Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
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126 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY BRYAN DRISKELL Leading Duke to bowl appearances in six of the last seven years is quite an accom- plishment for head coach David Cutcliffe, who is known as one of the best offensive minds in the game. The last time the Blue Devils made back-to-back bowl games, their head coach was Steve Spurrier in the 1980s. From 1990-2007, Duke had more winless seasons (four) than bowl bids and only one campaign with six or more wins. Since Cut- cliffe arrived in 2008, the team has made six postseason appearances and has won at least seven games five times. If Cutcliffe leads the Blue Devils back to a bowl game in 2019 it will come against an extremely difficult schedule, and he'll have to do it with a new quarterback. Three-year starter Daniel Jones was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. His backup the last two seasons, fifth-year senior Quentin Harris, steps into the lead role. "Harris has experience, having started and won two games last season while Jones was in- jured," said Steve Wiseman, beat writer for The Durham Herald-Sun. "Harris' strong knowl- edge of Duke's offense is a plus. He threw for seven touchdowns with only one interception last season. He can also run the ball. "[But] it still remains to be seen if he can be a real difference-making player against the teams on Duke's schedule this season." Harris will have help thanks to the presence of junior running back Deon Jackson and the return of four starting linemen. Jackson ac- counted for 1,602 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, developing into one of the top backs in the ACC. Improvement up front should allow him to shine in 2019. "Jackson really broke out last season, help- ing on kick returns and as an every-down back," Wiseman noted. "I anticipate him lining up in the slot sometimes with Brittain Brown in the backfield to get more playmakers on the field." The Blue Devils were young on defense last season, but the return of all four starters up front and Freshman All-American defensive tackle Chris Rumph has created optimism. "Duke's defensive front is the strongest area of the team. It's improved leaps and bounds over the last decade," Wiseman explained. "Ju- nior ends Victor Dimukeje and Drew Jordan are big, athletic players. Rumph is a budding star. … All three look like future NFL players. "Their ability to pressure quarterbacks and slow ball carriers should make things easier for Duke's linebackers and defensive backs." Reasons For Optimism • Maturity on defense • Emergence of running back Deon Jackson • Experienced offensive line All the past struggles of a young defense should pay off this season with nine starters returning to a more experienced unit … Jackson is one of the top backs in the ACC and is running behind a quality — and veteran — line. Reasons For Concern • Brutal schedule • Inexperienced quarterback • Losses at linebacker Duke plays a slate that includes College Football Playoff teams Alabama and Notre Dame … It will have to face it with a new quarterback after Daniel Jones left early for the NFL … The Blue Devils must also replace a pair of productive linebackers. DUKE BLUE DEVILS GAME 9 • NOV. 9 • WALLACE WADE STADIUM X-FACTOR: Running back Deon Jackson accounted for 1,602 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore last year, and is poised to have an even bigger season in 2019 behind an offensive line that returns four starters. PHOTO COURTESY DUKE ATHLETICS 2019 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2018 Result Aug. 31 vs. Alabama* — Sept. 7 North Carolina A&T — Sept. 14 at Middle Tennessee State — Sept. 27 at Virginia Tech L, 31-14 Oct. 5 Pittsburgh L, 54-45 Oct. 12 Georgia Tech W, 28-14 Oct. 19 at Virginia L, 28-14 Oct. 26 at North Carolina W, 42-35 Nov. 9 Notre Dame — Nov. 16 Syracuse — Nov. 23 at Wake Forest L, 59-7 Nov. 30 Miami (Fla.) W, 20-12 * Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 3-2 Last Meeting: Duke 38, Notre Dame 35 (Sept. 24, 2016, South Bend) Head Coach: David Cutcliffe, 67-72 at Duke (12th year) and 111-101 overall (18th year) 2018 Results: 8-5 overall, 3-5 ACC (6th Coastal) Returning Starters: 14 (5 offense, 9 defense) Prediction: Notre Dame 38, Duke 17 RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Deon Jackson (847 yards, 7 TD) Passing: QB Quentin Harris (437 yards, 7 TD) Receiving: Jackson (253 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: S Dylan Singleton (73) Sacks: DE Victor Dimukeje (3.5) Interceptions: Four players tied (1)