Miami Hurricanes Prepare for Duke Elite QB Daniel Jones
After facing Toledo’s Logan Woodside, the 2016 Football Bowl Subdivision leader in passing touchdowns, the Miami Hurricanes prepare for another one of the nation’s elite quarterbacks when they travel to Duke Friday night to go against the Blue Devils Daniel Jones.
The Miami Hurricanes trip to Durham, North Carolina is their first since their improbable victory there two years ago. Miami followed that up with a 40-21 victory last season.
Duke Sophomore quarterback Daniel Jones became the starter last season when starter Thomas Sirk was lost for the season with an Achilles injury. Although the Blue Devils stumbled to 8-5 in 2014, they have started 4-0 this season.
Jones earned second-team All-ACC Freshman team from Athlon last season. He completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,836 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions a season ago. He also ran for 486 yards and seven touchdowns.
Jones averages have dipped a bit this season, but the Blue Devils season has been far more successful. Through four games Jones has completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 904 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Jones is slightly ahead of his rushing numbers from a season ago. Through four games Jones has run for 143 yards and three touchdowns. His yards per carry has increased from 3.4 YPC to 4.3. Sacks are included in rushing yards for a quarterback in college football.
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Jones is being tutored at quarterback from one of the best in college football. Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe was the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Tennessee when Peyton Manning was there.
He left Tennessee to become the Head Coach at Mississippi. Cutcliffe coached the Rebels for seven seasons. Four of those were with Eli Manning. He also led the Tennessee offense in a National Championship season and tutored Heath Shuler to being a top-five NFL Draft selection.
Jones worked with Peyton Manning this offseason. That work has seemed to pay off. In Duke’s 41-17 upset victory over Northwestern earlier this month, Jones threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 108 and two touchdowns.
He is one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the country. In an ACC Coastal Division with many new quarterbacks Jones provided Duke with stability entering the season.
As a redshirt Sophomore, Jones is eligible for the NFL Draft next spring. ACCSports.Com speculated about what Jones’ decision could be after the season. The article lauded Jones as the best quarterback in the ACC not named Lamar Jackson.
He was compared to former North Carolina and current Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Cutcliffe called Jones the fastest quarterback he’s ever coached. At 6’5 215 he has perfect size for an NFL quarterback.
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Jones size speed and athleticism make him difficult to defend. The Hurricanes defense will have their hands full on Friday night. Miami’s defense is going to have to penetrate the line of scrimmage. The Hurricanes have 16 tackles for loss and five sacks in their first two games.