Duke Football Players Speak on Challenges of Fall Football
As Duke football carried on preseason camp Thursday morning with its 12th practice of fall camp at the Brooks Practice Facility, redshirt juniors quarterback Chris Katrenick and defensive end Chris Rumph II spoke with media virtually after practice.
“I think that comfort comes from preparation,” Katrenick said when asked of his comfort level on the field. “We didn’t have spring ball, obviously, so we’re trying to catch up, play a little, catch up there. But in terms of games, I haven’t had a start yet. I know that. But I know that practice should be harder than the game and we’re really trying to make that happen out here. The preparation is going to help with the comfort level and that’s what I feel like everyone on this team is trying to accomplish.”
In seven career football games, Katrenick has competed eight-of-25 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. A native of Algonquin, Ill., he has also added 50 yards on seven carries throughout his career. Last season, Katrenick saw action in five games for the Blue Devils. He combined with teammate Eli Pancol to toss a 23-yard touchdown pass as his lone passing score of the season.
With the current COVID-19 pandemic, health requirements in camp are different in years past as the Blue Devils are wearing masks and social distancing.
“Yeah, I think just being a college football player at Duke we have a standard,” Katrenick commented on following social distancing guidelines. “This is just a different circumstance that the standard applies to. It is hard. It’s not easy. I don’t think anyone on the team thinks it’s easy, but it’s really just about not letting the guy next to you down and that that’s pretty powerful. That’s how we’ve handled it.”
In addition to all the changes off the field, there have been some major changes for the Blue Devils as well with one of those being head coach David Cutcliffe taking the reins of offensive play calling. Although always involved with the offense, Cutcliffe will spend more time on that side of the ball in 2020.
“Well, first of all, I love having him out there and he’s always been around and active on offense,” Katrenick continued. “As an offense, we’re playing really fast. I think that’s a great thing coming off of a long break to get guys just playing fast. We want to think fast and slow at the same time. We’re just trying to get a little better each day. He’s really helped keep our focus pretty narrow and not get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s been great.”
Rumph II spoke with media regarding the 2017 defensive class that he came into Duke with.
“Most of our class, our 2017 class, we came in together on an official visit. We bonded really well and we’ve always had that great relationship. With all of us being seniors and older guys with experience in playing, the communications and trust is there. It’s just fun. Seeing everybody when we came in a freshmen, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, and now we’re nearing the end of our journey. We’re trying to go out with a bang and we’re going to do it together.”
Rumph II has seen action in every game so far in his Duke career (25) and owns 72 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four pass breakups and 13 quarterback pressures. The Gainesville, Fla., product has 16 games with 2+ tackles, including a career-high eight stops against Miami in 2019. He recorded 2.0+ tackles for loss five times with a career-best 4.0 coming at Georgia Tech in 2018 and at Middle Tennessee in 2019. The 4.0 tackles for loss matched the Duke single-game freshman record (2018) and rank him tied for seventh on the program’s overall single-game TFL chart (2x).
Rumph II earned 6.5 sacks in 2019 to tie with Phillip Alexander (2003) for ninth all-time on Duke’s single-season charts. He heads into his redshirt junior season riding a 20-game tackle streak, dating back to Oct. 13, 2018.
“We expect to be the best defense linemen, not only in the ACC but in the country,” Rumph II said. “Coach [Ben] Albert talks about that every day and we push each other. We make sure we get better each and every day. When we do come out here and get a little better every day, we’re going to be the one to top defensive lines in the country when the season comes. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”
Rumph II has generated an abundance of hype entering the 2020 season. Earlier in the summer, ESPN.com ranked him as the No. 2 returning edge defender in the country. He was selected to the Athlon Sports Walter Camp Football Foundation Preseason All-America teams. Although the recognition is appreciated, Rumph II said it is not for him.
“That’s more accolades,” Rumph II said. “I enjoy it but that’s more for my mom, my dad, people back home who help me get here. I’m here for a purpose and that’s to win a championship and go out on top with my brothers. That’s what I’m focused on. When I tell you I don’t pay attention, I do not pay attention to any of that stuff. You can ask my mom and my dad. I hate it because at the end day, I know I can be so much better than I am and potential is wasted if you don’t take advantage of it. I try to tell my teammates and myself that.”
The Blue Devils’ amended 2020 football schedule has them scheduled to kick off their season on the road at Notre Dame on Sept. 12.