns an experienced offensive line and has veterans on the outside with receivers Canaan Severin and

seven games with a foot injury, and left with a share of the school record with 33 career touchdown catches. But Petrino has plenty of talent to step up—the aptly named James Quick filled in admirably in Parker’s absence last season, and Charles Standberry made an immediate impact as a freshman.

Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and his front seven leaders will continue to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, led by defensive end Sheldon Rankins, the 6-foot2, 303-pound All-ACC pick. The strength up front must compensate for an inexperienced secondary—the Cardinals must replace all four starting defensive backs after all four signed with NFL teams. One of the players stepping into that void is safety Josh Harvey-Clemons, newly eligible after sitting out last season following his transfer from Georgia when Grantham left to join the Cardinals in January 2014.

Louisville starts the season with a tough test against No. 6 Auburn, which is also looking to bounce back from a disappointing end to its 2014 season.

—Shane Cashin N.C. State After a surprising 8-5 season in 2014, the

North Carolina transfer T.J. Thorpe. At running back, Taquan Mizzell will have a chance to showcase the athleticism that made him a highly-touted high school recruit.

Defensively, free safety Quin Blanding will lead a unit that lost several members of last year’s front line to the NFL. A fivestar recruit, Blanding racked up 123 tackles and three interceptions a year ago on his way to a selection as a freshman AllAmerican. Senior cornerback Demetrious Nicholson will lead a deep secondary after struggling with toe injuries each of the last two years.

The Cavaliers will face a series of tests early in the season, opening against No. 13 UCLA and No. 11 Notre Dame.

—Sam Turken

Wolfpack is looking to build on its success heading into its third year under head coach Dave Doeren. With a returning senior quarterback in Jacoby Brissett at the helm, the offense is ready to make another strong statement in 2015.

N.C. State’s offense will hit a bit of a speed bump out of the gates as Shadrach Thornton—the Wolfpack’s leading rusher with 907 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground—will sit out the first two games while serving a suspension. Look for versatile junior Matthew Dayes to fill in for Thornton, after the Weston, Fla., native ranked second on the team in both receptions and rushing yards.

Dayes also punched in eight total touchdowns.

Doeren’s squad also suffered an unexpected loss when wide receiver Bo Hines—the team’s leading receiver with 45 catches for 616 yards as a freshman— announced he would transfer to Yale. But Brissett is a mobile quarterback who joined Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariotta and former UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley as the only signal-callers to pass for more than 2,000 yards, rush for more than 300 yards, throw 20 or more touchdowns and commit five or fewer interceptions, making

Pittsburgh November 14, 2015, Wallace Wade Stadium Pittsburgh and Duke have met just twice as ACC foes—and if November’s contest is anything like the first two, the new scoreboard at Wallace Wade could be in trouble The Panthers and Blue Devils have combined for 212 points in those two games, with the road team claiming each contest by just three points.

First-year head coach Pat Narduzzi built Michigan State into one of the nation’s top defenses in his eight years as the team’s defensive coordinator. But he’ll have plenty of offensive weapons at his disposal in the Steel City. Junior quarterback Chad Voytik returns, along with dynamic playmaker Tyler Boyd—the first player in

ACC history to record 1,000 receiving yards in his freshman and sophomore seasons. Bruising running back James Conner proved to be a nightmare for opponents last year, and the 6-foot-2, 240-pound back will look to push past defenses again in 2015. The junior shredded Duke for 263 yards and three touchdowns in 2014.

The Panther defense will have to replace its two top tacklers from 2014 in linebackers Anthony Gonzales and Todd Thomas, but two returning starters on the defensive line and five defensive backs with prior starting experience should give Narduzzi plenty to work with.

—Ryan Hoerger

Wake Forest

November 28, 2015, BB&T Field

Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson’s current rebuilding project in Winston-Salem is going to take awhile.

Clawson arrived in 2014 from Bowling Green, inheriting one of the youngest, teams in the nation, which was reflected in a 3-9 inaugural campaign.

The Demon Deacons’ main issues stemmed from their offense.

Wake Forest scored 178 total points last year with a rookie quarterback and no running game—the Demon Deacons’ leading rusher, Dezmond Wortham, ran for 240 yards and no touchdowns. Two other tailbacks, Isaiah Robinson and Orville Reynolds, both barely eclipsed 150 yards for their season totals.

Quarterback John Wolford’s

him fully capable of making plays with his legs if needed.

Defensively, the Wolfpack will look to improve on a unit that allowed 27.0 points per game last season. Doeren’s squad allowed a respectable 373.1 yards per contest, but struggled to take the ball away from opponents—just 10 interceptions, a number the eight returning starters will need to increase in 2015.

N.C. State should ease into the season with early wins before hitting the difficult part of its schedule with showdowns Oct. 31 against No. 12 Clemson and Nov. 14 at No. 10 Florida State.

—Shane Cashin Syracuse Although the Orange showed the ability to hang with traditional powerhouses in losses to Florida State and Notre Dame, the end result was a disappointing 3-9 campaign in head coach Scott Shafer’s second season.

Syracuse will have a tough task making a bowl game this season after losing much of its offense from a year ago. Fifth-year senior Terrel Hunt will return at quarterback after missing much of last season due to a fractured fibula, but will need to improve his accuracy and

2014 numbers show the struggle of the Demon Deacon offense—a 58.3 completion percentage for 2,307 yards, 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Wolford had some flashes of promise, including a 24of-36, 251-yard, three-touchdown performance against Duke to close Wake Forest’s season. The young quarterback has potential—he just needs the surrounding pieces of his offense to help him out.

On defense, Wake Forest loses Zachary Allen—the team’s sack leader in addition to his 64 tackles and 11.0 of tackles for loss—but returns five starters, led by middle linebacker Marquel Lee. —Nick Martin

decision-making for the team to win big games.

After starting 10 different offensive linemen a season ago, the Orange will hope the unit can stay healthy and succeed despite losing tackle Sean Hickey. The group will be tasked with opening up holes for juniors Devante McFarlane and George Morris. The duo combined for just 292 yards on the ground in 2014 playing behind the top two backs, PrinceTyson Gulley and Adonis Ameen-Moore.

Syracuse finished 2014 ranked 26th in total defense, allowing a shade less than 350 yards per game. But the Orange will have to overcome the loss of several contributors in order to repeat that performance again this season. Senior defensive tackle Wayne Williams decided to transfer in late June and the team lost linebackers Cameron Lynch and Dyshawn Davis to the NFL, leaving behind an inexperienced group that could go through the growing pains that come with playing in the top-heavy Atlantic Division.

With a schedule featuring tough games against No. 10 Florida State, No. 12 Clemson and No. 14 Louisiana State, Syracuse will have to win the games it is supposed to win if Shafer hopes to lead the Orange back to a bowl.

—Sameer Pandhare

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