(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Duke football program is hoping to make significant improvements during the 2009 season. The hope of becoming a great team in the ACC must start with the offense and the players to whom the offense will rely on in pressure-packed situations.
From the running back position to starting QB, most positions on the Duke roster at this point in the season are up for grabs. Who will go the extra mile and earn a place in the first-team offense and who will lay low and get benched during the season?
The offensive unit of the Blue Devils is very experienced, yet at the same time has very young players Coach David Cutcliffe and his staff will need to count on when the season begins.
Which players on offense are the most crucial for Duke to have success?
Here are the top five offensive players to watch during Duke's 2009 season:
5. RB Re'quan Boyette:
Height: 5'10
Weight: 205
Year: Senior
Last season, Re'quan Boyette underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and missed the entire season because of the severity of the injury. During this upcoming season, Boyette will be one of the top running backs on roster for the Blue Devils.
In Duke's most recent football scrimmage, Boyette finished with five carries for 39 yards and two touchdowns, highlighting the 55-play scrimmage. The leading rusher for Duke in both 2007 and 2008, Boyette will be one of the go-to guys on this Duke football team.
His athletic ability, along with his ability to break tackles, will be crucial in order for Duke to have success in the running game this season. If Boyette can come back from his injury and play at the level he did in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons in Durham, there is no telling how lethal Duke's running game could become.
Look for great things in senior Re'quan Boyette this season. As he has already shown, he is one of the most experienced and best RB in the entire ACC. The question, though, is how well will he play after being out all of last season?
Stats:
2005: Attempts- 60; Gain- 271 Yards; Loss- 19 Yards; TD's-1; Avg/G- 28.0 Yards.
2006: Attempts- 87; Gain- 421 Yards; Loss- 33 Yards; TD's- 2; Avg/G- 32.3 Yards.
2007: Attempts- 104; Gain- 472 Yards; Loss- 40 Yards; TD's- 2; Avg/G- 36.0 Yards.
4. WR Austin Kelly:
Height: 6'2
Weight: 200
Year: Junior
As a junior wide receiver, Austin Kelly is one of the most experienced offensive players on the Duke roster. During the 2008 season, Kelly matured as a receiver, competing in 11 games with six starts.
Kelly started the 2008 season strong, recording at least one pass reception in the first six games before an injury caused him to miss the Vanderbilt game. One of his strongest performances of the year was against Northwestern, a game in which Kelly had four catches for a total of 37 yards.
After the departure of 2008 leading receiver Eron Riley, Kelly will be one of the most frequently targeted players that QB Thad Lewis will look to pass the ball to. However, with Riley's absence, Austin Kelly will need to step up his game from 2008.
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