You’d be forgiven for thinking Duke safety Jaylen Stinson left the 2023 season satisfied with his play.
The veteran Blue Devils defensive back finished with 88 total tackles, the second-most on the roster, and he broke up six passes and picked off another. All of that adds up to, in theory, an exceptionally satisfying season for the senior.
Instead, during a media session at the ACC Football Kickoff on Wednesday, he lamented some missed opportunities.
“Just looking at my film from last year, I left a lot on the table,” Stinson said.
Stinson said Manny Diaz, the new coach hired this winter, told him the same thing, and that honesty about his tape made him more motivated for 2024.
“He watched film on me, he knew that I left a lot on the table. I was honest with myself to know I left a lot on the table,” Stinson said. “And he’s going to help me perfect my game and just do the little things to make that happen.”
Stinson clearly values Diaz’s input. He mentioned just minutes before that the new Blue Devils coach played a big role in Stinson’s decision not to transfer, including a personal phone call during his first day in Durham.