2023 Duke Football Recruiting

[Acymetric]

Among the many things I like about the new staff is that they're making inroads in both VA (Va Beach area) and Merlin...

Duke picks up a commitment from 6'4 Easton, MD Linebacker Kevin O'Connor. Weight info is conflicting, somewhere between 215-240. 247 has him rated as an 88 which is a pretty high 3* rating (90 is 4*). Offers from Virginia Tech, Maryland, UVA, Army, and some Ivies among others. Another strong get for this insane class (we are now up to 21 recruits which is fairly uncommon of at this stage and I would think particularly unusual for a staff that hasn't coached a down).

Welcome to Duke Kevin!


https://twitter.com/kevinoccg/status...81663647649795

[Bob Green]

Among the many things I like about the new staff is that they're making inroads in both VA (Va Beach area) and Merlin...

Lots of talented football players in Hampton Roads area who end up playing at ACC schools. Glad to see Duke recruiting this area which is a four hour drive from Durham. Parents can easily commute to all home games plus many conference road games.

[CameronBornAndBred]

As expected, as other teams add recruits, Duke's lofty ranking is becoming less lofty. Unfortunately, one of those that has bumped us is the cheats, as they've added two 4 stars in state recruits in the last two days. They now have four 4 stars total.

https://247sports.com/Season/2023-Fo...lTeamRankings/

[martydoesntfoul]

Lots of talented football players in Hampton Roads area who end up playing at ACC schools. Glad to see Duke recruiting this area which is a four hour drive from Durham. Parents can easily commute to all home games plus many conference road games.

Bob-This would be an excellent pitch to the parents of any player considering Duke vs. a Big-10 school!

[Acymetric]

Got us a big one today! Marquise "SubZero" Collins chose Duke over Utah today. He is rated as a 3*, but I see him as a legit 4* prospect and he may well be by the end of his senior season, he received plenty of strong offers. He has been an elite performer against high level competition in Texas. We just got a really, really good player, and he happens to have a killer nickname too!


Announcement: https://twitter.com/MarquiseColli19/...25234821136384

Profile: https://247sports.com/Player/Marquise-Collins-46097414/

(Free) Writeup: https://247sports.com/college/duke/A...ent-189607939/

A speedy, versatile back from College Station, TX, Collins stands 5'10" tall and weighs 190 pounds. Ranked as the 40th-best running back in the country according to the 247Sports Composite, Collins earned All-State honors last year and has been a top target for the new coaches ever since they took over the program in January.

[budwom]

^ good one, excellent offer sheet. As far as our class ranking sinking a bit as other teams add recruits, I see that as no big deal. Elko has had almost all of his recruits at his camp so he can see what they can do up close. He knows more than the amateurs who rank guys for 247 et al...(and if he doesn't then we're in a world of hurt).

He's filling in the depleted roster now with good recruits, and if he can achieve some success on the field, we can expect higher level recruits subsequently. One step at a time.

[Acymetric]

^ good one, excellent offer sheet. As far as our class ranking sinking a bit as other teams add recruits, I see that as no big deal. Elko has had almost all of his recruits at his camp so he can see what they can do up close. He knows more than the amateurs who rank guys for 247 et al...(and if he doesn't then we're in a world of hurt).

He's filling in the depleted roster now with good recruits, and if he can achieve some success on the field, we can expect higher level recruits subsequently. One step at a time.

Agreed, but worth noting that at the time that "slipping" comment was written we had dropped all the way to...26 (I think, in the mid-high 20s somewhere). With the addition of Collins we shot back up to 22, and we still have 3 unrated commits.

So, even to the extent that we are slipping things still look pretty good. If we didn't add another recruit I think this is a top 50 class as is...and we will be adding (an)other recruit(s).

[Bob Green]

^ good one, excellent offer sheet.

ESPN Profile:

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/f...rquise-collins

Offers from multiple P5 schools. Glad he picked Duke!

[CameronBornAndBred]

My "slipping" comment was not a knock against Duke's recruiting; I'm way more than happy with what Elko has done. However, once the dust settles, I don't expect us to be even in the 30s as far as rankings go. It's nice to be up there now, but it's not going to last.
And I'm ok with that.

[chrishoke]

ESPN Profile:

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/f...rquise-collins

Offers from multiple P5 schools. Glad he picked Duke!

Interestingly, this is our second commitment from a player holding a Southern Cal offer.

[Acymetric]

Nick Harris at Rivals has a nice (free, no paywall) article on Collins. Sounds like we should get the chance to see what he can do early. Rivals also notes that they rate him as the #13 all-purpose back in the country, which is pretty good.

https://n.rivals.com/news/marquise-c...itment-to-duke

A big reason for his decision is also the opportunity to play early as the coaches have communicated that there will be a chance for him to see the field almost immediately.

A statistical machine last season for College Station, Collins rushed for 2,826 yards and 39 touchdowns in helping lead his team to a state runner-up finish in Texas' 5A Division I level.

FWCvMEeWYAAGIno.jpg

[Avvocato]

Here’s another nice piece on Collins. This one from si.com: https://www.si.com/college/duke/foot...-coming-change

Here’s my favorite quote:

They are looking for change right now. No one is going that can really take over the program. I’m coming to change the program.

[arnie]

Here’s another nice piece on Collins. This one from si.com: https://www.si.com/college/duke/foot...-coming-change

Here’s my favorite quote:

Well he’s certainly confident😀

[johnb]

Here’s another nice piece on Collins. This one from si.com.
https://www.si.com/college/duke/foot...-coming-change

Here’s my favorite quote:: "They are looking for change right now. No one is going that can really take over the program. I’m coming to change the program."

I'd like to think the coaching staff said almost exactly the same thing in their recruitment of the young man. Lost in translation was the word, "help," as in "help change the program," but if he turns out to be the next Adrian Peterson or Eric Dickerson or Doak Walker (and does his magic at Duke), great...

[martydoesntfoul]

And another! 3-star safety River Hanson. Question: What happens when Subzero meets the River?

https://twitter.com/adamrowetdd/stat...pGVH3Rz5Q08Ilw

[budwom]

ice fishing

[chrishoke]

Nice pick-up. Nine P5 offers. Welcome River.

BleedBlue.

[Bob Green]

Nice pick-up. Nine P5 offers. Welcome River.

BleedBlue.

ESPN Profile:

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/f...4/river-hanson

[arnie]

And another! 3-star safety River Hanson. Question: What happens when Subzero meets the River?

https://twitter.com/adamrowetdd/stat...pGVH3Rz5Q08Ilw

Hope we’re leaving one scholarship available for the 5-star that wants to play for the new coach.

[PDDuke85]

https://twitter.com/adamrowetdd/stat...DNPs8Fm6f8AiwQ

Another running back to the stable.
And, another commit from Virginia, with several P5 offers.