Duke picks up speed with incoming football recruits

*****from the Charlotteobserver.com*****
Duke’s incoming class should help the Blue Devils get quicker in a hurry.

The 40 times submitted by players or from various combines aren’t a very good way to compare speed, but the incoming group seems to have several players in the skilled positions with enough speed to make the Blue Devils quicker.

“We’ll get a kid in camp and time him in a 4.6 when somewhere else he was faster. A legitimate 4.6 is very fast,” said Duke assistant Ken McLeod.

“We don’t know the 40 times on everybody, but looking at them play it seems we are getting quicker.”

Durham Hillside products Desmond Scott and Corey Gattis were big-play men for the Hornets, which reached the state 4-A semifinals.

Duke recruited well in North Carolina, landing nine in-state commitments.

Duke’s commitments, which are not binding on either the player or the school until a national letter of intent is accepted on Wednesday:

Lex Butler | Anderson, S.C. | 5-10 | 162
Has good speed — 4.5 forty time — and toughness needed at cornerback.

August Campbell | Arden | 6-3 | 205
First love was baseball. Started playing football sophomore year in high school and developed fast.

Walt Canty | Roebuck, S.C. | 5-11 | 198
Was voted defensive MVP in the Shrine Bowl.

Ross Cockrell | Charlotte | 6-0 | 170
Recoverging from ACL and MCL surgery and plans to redshirt in 2009.

John Coleman | Florence, S.C. | 6-5 | 275
Offensive tackle is a ell-rounded scholar student who contributed to many community projects.

John Drew | Columbus, Ga. | 6-1 | 303
Defensive tackle was a stared in the Georgia all-star game and could have a quick impact at Duke

Jack Farrell | Atlanta, Ga. | 6-2 | 215
Tight end has good hands and good speed and is expected to fill out.

Joey Finison | Jamestown | 6-4 | 289
Offensive tackle committed to Duke in the summer and helped Ragsdale to a 13-1 record

Justin Foxx | Charlotte | 6-3 | 211
Defensive end had offers from Virginia Tech, N.C. State, West Virginia and Vanderbilt

Austin Gamble | Weston, Fla. | 6-1 | 230
Also considered Louisville and Pittsburgh. Speedy, quick, strong against the run.

Corey Gattis | Durham | 5-10 | 158
Hillside quarterback has solid arm, great speed and elusiveness and can play several positions

Tyree Glover | Crescent City, Fla. | 6-3 | 228
Made 154 tackles, including 13 tackles for losses, from his linebacker position

Zach Greene | Raleigh | 5-10 | 164
Leesville Road defensive back/ receiver already has enrolled at duke

Kyle Griswould | Columbus, Ga. | 5-9 | 173
Elusive receiver with knack for getting open and gaining yardage after the catch.

Ryan Hall | Orlando, Fla. | 6-3 | 232
Cerebral tight end has enrolled and could play early; Harvard also offered a scholarship.

David Harding | Orlando, Fla. | 6-4 | 275
Offensive tackle with good pass blocking ability.

Garet Patterson | Richmond | 6-0 | 178
Versatile athlete also had offer from Virginia has good quickness and may play safety

Brandon Putnam | Tyrone, Ga. | 6-3 | 232
Rangy defensive end who also received offers from Arkansas and Georgia Tech.

Kevin Rojas | Raleigh | 6-2 | 198
Weakside linebacker with good speed and a penchant for popping already is enrolled

Sydney Sarmiento | Florence, S.C. | 6-4 | 259
Powerful defensive end already has enrolled in school and will go through spring drills

Sean Schroeder | Dana Point, Calif . | 6-3 | 185
Rated the 55th top quarterback in the nation by Scout.com.

Desmond Scott | Durham | 5-9 | 185
Rushed for 1,890 yards and 22 TDs while catching 30 passes for 532 yards and five TDs

Perry Simmons | Raleigh | 6-4 | 240
Sanderson tackle/ tight end goes full speed all the time and earned a berth in the Shrine Bowl

Taylor Sowell | Roebuck, S.C. | 5-10 | 187
Cornerback was recruited by most ACC schools and originally committed to UNC

Conner Vernon | Miami | 6-1 | 179
A skilled receiver who runs sharp routes. Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss also wanted him.

Tyree Watkins | Camden, N.J. | 6-2 | 185
Wide receiver/ defensive back originally committed to Virginia, but switched after Cavalier staff changes

Anthony Young-Wiseman | Bethesda, Md. | 6-1 | 185
Expected to play in the secondary at Duke. Also considered offers from Syracuse, Maryland and West Virginia.