Check out Kyren Williams score his second touchdown of the game.
Kyren Williams earned the start at running back, and it is paying off today. Through a little over 2 quarters of football, Williams has run for 91 yards on 17 carries. Take a look at his second touchdown, this one going for 26 yards on 4th-and-1.
Find out what kind of weather to expect during Notre Dame’s season opener against Duke in South Bend.
It’s finally game day and while we would all love a perfect 65 degrees with sun shining down on Notre Dame Stadium, that’s not what we’re going to get. Yet again 2020 rains down, this time literally.
While the game against Duke will get started off cloudy and a nice 70 degrees, the humidity is high and expect rain soon after kickoff if it hasn’t started by then. According to weather.com, at 1pm the precipitation expected is just 25% but at 2pm it rises to 35% then at 3pm, it’s at 60%. It gets pretty grim after 4pm with 85% chance of rain. Once it begins to shower, don’t expect it to stop for the remainder of the game.
There was this report from Pete Sampson however, that there are protocols set that could put a halt to the game after it has started.
Notre Dame video board posts evacuation instructions in the event of severe weather, which remains potentially in the forecast for this afternoon.
A rainy opener shouldn’t put a damper on Notre Dame’s first game in ACC competition. It’s not ideal football weather but Irish Football is back and we’re all excited it’s finally here.
Week One is finally upon us! Last night saw Miami open up the ACC football season as they ran over, through and around UAB en route to their opening night victory. Now the majority of the ACC gets going for 2020 on Saturday with Notre Dame and Duke …
Week One is finally upon us!
Last night saw Miami open up the ACC football season as they ran over, through and around UAB en route to their opening night victory.
Now the majority of the ACC gets going for 2020 on Saturday with Notre Dame and Duke doing battle in South Bend to start the season.
How 2020 goes is anyone’s guess and I’m not talking about Notre Dame specifically.
Do we get to December without a stoppage in the sport?
Does the Big Ten and/or Pac-12 get in on the action at some point late this fall?
And will the American sport that most resembles European soccer in terms pageantry feel the safe to a nation when you cut 75% or more of attendance in most places?
We don’t have the answers to these questions for you here but we do have predictions as to how Week One goes for Notre Dame and Duke.
The Blue Devils gave up some valuable intel when they announced their season opening quarterback. Advantage Irish.
Clemson has been a quarterback factory, with many of them highly ranked who can’t crack the starting lineup transferring to different programs. Duke was the benefactor of Trevor Lawrence’s greatness, as Chase Brice transferred to Durham looking for an opportunity to start. Well, that opportunity has become reality, as Duke named Brice their starter.
The Irish will face a former 3-star recruit who in limited playing time behind Lawrence completed 82-of-136 passes for 1,023 yards and 9 TD’s with 4 INT’s. Brice also rushed for 187 yards and 1 TD on 30 attempts.
Duke struggled at the quarterback position last year after first round pick Daniel Jones went off the to NFL. Brice is a solid quarterback, but obviously is not Lawrence and will not have the talented skill position players Clemson has at their disposal.
Now that Clark Lea and the rest of this defensive staff know who they are going up against they can properly game plan for Brice. Honestly, this isn’t the smartest decision by Duke head coach David Cutcliffe. He could have announced to the team his intentions, and not make it known to everyone, giving Duke an advantage without the Irish knowing who would be behind center the first snap. Now this is a wash, as Brian Kelly and Lea will surely be looking over old Clemson tape to get a feel for what Brice can do. Duke’s announcement is Notre Dame’s gain in this situation.
Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said that the NCAA needs to have a college basketball tournament this season on an ESPN show.
Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said that the NCAA needs to have a college basketball tournament this season on an ESPN appearance Tuesday. Here’s what the five-time national championship-winning coach said.
He also hinted at the necessity of a college basketball commissioner to handle issues like this.
“We’re the thing that the NCAA is most concerned about, because men’s college basketball produces 90 percent or more of the money for the NCAA, not college football or any other sport. So we need to have the tournament, we can’t have it where two years in a row you don’t have the NCAA Tournament. And guys, I think that’s where you should start. Make sure we have the tournament, doesn’t make any difference when it is because we don’t even know when the NBA season is going to be next year, so we should look at them and see how they navigate the waters going forward. They’ve navigated it really well with the bubble, and they don’t have the NBA, they have Adam Silver. And that’s what I’m saying we really need in college basketball.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Duke edge defender prospect Chris Rumph II
In today’s NFL, every team is looking for versatile, athletic edge defenders who can handle many different responsibilities and make big plays no matter where they line up.
If your favorite team is looking for that player in the 2021 NFL Draft class, Duke’s Chris Rumph II should be on their radar.
A promising, explosive defender with a sky-high ceiling, Rumph recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about how he’s working to improve this offseason, which NFL star he likes to learn from on film, and what fans can expect from him this season.
JM: How have you managed to stay in shape and keep up with your weight training throughout the pandemic?
CRII: When we were at home, the coaching staff did a terrific job helping us adapt to the new normal. We made the best of the resources we had available to us. It definitely helped me stay in shape. When we arrived back on campus, it allowed us to really hit the ground running. Everybody here at Duke did a great job making sure the whole team had an opportunity to stay in shape.
JM: You took a big step forward last season. Did you expect to improve in the manner that you did?
CRII: I sure hoped for it (laughs). I didn’t do much during my red-shirt freshmen year. It didn’t take much for me to improve. The coaching staff was more comfortable with me being on the field. I certainly won over their trust last season. They gave me the opportunities. I took advantage of the amount of snaps they allowed me to play. They put me in great positions to make plays. I give them all the credit for the plan they developed for me. They put me in a position to utilize my skill-set to the best of my ability.
Syndication: Murfreesboro
JM: Expectations are going to be higher for you now. People know about Chris Rumph II now. What have you done to ensure that you meet those expectations in 2020?
CRII: I don’t pay attention to the hype. I just come to work every day with the mindset that I have to get better. I can’t stay complacent, especially at this level in the ACC. Complacency will get you beat. I just make sure that I keep my nose to the ground. I don’t pay attention to the individual accolades. I block out the noise.
I appreciate the support, but at the end of the day, what I care most about is helping my team win games. We’re trying to reach the championship. We’re making sure that everybody is on the same page. We have a lot of fun out there.
The expectations for this season, that stuff doesn’t phase me. I’m excited to get back on the field. I have a terrific opportunity in front of me to continue playing football alongside my teammates.
JM: How can this defense be better this year than it was last year?
CRII: We didn’t do a good enough job getting off the field on third down last season. We allowed way too many big plays. I think the most important thing for us to get better is that we need to stay locked in mentally. Nobody has to be a superhero, myself included. We just need to do our jobs. If everybody handles their business, we’ll be fine. We need to tackle better. We need to communicate better.
The group of guys we have in the room, the 2017 class that I came in with had a bunch of guys on the defensive side of the ball. We’ve all played a lot of football. We’re very experienced and comfortable with one another. The communication is gonna be there, the comfort level is gonna be there. This 2017 class has had a lot of fun playing with one another. All of this will boost the defensive production.
JM: Who are some players that you enjoy watching on film? Do you model your game after anybody in particular?
CRII: I love watching Von Miller. I love the way he plays the game. I love the speed and athleticism that he’s able to put on display. I try to carry a lot of those traits with me. I try to model my game after somebody like him.
At the same time, Von Miller is Von Miller. I’m Chris Rumph. Whatever my specialties are, I’m going to take advantage of them. I’m trying to make a name for myself.
JM: What do you enjoy most about the way this Duke defense has utilized you within their scheme?
CRII: They line me up both inside and outside. I love that. During my red-shirt freshmen year, I played a little linebacker against Wake Forest and Temple. I love the versatility. I appreciate the light they see me in. They put so much trust in me by lining me up at so many different positions. The coaches do a great job utilizing my traits.
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
JM: What’s it like playing for coach David Cutcliffe?
CRII: I love Coach Cutcliffe so much. I’ve been around a lot of head coaches due to my dad’s job and Coach Cutcliffe is one of the most genuine, loving and caring men I’ve ever been around and played for. He genuinely cares about you as a person. That’s very important to me because football is just a game at the end of the day.
By the time you leave Duke, you’ve learned a lot more than just how to be a football player. I’ve learned how to become a man here. If you didn’t do that, you wasted your time here. Coach Cutcliffe does a great job making sure he not only coaches us as football players, but as young men as well.
JM: What are three traits that an edge rusher must possess in order to be successful?
CRII: You need to have a great get-off, first and foremost. It all starts with the get-off. You need to have speed. Speed is a must. You also need to be an athletic guy. You have to be able to bend the corner and dip that shoulder. You have to keep the O-linemen’s hands off you and you need to finish plays.
To summarize, speed allows you to close the distance between yourself and the quarterback. Being athletic allows you to make a move to win your one-on-one match-up. You need to finish plays. You can’t waste a great rep by not finishing. Those are the most important traits for a defensive linemen.
JM: What can you tell me about your pass rush arsenal? Do you have a go-to move?
CRII: I don’t have a huge arsenal. My father and I have been working on that. We spent some time together in the lab during quarantine. We added a few more rushes to my toolbox. I’m not ready to reveal them yet (laughs). I used my length and speed to my advantage last season. I have very long arms. I really leaned on that. I have the ability to beat an offensive linemen inside as well. I played to my athleticism last season. I’m looking to add a little more technique this year. It’s all about continuing to improve my game.
JM: Speaking of your dad, Chris Rumph is a terrific coach. What’s the biggest lesson he’s ever taught you?
CRII: He’s always taught me to have a positive attitude no matter what’s going on. A lot of people don’t realize how much weight your words carry. If you speak negativity, negativity will come into your life. That’s why I always remain positive. That’s one lesson he taught me at a young age. I carry that with me today. It was a terrific lesson for me to learn. It’s proven to be true time and time again. I love how it applies to my life.
Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Who would you say is the best offensive linemen you’ve gone up against so far?
CRII: That’s a great question. I went up against Jedrick Wills Jr. at Alabama last season.
I’ll tell you what though, an unsung hero that a lot of people are going to be surprised by is Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw. I’m not going to be shocked at all. He needs to be on your radar. He’s a great offensive tackle. I have a lot of respect for him. We were talking throughout the game last season. He has incredibly strong hands.
I look forward to playing against him once again this season. I had to think about that before I said it, with all the changes to the schedule (laughs). He’s definitely one of the best tackles I’ve played against.
JM: Would you say you’re more developed as a pass rusher or run stopper at this point in time?
CRII: Can I be honest with you? Neither (laughs). If we’re being honest, the answer is neither. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been working on my technique as a pass rusher. I have strides to make as a run defender as well. As I look back on my film from last year, I left a lot of plays on the field. I made a lot of impact plays but I also got pushed out of my gap more often than I would like. I made some correctable mistakes. Eliminating those negative plays would improve my game immensely. I’m going to continue to mature as a player. That’s the honest answer to that question.
JM: What can Duke fans expect from Chris Rumph II this year?
CRII: They can expect me to bring a lot of energy to the field. I’m gonna bring the energy all day long. That’s what they can expect from me.
Obviously, no one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Duke Blue Devils Offense 3 Things To Know
– The offense fizzled late in the year – bottoming out with a four-game stretch scoring a total of 44 points – to finish 94th in the nation in scoring and 114th in total offense.
That’s not how a David Cutcliffe attack is supposed to work.
Eight starters are expected back, but it’s still going to take a little work to make it all go, starting with finding the right quarterback.
Clemson transfer Chase Brice has the biggest upside – he chose Duke for a reason – with just enough experience to not be starting from scratch. Junior Chris Katrenick had the job for a little bit last year when Quentin Harris went down, but he only completed 3-of-13 passes for 49 yards with a touchdown and a pick, and he ran for a score.
It might be Brice or bust, which isn’t a bad thing for a passing game was 125th in the nation in yards per completion.
CFN in 60 Video: Duke Blue Devils Preview
[jwplayer bdW91G1N]
– 6-0, 215-pound Deon Jackson is back after leading the team with 641 yards and six touchdowns, but the offense will likely be missing the rushing production of former QB Quentin Harris. Brittain Brown is transferring to UCLA, but junior Mataeo Durant is a more-than-tine No. 2 option.
The line was terrific at not allowing a whole lot of plays behind the line, and it wasn’t awful in pass protection. However, it has to be stronger for the ground attack – Brice isn’t the runner Harris was. Four starters return from a young group that used two freshmen tackles, and former top recruit Devery Henderson is transferring over from Stanford.
– It’s a relatively untested receiving corps that has to rise up. It’ll be interesting to see if the downfield passing game is better with sharper quarterback play. A few more wideouts have to emerge, but top yardage guy Jalon Calhoun returns – he only averaged 9.1 yards per catch, though – and senior TE Noah Gray is back after leading the team with 51 grabs for 392 yards and three scores.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Duke Blue Devils Defense 3 Things To Know
After tackling a number of Wisconsin commits in our BadgersWire scouting report series, we now turn to one of the top in-state recruits in the history of the Badger state. Patrick Baldwin Jr. is the truth. The class of 2021 “small forward” (in …
After tackling a number of Wisconsin commits in our BadgersWire scouting report series, we now turn to one of the top in-state recruits in the history of the Badger state. Patrick Baldwin Jr. is the truth. The class of 2021 “small forward” (in reality, he does not have a true position) has an NBA frame and an NBA jumper to go along with it. The Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton) native recently released his top ten schools, and had Wisconsin included with the likes of ACC powerhouses Duke (where he has been closely linked), North Carolina, and Virginia. He also has family ties included on his list as his father Patrick Baldwin Sr. is the Head Coach at UW-Milwaukee.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. in one word: Ok, I have to cheat with this one. Using two words, the 6-foot-9 prospect can best be described as under control. There are nearly no moments on tape where the Hamilton star looks rushed, frazzled, or like he is not playing at his own pace. In fact, oftentimes he looks like he is playing at a completely slower pace than others around him, yet he dominates games without being in a hurry.
Breaking it down: Breaking down Baldwin Jr’s strengths begins with his jump shot. When you watch the five-star prospect shoot it almost looks like his shot was created in a lab. His mechanics are scary good. Like NBA sharpshooter Klay Thompson-level good. At 6-foot-9 with tremendous length, he can get his shot off against almost anybody at any time. Whether it’s a pull-up three in transition, a quick catch-and-shoot, or an off the dribble jumper, Baldwin Jr. can cash it because of consistent mechanics and a quick trigger.
His handle is fluid and consistent for his size. There is an element of smooth in his dribble moves, and he has quite a few in the bag. The Wisconsin native has a bounce to his step with the basketball in his hands and the explosive ability to go up and over nearly all defenders at the high school level.
Baldwin Jr. also excels with his face-up game. Instead of playing with his back to the basket, he is more comfortable facing up against his defender and making a quick move off the dribble.
As I previously said, there never seems to be any rush in the five-star prospect’s game. Couple that with his size, length, and mobility, to go along with a perfect jump shot from a mechanics perspective, and you have one of the best offensive recruits in the history of Wisconsin high school basketball.
In terms of his size, many will say that the class of 2021 prospect needs to add muscle in the weight room. At under 200 pounds and 6-foot-9, he will certainly add muscle at the next level, but just how much should he add to his frame? When I watch Baldwin Jr., one of the first NBA comparisons that pops into my mind is Kevin Durant. Durant is not only one of the greatest scorers in the history of the game, but also a player that is known as the ‘slim reaper’ and a star that never added to his frame in a significant way. The way Baldwin Jr. plays and the direction that the game is headed in makes me question just how much he should change his physique.
Overall: Whoever gets the Wisconsin product is obviously landing one of the best players in the country. It is hard to find a glaring weakness offensively, and the combination of a pure jump shot, mobility, and size is rare to see at any level. If things go as planned for a player that is currently a consensus top-five prospect in his class, Baldwin Jr. is going to be a high-NBA lottery pick.
