Don't look now

[Gunnar Kaufman]

...but Coach Cutcliffe has landed 4 three-star prospects or better in the past 24 hours.

[DevilWolf]

Two DE's, a CB and a WR.

[OldPhiKap]

I'm starting to think this Cutcliffe guy might have a plan . . . .

[roywhite]

Checking some other boards, there are reports of six(!) additional football commitments just today. Super Tuesday indeed. The latest is a linebacker from Christ School in Arden, land of the Plumlees.

[wilko]

Checking some other boards, there are reports of six(!) additional football commitments just today. Super Tuesday indeed. The latest is a linebacker from Christ School in Arden, land of the Plumlees.

I saw that! I commented in another thread about recruits we were getting... but I had no clue the day wasnt done!

just wow...
I think we have some top flight talent evaluators on staff.
I hope all of these hold till signing day.

pinch me. Ive never seen anything like this..

[moonpie23]

butch davis wants some more money...

[DevilWolf]

A lucky 7 for the day.

August Campbell - LB - NC (6'3'', 205, 4.5 40 yard dash)
Justin Foxx - DE - NC (6'3'', 211, 4.6)
Anthony Young-Wiseman - WR - MD (6'1'', 180, 4.5)
Conner Vernon - WR - FL (6'2'', 176, 4.41)
Brandon Putman - DE - GA (6'3'' 232, 4.86)
Sydney Sarmiento - DE - SC (6'4'' 259, 4.87)
Kadeem Wise - CB - GA (5'9 170, 4.5)

"If you can run, we'll find you." - David Cutcliffe

[OldPhiKap]

A lucky 7 for the day.

August Campbell - LB - NC (6'3'', 205, 4.5 40 yard dash)
Justin Foxx - DE - NC (6'3'', 211, 4.6)
Anthony Young-Wiseman - WR - MD (6'1'', 180, 4.5)
Conner Vernon - WR - FL (6'2'', 176, 4.41)
Brandon Putman - DE - GA (6'3'' 232, 4.86)
Sydney Sarmiento - DE - SC (6'4'' 259, 4.87)
Kadeem Wise - CB - GA (5'9 170, 4.5)

"If you can run, we'll find you." - David Cutcliffe

Speed
Speed
Speed
Speed
Speed
Speed
Speed.


I again wonder if Cut will redshirt most of these guys or rip 'em loose early. Most big programs would redshirt and build from there. But I'm down with whatever Coach wants to do. If anyone hears his plans (or Watzone/others get a chance to ask him) I'd really be curious.

I'm a patient guy and if we need to tighten up a year while these guys redshirt I'm okay with that. Again, Coach knows best and I'd love to know what his plans are in that regard.





Rip 'em up, Tear 'em up, Give 'em hell Duke!!!!


Go to Hell Carolina, Go to Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jimsumner]

RE: redshirting.

I asked Coach Cutcliffe this question back in February at the press conference announcing the signees. His response was that he believed in playing his best players, regardless of class. Maybe he will modify this view once he gets more of a backlog of talent but my distinct impression is that he is inclined to use the redshirt option sparingly.

[OldPhiKap]

RE: redshirting.

I asked Coach Cutcliffe this question back in February at the press conference announcing the signees. His response was that he believed in playing his best players, regardless of class. Maybe he will modify this view once he gets more of a backlog of talent but my distinct impression is that he is inclined to use the redshirt option sparingly.

Thanks for the info, Jim. There is always a balance between instant gratification and deferred benefit. Given our current situation, my guess is that there is some immediate need for speed and therefore some immediate opportunity for significant playing time. But I'm fine with whatever Coach thinks will benefit us over his (hopefully long) tenure.

I'm not sure that a willingness to play "the best players, regardless of class" has more to do with redshirting than it does with the weight of seniority. But I trust your first-hand impression more than my parcing of words.

Jim -- can you remember the last time there was this much buzz around Duke pigskin? I was a student when Spurrier came in and, even then, he was a coach no one would hire. It did not seem to be nearly the energy and talk I see these days about Cut, although I was twenty-something years younger and my perceptions were somewhat skewed. Thanks as always for your input, OPK

[Bluedog]

Duke's 2004 signing class (according to Rivals):
24 commitments
22 two-star recruits, 2 three-star recruits
70th best in country

2007 class (last fully Roof recruiting class):
21 commitments
17 two-star recruits, 4 three-star recruits
78th best in country

2008 class (mostly Roof, some Cutcliffe):
17 commitments
10 two-star recruits, 7 three-star recruits (although I'm surprised Renfree is a 3-star according to rivals when he was one of only 7 QB listed as Parade AA)
65th best in country

2009 class so far (first Cutcliffe class):
15 commitments
7 two-star recruits, 2 three-star, 2 four-star, 2 not rated (still early)

Obviously, rankings aren't everything. Heck, Wake Forest's recruiting classes are typically poorly ranked and they won the ACC. I'm confident Coach Cut can improve both the recruiting and the performance of the players regardless of how highly touted they were in high school.

[roywhite]

2009 class so far (first Cutcliffe class):[/B]
15 commitments
7 two-star recruits, 2 three-star, 2 four-star, 2 not rated (still early)

Obviously, rankings aren't everything. Heck, Wake Forest's recruiting classes are typically poorly ranked and they won the ACC. I'm confident Coach Cut can improve both the recruiting and the performance of the players regardless of how highly touted they were in high school.

Thanks for the list; on that 2009 class, I believe that should be 4 three-star on the rivals list, along with 2 4-stars and the rest as you indicate (adds up to 15 this way). I don't think they have everybody listed from the last two days yet.

Coach Cut seems to identify players early (he stresses speed) and moves fast in getting commitments. He has really brought some new life to the football program. Great to see.

[adam]

Please schedule a game at Boise State next year. I dream of the day I get to watch my Blue Devils kick the crap out of the Broncos, especially while playing in Boise on the smurf-turf at Bronco Stadium.

Adding insult to injury... Sean Renfree chose Duke over Boise State.

GO DUKE!!!!

[roywhite]

After a frenzy of activity over the last two days, the rivals.com list of football commitments shows 18 for Duke in the class of 2009. That includes 2 4-star and 6 3-star commitments. This looks like a terrific class shaping up for Coach Cutcliffe and Duke football.

[GopherBlue]

After a frenzy of activity over the last two days, the rivals.com list of football commitments shows 18 for Duke in the class of 2009. That includes 2 4-star and 6 3-star commitments. This looks like a terrific class shaping up for Coach Cutcliffe and Duke football.

And 8 of those 18 are from NC.

That is in contrast to the current roster, on which only 13 of 93 (14%) are listed as NC natives.

Not sure what this means in terms of talent, but it should translate into increase local fan interest.

[RepoMan]

Also, don't forget, football recruiting is crazy. Before signing day, recruits regularly flip-flop. So, demonstrating success on the field is important in this regard as well. It is important with regard to keeping committed recruits in the fold, as well as with regard to potentially luring others who committed elsewhere. Hopefully, we will have that sort of successs, and I have confidence that we will.

[DevilWolf]

^ Unlike the last few coaching staffs, this staff has been through big time recruiting a time or two in the past. The SEC is the most cut-throat of all conferences, so I fully expect our staff to be prepared to hang on to these commitments. Nothing is a sure thing, but again, I expect them to be prepared.

[jimsumner]

To answer OldPhiKap's question, the last time I remember this much buzz about Duke football was during Goldsmith's first season, when Duke started off 7-0.

I hope this is a Perfect Storm for Duke football. A growing realization from the powers-that-be that drastic steps have to be taken, a new coach, a new AD, a strategic plan that seems to be serious, may combine to create the opportunity for Duke to revamp Wade, enhance recruiting, put a quality team on the field and produce a quality experience for fans.

I said last fall that Duke when Duke was looking to replace Roof, that Duke was about out of chances and really needed to get it right this time. I'm convinced that Duke did get it right. I've liked Cutcliffe since that introductory press conference and nothing has happened in the interim to change my mind.

Not all of Duke's recent problems can be laid at the feet of Ted Roof. He's one of the nicest guys on the planet and I'm delighted he landed on his feet. I supported Roof a lot longer than most and I'll always wonder how it might have turned out if he had more support from the administration.

But, everything I have seen or heard indicates that Cutcliffe and his staff are upgrades in every area-recruiting, teaching, organization, motivation, public relations-the whole ball of wax. We'll see about game management but DC's track record is pretty good in that area.

So, yes, I think the enthusiasm is warranted. I tend to be a glass-half-full-kind of guy but this time I think the glass is way over half full. Sure, temper that a bit with the realization that it takes time to turn around a struggling program and there's a big gap between 1-11 and championships. But there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that things are heading in the right direction and in a big way.

[Gunnar Kaufman]

To answer OldPhiKap's question, the last time I remember this much buzz about Duke football was during Goldsmith's first season, when Duke started off 7-0.

I hope this is a Perfect Storm for Duke football. A growing realization from the powers-that-be that drastic steps have to be taken, a new coach, a new AD, a strategic plan that seems to be serious, may combine to create the opportunity for Duke to revamp Wade, enhance recruiting, put a quality team on the field and produce a quality experience for fans.

I said last fall that Duke when Duke was looking to replace Roof, that Duke was about out of chances and really needed to get it right this time. I'm convinced that Duke did get it right. I've liked Cutcliffe since that introductory press conference and nothing has happened in the interim to change my mind.

Not all of Duke's recent problems can be laid at the feet of Ted Roof. He's one of the nicest guys on the planet and I'm delighted he landed on his feet. I supported Roof a lot longer than most and I'll always wonder how it might have turned out if he had more support from the administration.

But, everything I have seen or heard indicates that Cutcliffe and his staff are upgrades in every area-recruiting, teaching, organization, motivation, public relations-the whole ball of wax. We'll see about game management but DC's track record is pretty good in that area.

So, yes, I think the enthusiasm is warranted. I tend to be a glass-half-full-kind of guy but this time I think the glass is way over half full. Sure, temper that a bit with the realization that it takes time to turn around a struggling program and there's a big gap between 1-11 and championships. But there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that things are heading in the right direction and in a big way.

I think...yeah, I just got goosebumps.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

To answer OldPhiKap's question, the last time I remember this much buzz about Duke football was during Goldsmith's first season, when Duke started off 7-0.

I hope this is a Perfect Storm for Duke football. A growing realization from the powers-that-be that drastic steps have to be taken, a new coach, a new AD, a strategic plan that seems to be serious, may combine to create the opportunity for Duke to revamp Wade, enhance recruiting, put a quality team on the field and produce a quality experience for fans.

I said last fall that Duke when Duke was looking to replace Roof, that Duke was about out of chances and really needed to get it right this time. I'm convinced that Duke did get it right. I've liked Cutcliffe since that introductory press conference and nothing has happened in the interim to change my mind.

Not all of Duke's recent problems can be laid at the feet of Ted Roof. He's one of the nicest guys on the planet and I'm delighted he landed on his feet. I supported Roof a lot longer than most and I'll always wonder how it might have turned out if he had more support from the administration.

But, everything I have seen or heard indicates that Cutcliffe and his staff are upgrades in every area-recruiting, teaching, organization, motivation, public relations-the whole ball of wax. We'll see about game management but DC's track record is pretty good in that area.

So, yes, I think the enthusiasm is warranted. I tend to be a glass-half-full-kind of guy but this time I think the glass is way over half full. Sure, temper that a bit with the realization that it takes time to turn around a struggling program and there's a big gap between 1-11 and championships. But there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that things are heading in the right direction and in a big way.

Hear! Hear! I love what you've stated and how you've said it, Jim. Add to the circumstances for a perfect storm: fans who are tired of ridicule and hungry for respectability and excellence plus opponents who've not viewed Duke as a serious threat for years.