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Spring Football Notebook: Busy Week Ahead
4/2/2018 11:38:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – With the spring practice session officially one third complete, the Duke football program has a busy week ahead. The Blue Devils will have four practices between Monday and Saturday and hold the annual Pro Day event Tuesday.
BEST ON BEST
One of the benefits of the spring practice sessions has been a large amount of best-versus-best work the Blue Devils have conducted. Duke's first units have competed against each other in team drills nearly every day since the squad donned pads.
“Production should go up for both guys,” wide receivers coach Gerad Parker said of watching wide receiver T.J. Rahming go against cornerback Mark Gilbert daily. “Both of those guys have a chance to play at the next level. Mark Gilbert is special. There's no doubt about it. If T.J.'s production rises against Mark, we sure hope that equates to later on in the spring and next fall. It's the same thing for all of our offensive guys going against the defensive guys.”
HORNBUCKLE NOW A LEADER ALONG DEFESIVE LINE
Rising junior Tre Hornbuckle has appeared in every game of his Duke career and became a starter for the 2017 season, totaling 50 tackles, 9.5 tackles for lost yardage, 1.0 sack, one caused fumble and six quarterback pressures. The Murray, Ky., product was one of just seven defensive ends in the ACC to register 50 or more tackles and 9.5 or more TFL on the year.
“I've never been a vocal person,” Hornbuckle said. “I try to lead by example, but when I feel like I need to say something, I say something. I feel like, as a group, we hold each other accountable. We all understand the standards in the room, the culture of the room and the culture of the defense. We're trying to live up to that.”
Hornbuckle is one of three returning starters along the defensive line, joining rising redshirt senior tackle Edgar Cerenord and sophomore end Victor Dimukeje.
“I feel like we've made some good strides, especially with our rushing principles and how to rush the passers,” Hornbuckle said of the defensive line's performance this spring. “Coach [Ben] Albert is really emphasizing that with us. We're getting better each and every day. We just have to get better one small step at a time. We trust each other and Coach Albert trusts us.”
CATCHING UP WITH WOHLABAUGH
Redshirt sophomore center Jack Wohlabaugh is in his first spring at Duke after transferring in from Ohio State University. Wohlabaugh spent two seasons with the Buckeye gridiron program and joins former Blue Devils Jeremy Cash and Evan Lisle as transfers from Ohio State in the David Cutcliffe Era.
“I think so far the spring has gone pretty well,” Wohlabaugh said. “It's a big difference from the weight room out to the practice field. Me and the guys really started bonding being out on the field and going through it together. It has been really good. I've felt a lot of comradery on the line just being out here for practice. Every offensive line in the country has a different situation with losing certain starters or not losing any. As long as we keep coming together and having depth, we are not going to have a problem.”
Prior to his time at Ohio State, Wohlabaugh was charted as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and rated as the No. 4 center in the nation by Scout.com. The Akron, Ohio, native was a first team all-state pick by the Associated Press as a senior. His father, Dave, lettered three seasons (1992-93-94) as an offensive lineman at Syracuse University, helped the Orange to a three-year ledger of 23-10-1 including a 26-22 win over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 1993, earned second team All-BIG EAST honors as a senior, represented his alma mater in the East-West Shrine Game in January of 1995, was a fourth round selection of the New England Patriots in the 1995 NFL Draft and played nine professional seasons with the Patriots (1995-98), Cleveland Browns (1999-02) and St. Louis Rams (2003).
HUDZICK DEVELOPING
Rising redshirt sophomore cornerback Myles Hudzick has been with the first unit on defense this spring, taking the place of graduated cornerback Bryon Fields Jr. and opposite returning All-ACC selection Mark Gilbert. Hudzick's work has caught the eye of associate head coach and defensive backs coach Derek Jones this spring.
“I feel really good about our group,” Jones said. “We have a talented group that's eager to learn and listen. Guys like Myles Hudzick have been sitting in the shadows the last couple of years. Myles knows what to do. It's now getting an opportunity to showcase what he knows. It's different when a guy gets a chance to be the guy. When you're playing behind somebody, even as much as we try and instill practicing like a starter, it's hard. Now that you know you have a chance to start, your mental state is completely different. Those guys are stepping up to the challenge.”
Last year, Hudzick played in all 13 games, totaling one tackle against Northwestern and one punt return for nine yards versus N.C. Central. The Reston, Va., native was a three-year letterman at Bishop O'Connell High School and received first team all-state honors from the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association as a junior.
PRO DAY TUESDAY
Eight former Blue Devils will work out for NFL scouts Tuesday during the team's annual Pro Day event. Center Austin Davis, running back Jela Duncan, cornerback Bryon Fields Jr., running back Quay Mann, punter Will Monday, defensive tackle Mike Ramsay, quarterback Thomas Sirk and running back Shaun Wilson will all participate.
The event can be viewed live on ACC Network Extra beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Here's a look back at Duke's 2017 Pro Day event - http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211527124
12 DAYS OF SEASON TICKET PRIZES BEGIN TODAY
With the April 13 priority season ticket deadline approaching for the 2018 Duke Football season, fans may now renew or purchase their tickets and win great Blue Devil prizes. Not only will fans save money by purchasing tickets early, but once tickets are renewed/purchased, the account will be automatically entered into each day's drawing through April 13.
Remember, the sooner you renew/purchase your 2018 tickets, the more chances you have to win. For orders placed before 12:00 p.m., accounts are eligible beginning on the day of renewal/purchase. For orders placed after 12:00 p.m., accounts are eligible beginning the next day.
SKURA GIVEN FIRST CRACK AT STARTING SPOT
Former Blue Devil All-America center Matt Skura was given a word of encouragement from Baltimore Ravens' head coach John Harbaugh last week, being given the first chance at earning the starting spot at center.
“I think Matt will be the lead dog there as far as center; he'll get the first shot at it,” Harbaugh said.
Offensive Line Looking Better than Last Year, Here's the Initial Starting Lineup
Coach Harbaugh likes the status of the offensive line.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 27, 2018
Here's an overview of what the starting lineup may look like.
📰: https://t.co/RsfrK7gNLz pic.twitter.com/4l1zjjqN14
Skura started 12 games at right guard for the Ravens in 2017, helping the team produce the NFL's ninth-ranked scoring attack (24.7 ppg). He was an undrafted free agent who spent the 2016 campaign on Baltimore's practice squad.
With the Blue Devils, Skura was an All-America selection in 2015 by USA Today (2nd team), Phil Steele (4th team) and Sports Illustrated (HM). The two-time All-ACC choice (3rd team in 2014 & 1st team in 2015) was an ESPN All-Bowl Team pick following 2015 New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Skura served as team captain as a senior and played in 50 career games with 40 starts.
EASTER FOR THE BLUE DEVILS
Duke did not hold practice Friday, Saturday or Sunday, allowing the Blue Devils time with their families over Easter weekend.
— David Cutcliffe (@DavidCutcliffe) April 1, 2018
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