Is it March already? No. Then why is Duke in the top 25? With the uber talented Riley Leonard at quarterback, this team has proven to be one of the best in the nation this season. Duke is predominantly known for their skills on the hardwood, but Leonard’s leadership and skills possessed has put them on the map this year. As shocking as this may be for some seeing Duke impressive in football, this can be what happens when good leadership is possessed.
Leonard’s Leadership
Riley Leonard, a Junior from Fairhope Alabama is putting his talents on display this season as the starter for the Blue Devils. Leonard started to gain attraction after the Blue Devil’s first victory over the Clemson Tigers. This was a huge win for Duke because of Clemson’s prestigious program over the past decade and due to the fact that they were in the top 25. The Blue Devils cruised by their next three games against Lafayette, Northwestern, and Connecticut beating them for a combined 121-28. On top of these big wins, it was Riley Leonard leading the charge for the Blue Devils.
Hard Fought Battle
The next game on their schedule proved to be a tough one as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish head into town. Many thought this was the chance for the Irish to show Duke up, but Leonard had different plans. With homefield advantage, Riley Leonard took advantage of that opportunity and kept the game close. Although his stat line isn’t revealing to how well he led the team, the score does. The Blue Devils lose a hard-fought battle to the Fighting Irish 21-14. This loss is not one to feel defeated about as Notre Dame has many standout players.
Injuries And Outlook
Disaster did strike in Durham shortly before the end of this game though as Riley Leonard suffered an ankle injury. Although the video of the injury looked bad, the outcome for Leonard was positive than most ankle injuries. Leonard suffered a high ankle sprain against the Fighting Irish and is still in recovery hoping to play against bitter rival NC State this weekend. Although the quarterback situation is still being determined, Leonard would be a threat and their best option. Duke fans dodged a bullet and are lucky that they will still be seeing Leonard on the gridiron here soon.
More Than Basketball
Durham North Carolina, home of the Duke Blue Devils is a special place for many basketball fans. This year they are also impressing many sports fans across the nation with their plays in football. They don’t try to do anything fancy or out of the ordinary, they simply just attempt to survive week by week. This skillset had propelled them to number 17 in the AP polls and college football fans are eager to see just how far they can go. The next two games for them look to be good ones with NC State being this upcoming weekend and number 4 ranked Florida State being the following weekend. If Duke pulls off both wins, the ACC standings will be interesting. It would also be interesting to see how far up they would propel in the polls.
Keeping Leonard Healthy
When Leonard is healthy, he is a threat to any opposing team. The key for the Blue Devils is to keep him healthy and protected. Leonard has the potential to turn this program into a top contender this season. Big games on the road will also be huge for them. Picking up wins like that will give them not only the confidence they need, but also the respect they deserve in the media. Later in the season, Duke will have to face a top ranked Louisville program and a top ranked bitter rival North Carolina.
Football In The ACC
The ACC has proven to be a good conference this season with a good amount of their teams competing in the top 25. With good competition and good performance by Riley Leonard, he could increase his stats and boost his chances of getting close to a Heisman watch. Durham will no longer just be camping out for basketball tickets, but football as well. This season has proved to be a good one and has fans optimistic and excited for what is to come from their Blue Devils.
Elko’s Leadership
Mike Elko has also proven to be a good leader and good head coach for Duke. Elko was named the Blue Devil’s 22nd head football coach in 2021 and has since them became ACC coach of the year honors. Elko also led them to 9 regular season victories just in his first year alone. These accolades and statistics in a head coach are vital for a team’s success. The ACC might not be the dominant football conference, but Elko is proving he can still win in tough environments.
Consistent Success
Regardless of what the rest of the season may entail for Duke, they have great leaders committed to this team’s overall success. The Blue Devils have also had an impressive season up to this point and have given the fans what they have wanted. It will be interesting to see how things play out especially when Leonard is back and healthy for them. Consistency will be key for this team to continue their success especially with the challenging road games coming up.
Optimism Moving Forward
The state of North Carolina has many impressive football teams this year and it will be interesting to see who prevails in the end of the season. There’s still a long road ahead and many games left, but the end of the season is fast approaching. Durham could possibly celebrate like it’s March Madness by the end of the season if they keep playing and performing well. Riley Leonard can and will continue to be successful if his offensive line can keep protecting him from blindsides or dangerous hits. Having Leonard’s leadership on the field could be a determining factor for the rest of the season. Blue Devil fans have to be satisfied so far and it is not stopping anytime soon for them.
