[ESPN] Penn State tailback Curtis Dukes will finish out this season, but he’s considering leaving afterward because of limited playing time, his high school coach told ESPN.
“We talked just 10 minutes ago, and he’s still weighing his options,” Indian River (N.Y.) coach Cory Marsell said. “There’s a chance he can get his degree soon and then figure out what options he has.”
Those options include staying with Penn State, transferring to another college or declaring for the NFL draft. Marsell believed the redshirt junior’s size — 6-foot-1, 245 pounds — could translate well to the next level.
Dukes, who has just 69 career carries, first told the Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times he was unhappy with his playing time.
“I still don’t know my decision to stay next year or declare for the NFL draft,” he told the Daily Times. “I’m really just taking it one day at a time.”
Four schools approached Dukes before this season, but the tailback opted to remain in Happy Valley.
“He thought if he showed them loyalty, he would get the same thing,” Marsell said. “Just me knowing Curtis, for him to get where he’s gotten, it’s been because of hard work. I know he’s going to work hard for them.
“Maybe there are some difficulties for him understanding some of the schemes but, even with that, he could have a package set where he gets some time.”
“I’ve been in this game for too long, and I feel like I deserve more of a shot, to have more playing time and get more exposure,” Dukes told the Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times.
His departure would leave just three contributing running backs for next season: Bill Belton,Akeel Lynch and Zach Zwinak. However, the Nittany Lions also seem intent on adding a tailback to their 2013 recruiting class.
Herbstreet and I have been talking about the Dukes situation almost every game. Guys continued to go down with injuries and it seemed like everyone was wondering ‘Where is Dukes’. He seemed to show a lot of potential last year spelling Silas Redd but has been non-existant this year. My guess is missing spring practice really, really hurt him in B.O.B.’s complicated offense. I like Dukes. If you watch him on special teams he’s a monster. Northwestern was blocking him with two to three guys every time. For him, I hope he gets his opportunity and shines. I would love to hear some Duuuuukes chants in these last few home games.
