GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Duke linebackers vs. Miami’s playmakers. The Blue Devils are always concerned about the speed that Miami brings to games and that issue could be heightened this time. Duke’s linebacking corps is banged up, with LB Joe Giles-Harris still going strong but he’s trying to break in LB Xander Gagnon and LB Brandon Hill as they fill in for LB Ben Humphreys. Hill made some impressive plays against Pittsburgh, but consistency was a problem. The Blue Devils count on the middle of the defense as being a strength, and if that area is exploited than trouble often lurks.
DRAFT SLANT
–LB Joe Giles-Harris is one most acclaimed defenders in recent Duke history. His ability to get to ball carriers is impressive and he’ll be looking to build on a season in which he gained national recognition in 2017. “We know what he can do,” coach David Cutcliffe said. “He can be real physical.” Eight games into the 2018 regular season, Giles-Harris holds a career average of 9.12 tackles per game.
ROSTER REPORT
–WR Anthony Young has missed the past two games after a one-game return from an injury. He has played in just two games this season.
–LB Ben Humphreys didn’t play at Pittsburgh and hasn’t returned to full practice, so the senior captain might not be in line for a role in Saturday night’s game at Miami.
–WR Johnathan Lloyd posted a personal-best 136 receiving yards at Pittsburgh, so he became the 37th player in school history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards. He’s a senior.
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