Tag: Javon Harvey

Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy hopes the Blue Devils wide receivers ‘stay underrated’

When asked if Duke’s wide receiver room was underrated, quarterback Maalik Murphy smiled and said he hoped they stayed that way.

ACC football fans might not think of Duke among the conference’s best offenses heading into the 2024 season, but the team thinks it can catch people by surprise.

During a Wednesday press conference at ACC Football Kickoff, quarterback Maalik Murphy fielded a question about his ‘underrated’ receiving room. He offered a smile and a fun answer.

“I want them to stay underrated,” Murphy said. “I feel like that’s in our favor, them flying under the radar, us as an offense kind of flying under the radar.”

The Blue Devils lost longtime weapon Jalon Calhoun to the NFL this offseason, but leading receiver Jordan Moore is back for a third year on the perimeter. He and Sahmir Hagans combined for 92 receptions and 1,095 yards a season ago.

Then you add in Eli Pancol, who will return after missing the 2023 season due to injury. He compiled 347 yards in 2022. You can’t forget about Old Dominion transfer Javon Harvey, whom Grayson Loftis called ‘a quarterback’s best friend,’ either.

The Duke offense looks, to steal a word Loftis and Murphy used to describe offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer’s system, explosive.

“People are not really aware of what our OC can do just because he hasn’t been in this position before,” Murphy continued. “I’m excited. Super excited for the guys that we have, I feel like we’re going to do great things.”

Duke football coach Manny Diaz says Blue Devils doubled their experience with transfers

Duke football coach Manny Diaz broke down how, by one metric, the Blue Devils doubled their experience through the transfer portal this offseason.

The biggest issue facing most first-year college football coaches revolves around the team’s experience and veteran leadership, especially in the modern era of the transfer portal. Teams that go through a coaching change usually lose most of their seniors, and even though new Duke coach Manny Diaz convinced safety Jaylen Stinson to stick around, the Blue Devils still lost more than his fair share of locker room voices.

Diaz managed to find a solution to that problem.

During his media appearances at the ACC Football Kickoff on Wednesday, Diaz said his team doubled its experience through transfer portal additions this offseason. He didn’t just make that claim for fun or pick a random amount, either. In a fashion befitting a top university, he brought some math and evidence to support his claim.

“Our returning snaps from who we had in spring practice was about 23,500,” Diaz told an ACC Network panel. “We added 24 players that have 24,000 snaps. We doubled the experience of our football team in just adding 24 guys.”

One of those notable additions, former Old Dominion wideout Javon Harvey, already has some fans in the quarterback room. Sophomore Grayson Loftis called him ‘a quarterback’s best friend’ thanks to his experience and dedication to preparation.

Other notable incoming transfers include former Liberty defensive lineman Kendy Charles, former New Mexico State running back Star Thomas, and former Rice cornerback Tre’Shon Devones, along with more than half a dozen offensive linemen.

Grayson Loftis calls new Duke wide receiver Javon Harvey ‘a quarterback’s best friend’

Javon Harvey joined the Duke wide receiver room this offseason as a transfer from Old Dominion, and his quarterbacks are already fans.

Javon Harvey hasn’t been in Durham very long, but his new teammates already appreciate what he brings to the Duke football program.

During a Wednesday appearance on ACC Network, sophomore quarterback Grayson Loftis gave a glowing review of the Old Dominion transfer. He said Harvey’s explosiveness suits new offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer’s high-speed offense well, but it’s his years of college experience that make him even more valuable as a teammate.

“(He’s) asking a lot of questions,” Loftis said. “He’s a vet, he’s been in college football for a long time, he’s got a lot of snaps. It’s nice having a guy like that who’s got a lot of experience…He’s a quarterback’s best friend.”

Harvey caught 70 passes between the last three seasons at Old Dominion, racking up 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns for his collegiate career. his most productive season came in 2022 when he amassed 558 yards and four scores on 30 receptions, averaging more than 18 yards per catch.

Four Duke football players named to East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List

Duke football stars Jordan Moore and Jaquez Moore, along with two other teammates, made the East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List on Friday.

The first season of the [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] era in Durham still holds some star power.

On Friday afternoon, four Duke football players were named to the East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List. Running back Jaquez Moore, wide receivers Jordan Moore and Javon Harvey, and safety Jaylen Stinson all made the preliminary list.

The two Moores served as key motors for the Blue Devils offense in 2023. Jazquez finished second on the team with 674 rushing yards last season, and with leading rusher Jordan Waters now playing for NC State, he seems poised to dominate the Duke backfield. Jordan paced the passing game with 62 receptions, 835 yards, and eight touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories.

Stinson, a leader of the 2023 defense, finished with 88 tackles last season, the second-most on the team. He also snagged an interception against North Carolina.

Harvey, who transferred from Old Dominion this offseason, finished his three-year stint with the Monarchs with 70 catches, 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns.

The game, meant to let the best seniors in college football show themselves as NFL talents ahead of the draft, takes place in early February.

Source: Transfer portal WR Javon Harvey has flipped from Texas A&M to Duke

It has been confirmed that former Old Dominion WR has flipped his initial commitment to Texas A&M, and will instead transfer to Duke.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has been on quite the hot streak concerning additions through the transfer portal. Fifteen players have been confirmed and more are expected to be announced in the coming days. Focused on filling out nearly every position group heading into the 2024 offseason, the addition of productive members to the wide receiver rotation was sorely needed.

After initially adding former Old Dominion WR Javon Harvey on Dec. 11, a surprise announcement from the man himself likely pushed Elko back to the drawing board. Harvey will flip his commitment to the Duke Blue Devils and new head coach Manny Diaz.

Yes, the irony is blatant. Elko served as Duke’s head coach for the past two seasons. Still, after A&M landed former Troy WR Jabre Barber on Friday, Harvey’s future in the Aggie offense, mainly in the slot, looked bleak due to Barber’s career production at the spot.

Former Louisiana Tech standout wide receiver Cyrus Miller will also compete for a starter/rotation spot in 2024.

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Former Old Dominion WR Javon Harvey announces transfer to Texas A&M

Following the departure of versatile senior Ainias Smith for the 2024 NFL Draft, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko began to search for the team’s next big playmaker in the transfer portal.

Following the departure of versatile senior Ainias Smith for the 2024 NFL Draft, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko began to search for the team’s next big playmaker in the transfer portal.

The Aggies may have secured that player to begin the week as redshirt sophomore wide receiver Javon Harvey announced his transfer from Old Dominion to Texas A&M in the portal via X on Monday afternoon.

 

At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Harvey brings versatility to College Station. He is a great route runner with soft hands as a wideout and can also contribute on special teams. Harvey was a 2-star prospect coming out of Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Va.

Harvey appeared in 38 total games for the Monarchs over four seasons. In 2019, he suited up in four contests and played primarily on special teams to maintain his redshirt status.

Over the last two seasons, Harvey hauled in 59 receptions for 949 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2023, he played in nine games for Old Dominion, starting in seven, tallying totals of 29 catches for 391 yards and four touchdowns.

Harvey comes to College Station with two years of eligibility remaining following his redshirt season in 2019 and not playing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Texas A&M offers Old Dominion WR from the Transfer Portal

Texas A&M and new HC Mike Elko have fielded an offer to Old Dominion wide receiver Javon Harvey late last week.

If any position on Texas A&M’s roster needs a boost of talent/experience, it’s the offensive line and wide receiver. Amid head football coach Mike Elko’s quick transition less than a month after now-former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s firing, a new era of Aggie Football has begun, and Elko is looking to utilize the transfer portal finally.

Outside of last offseason, Fisher’s hesitancy to prioritize experience over pure recruiting talent resulted in a 12-12 finish in the last two seasons, while Elko, during his short career as the head coach at Duke, was tasked with using the transfer portal on both sides of the ball, including bringing in former Aggie cornerback Myles Jones.

Last week, Elko offered a pair of productive wide receivers who announced their entry into the portal, including North Texas’ Ja’Mori Maclin and Old Dominion WR Jayvon Henry. Henry, who has spent his entire career with the Monarchs, recorded 391 receiving yards and four touchdowns during the 2023 season.

Standing at 6-0 178 pounds, Harvey has one season of eligibility remaining. He would likely fill a depth position on the Aggies WR depth chart, barring any more attrition after the transfer portal officially opens on Dec. 4.

In his three-year career at Old Dominion, Harvey accumulated 70 receptions, 1,063 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

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