Head coach David Cutcliffe talks about this week's game against Virginia.
At Tuesday’s weekly press conference, head coach David Cutcliffe announced the the team’s captains for the week for the upcoming game against Virginia. Duke will face off against the Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Va. at 3:30 on Saturday:
Offensive Captains: AUSTIN KELLY and JAY HOLLINGSWORTH
Junior Austin Kelly (left) will lead the offense with Jay Hollinsgsworth (right)
Hollingsworth, a sophomore, will lead the offensive unit along with Kelly, a junior tight end. Kelly caught nine passes against Maryland for 67 yards. The junior leads the ACC with 5.57 receptions per game and has caught five or more passes for in five straight games. Kelly is a crucial member of a potent Blue Devil receiving unit and a favorite target of quarterback Thaddeus Lewis. In the last three games, Lewis has is 92-for-133 passing for 1,189 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception.
Defensive Captains: LEON WRIGHT and KINNEY RUCKER
Seniors Leon Wright (left) and Kinney Rucker (right) will lead the defense.
Cutcliffe’s two defensive captains are both seniors this week. Kinney Rucker joins cornerback Leon Wright, who has been particularly active on the defensive end as of late. So far this season, Wright has 31 tackles and three interceptions returned for 84 yards. The Blue Devil defense will look to match the success it had last year against Virginia. During the last meeting against the Cavaliers, the Duke defense forced six turnovers.
Will the leadership of the four captains be enough to keep Duke’s bowl dreams alive?
