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Q+A With Duke Football: Josh Blackwell
9/15/2021 1:30:00 PM | Football
DURHAM – The Voice of the Blue Devils, David Shumate, sat down with graduate student cornerback Josh Blackwell for a brief question and answer session.
DS:Â Coming off of an injury you never know how things are going to go. You're two games back, how do you feel?
JB:Â I feel great. I'm glad to be back out there. I feel like we have progressed as a team from game one to game two and I hope that continues throughout the season.
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DS:Â What were some of the bigger mental and physical challenges as you were working your way back?
JB:Â First, making sure that I was healthy and able to compete at the highest level. From there, just getting the confidence to get back out there and compete with my guys. I feel like I've done that and I think it is going to keep showing as we keep going this season.
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DS:Â You're from Beaufort, Ga., pretty close to Athens. I imagine that is hard core football country. Tell us about your hometown?
JB:Â Yeah, it is a championship culture. My high school lost four games throughout my four years. We went to the championship all four years and won two out of the four. Competition is always big. We always play good teams. A lot of the guys here I played growing up. Big competition, I think Gwinnett County alone breeds a lot of athletes that go Division I and pro.
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DS:Â You were also a track standout in high school. With the Tokyo Olympics going on, did you watch any of it?
JB:Â I did. I watched the track events. I always love watching track and seeing the times get broken. I try to see if I could compare in any sort of way but obviously, they all are a lot faster than me.
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DS:Â Was there an event that you thought if you trained up you might have a shot?
JB:Â I would have to train a lot to get there. Maybe. I don't see why I couldn't. I ran a 10.6 in high school which is not even close to the 9.5 of Usain Bolt but you see guys running 10.1 in the Olympics so its not too far-fetched.Â
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DS:Â For you individually what are some of your goals for the season?
JB:Â To be a leader, on and off the field. Last year was a great opportunity for me to be a leader off the field. To come back with the guys this year and be one of the older guys on the team, that is one of my biggest goals. I want to be the one that helps us get to somewhere we have never been, or at least in a while. I want to get back to the ACC Championship, back in 2013. From there, possibly get into the playoff and get a bowl game win.
#GoDuke
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DS:Â Coming off of an injury you never know how things are going to go. You're two games back, how do you feel?
JB:Â I feel great. I'm glad to be back out there. I feel like we have progressed as a team from game one to game two and I hope that continues throughout the season.
Â
DS:Â What were some of the bigger mental and physical challenges as you were working your way back?
JB:Â First, making sure that I was healthy and able to compete at the highest level. From there, just getting the confidence to get back out there and compete with my guys. I feel like I've done that and I think it is going to keep showing as we keep going this season.
Â
DS:Â You're from Beaufort, Ga., pretty close to Athens. I imagine that is hard core football country. Tell us about your hometown?
JB:Â Yeah, it is a championship culture. My high school lost four games throughout my four years. We went to the championship all four years and won two out of the four. Competition is always big. We always play good teams. A lot of the guys here I played growing up. Big competition, I think Gwinnett County alone breeds a lot of athletes that go Division I and pro.
Â
DS:Â You were also a track standout in high school. With the Tokyo Olympics going on, did you watch any of it?
JB:Â I did. I watched the track events. I always love watching track and seeing the times get broken. I try to see if I could compare in any sort of way but obviously, they all are a lot faster than me.
Â
DS:Â Was there an event that you thought if you trained up you might have a shot?
JB:Â I would have to train a lot to get there. Maybe. I don't see why I couldn't. I ran a 10.6 in high school which is not even close to the 9.5 of Usain Bolt but you see guys running 10.1 in the Olympics so its not too far-fetched.Â
Â
DS:Â For you individually what are some of your goals for the season?
JB:Â To be a leader, on and off the field. Last year was a great opportunity for me to be a leader off the field. To come back with the guys this year and be one of the older guys on the team, that is one of my biggest goals. I want to be the one that helps us get to somewhere we have never been, or at least in a while. I want to get back to the ACC Championship, back in 2013. From there, possibly get into the playoff and get a bowl game win.
#GoDuke
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Players Mentioned
CB
/ FootballCoach Diaz Media Availability: Georgia Tech
Wednesday, October 15
Nate Sheppard Media Availability: Georgia Tech
Tuesday, October 14
Chandler Rivers Media Availability: Georgia Tech
Tuesday, October 14
Brian Parker II Media Availability: Georgia Tech
Tuesday, October 14
