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Monday, August 14
Devils have plenty left to do

By Gregg Doyel
Special to ESPN.com

Duke Blue Devils
1999 record: 3-8 (3-5 ACC)
Coach: Carl Franks
Returning starters: 9 (6 offense, 3 defense)

Outlook
Franks, the former Duke player and longtime assistant to Florida coach Steve Spurrier, brought Spurrier's aerial attack last year to Durham -- where the athletes aren't the same caliber. Or even close. The talent discrepancy was made worse this offseason by the transfers of the program's two most talented offensive players, receiver Richmond Flowers to Tennessee-Chattanooga and tight end Ben Watson to Georgia.

Senior quarterback Spencer Romine returns after throwing for 1,638 yards, including 404 in one game, but he is coming back from offseason rotator-cuff surgery. Junior B.J. Hill, the program's leading rusher with more than 1,000 yards over the last two seasons, has made a slow comeback from reconstructive knee surgery and might be redshirted. Even if he plays, a move to safety is likely.

Defense is a major concern, since the program's best defender in years, tackle Chris Combs, is gone to the NFL from a unit that -- with him -- still finished 103rd nationally at 422.3 yards allowed per game.

Keep an eye on ...
Two 6-foot-4 true freshman receivers will get every opportunity to contribute immediately, and both could play basketball as well. One is Jeremy Battier, the younger brother of Duke basketball All-American Shane Battier. The other is Reggie Love, considered a better prospect in both sports, though a move to tight end could happen down the road since Watson is gone and Love already weighs 225 pounds.

It's a good season if ...
Duke can top last season's victory total. Getting to three is realistic, with non-conference games against Vanderbilt and Northwestern and an ACC meeting with Wake Forest. Getting a fourth victory would require an upset along the lines of last season's overtime shocker at Virginia.

Gregg Doyel covers the ACC for the Charlotte Observer

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