Football: Matt James (which one?) to DUKE!

[Acymetric]

There was some initial confusion (there are more than 1 recruits named Matt James, including a 2 star WR committed to Wake) but it looks like Duke football made a HUGE pickup of a lineman over the weekend. Great news, at the greatest position of need on the team, no question. Hopefully we hear a few more surprises soon!


Matt James

[Mike Corey]

Anytime you beat Florida and Ohio State, among dozens of others, for a football player, it's a good thing.

Huge get for Cutcliffe. Congratulations to the entire staff, and best of luck to Mr. James with his future endeavors.

[6th Man]

That is very exciting. Coach Cut is working his tail off.

[JaMarcus Russell]

Great news. This guy is the number 58 player in the NATION according to Rivals. I can't remember getting such a big name recruit since these sites popped up in 2002 (Vince O was a 4-star on Rivals but not in the 250, while a top 50 guy on Scout). I generally prefer Rivals' rankings to Scout, but either way, this guy should be an immediate impact player for the Duke O-line.

[Kewlswim]

Great news. This guy is the number 58 player in the NATION according to Rivals. I can't remember getting such a big name recruit since these sites popped up in 2002 (Vince O was a 4-star on Rivals but not in the 250, while a top 50 guy on Scout). I generally prefer Rivals' rankings to Scout, but either way, this guy should be an immediate impact player for the Duke O-line.

Hi,

Has the coaching staff made it clear he will play right away?

GO DUKE!

[DukeSean]

WOW. I am shocked and very pleasantly surprised! I thought we were a MAJOR underdog to get James...

Anyways, couldn't find a link to any particular article except for the note on Scout.com's page, so if anyone has one...

[OZZIE4DUKE]

There was some initial confusion (there are more than 1 recruits named Matt James, including a 2 star WR committed to Wake) but it looks like Duke football made a HUGE pickup of a lineman over the weekend. Great news, at the greatest position of need on the team, no question. Hopefully we hear a few more surprises soon!


Matt James

Yes, Acy, this is who we were talking about yesterday at the game!

Hi,

Has the coaching staff made it clear he will play right away?

GO DUKE!

If he's ready and can help, he'll play. If he needs a year to develop and mature, he'll redshirt. I am guessing he'll play next year, but that is just a guess.

[JaMarcus Russell]

Has the coaching staff made it clear he will play right away?

They can't make any official comments about recruits until they have signed their LOIs, but I would bet that this guy sees the field in an important capacity in the next two years. Elite linemen like him rarely come to Duke, so I bet he can make a quicker impact than most guys.

It looks like we also got a commitment from a JUCO receiver/tight end from California. He has an interesting backstory, originally playing lacrosse at Johns Hopkins for a year before deciding that he really wanted to play football.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article...n-146-s-passes

[Greg_Newton]

WOW. Huge if true. Can anyone 100% confirm this? There seems to be a lot of confusion still.

[Acymetric]

Hi,

Has the coaching staff made it clear he will play right away?

GO DUKE!

Yes, Acy, this is who we were talking about yesterday at the game!



If he's ready and can help, he'll play. If he needs a year to develop and mature, he'll redshirt. I am guessing he'll play next year, but that is just a guess.

Great news huh? Guy is HUGE!

My personal guess is that he'll be ready to play, and will play. To supplement my speculation (from rivals):

Most impressive: James is one huge run-blocking machine that just mauls defenders using his size and surprisingly athletic footwork. James also has a nasty streak and does not mind using physical intimidation as a method of inflicting his will on opponents.

Conclusion: Linemen this big and athletic do not grow on trees, so he should get a chance to compete for a spot on the two-deep as a freshman. Look for him to be a solid three-year starter with serious NFL potential barring an injury.

[jafarr1]

Still a lot of confusion on this one. Probably not time to celebrate this one. Hopefully Scout will get their act together soon.

[devildeac]

They can't make any official comments about recruits until they have signed their LOIs, but I would bet that this guy sees the field in an important capacity in the next two years. Elite linemen like him rarely come to Duke, so I bet he can make a quicker impact than most guys.

It looks like we also got a commitment from a JUCO receiver/tight end from California. He has an interesting backstory, originally playing lacrosse at Johns Hopkins for a year before deciding that he really wanted to play football.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article...n-146-s-passes

I hope we can all look forward to this young man making it very difficult for any 6-0, 190 lb. DB trying to cover him.

[Acymetric]

Still a lot of confusion on this one. Probably not time to celebrate this one. Hopefully Scout will get their act together soon.

Yep...they've taken him off the commitment list...hopefully we figure out whats going on soon...may want to change the name of this thread mods.

[Mike Corey]

Premature celebration. I feel like Leon Lett-down.

[Jumbo]

Yep...they've taken him off the commitment list...hopefully we figure out whats going on soon...may want to change the name of this thread mods.

Changed the title, although I'm still confused. Does the current version work?

[Acymetric]

Changed the title, although I'm still confused. Does the current version work?

Maybe...at this point I don't think we know that any Matt James has committed. Wake Forest's WR commit has stated he is still committed to Wake, there hasn't really been anything said about the OT outside of his Scout page changing without explanation...

There is another Matt James, a WR from California who hasn't been rated yet by rivals and doesn't appear on scout at all, I guess it could also be him. Or maybe none of them...who knows? Apparently not the websites who get paid to know.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Maybe...at this point I don't think we know that any Matt James has committed.

I got it first hand from THE MAN yesterday that he (the committed recruit) was an offensive lineman. It ain't the kid from Raleigh who is committed to Wake.

[Greg_Newton]

I got it first hand from THE MAN yesterday that he (the committed recruit) was an offensive lineman. It ain't the kid from Raleigh who is committed to Wake.

I'm getting really confused. Did the man say the name Matt James, or was it another OL? Because now everyone is saying this is the Matt James we got http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73...ll&nid=4547274 and that Matt the OL is claiming he has not committed to Duke.

[hughgs]

I'm getting really confused. Did the man say the name Matt James, or was it another OL? Because now everyone is saying this is the Matt James we got http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73...ll&nid=4547274 and that Matt the OL is claiming he has not committed to Duke.

Isn't that guy a JUCO? If he is a JUCO, then I would be very surprised.

[Acymetric]

I'm getting really confused. Did the man say the name Matt James, or was it another OL? Because now everyone is saying this is the Matt James we got http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73...ll&nid=4547274 and that Matt the OL is claiming he has not committed to Duke.

Who has said thats the guy we got? Just curious.