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Duke Dismisses A Pair Of Defensive Linemen
Duke has kicked two defensive linemen off of the football team. David Cutcliffe's Blue Devils are taking a depth hit in a key area.
February 21, 2017
Duke has kicked two defensive linemen off of the football team. David Cutcliffe’s Blue Devils are taking a depth hit in a key area.
Duke’s defensive line, which was improved in 2016, has suffered a major hit to its depth.
Blue Devils head coach David Cutcliffe dismissed Brandon Boyce and Marquies Price from the football team on Tuesday for what he terms as “failing to live up to team standards.”
Boyce was a defensive tackle from Florida who had been suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season for a reason that was not specified by the team. Following his time off, Boyce played in eight games, finishing with six solo tackles and a sack. As a true freshman in 2015, Boyce had 24 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in 13 games.
Price was a defensive end from Georgia who started 11 games last season, missing the final contest against Miami due to an injury. He recorded 14 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for losses and two sacks. He also saw significant action the previous season as a true freshman.
Neither player was available to the media in Durham for comment. Spring practice for the Blue Devils began on Feb. 3.
The pair of rising juniors were projected to log a lot of playing time in the fall on a line that played much better in 2016. Along with the solid performance of young quarterback Daniel Jones, who was pressed into the starting role in fall camp when Thomas Sirk was injured again, the D-Line play was one of the few bright spots in a 4-8 bowl-less season.
Price’s absence particularly hurts because it leaves the Blue Devils young at defensive end next fall. Danny Doyle is a former walk-on who was put on scholarship prior to last season, so he’ll be expected to contribute significantly as the only upperclassman at the position.
A collection of sophomores that include Twazanga Mugala, Trevon McSwain, Chidi Okonya, Terrell Lucas and Tre Hornbuckle are available to compete for action, however. Okonya, Lucas and Hornbuckle all played as true freshmen last season, so they have logged experience.
This news could also be beneficial to the development of four-star defensive end Drew Jordan, who signed with Duke earlier this month. The true freshman could possibly see a situational role if he adapts to the college game quickly.
