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It’s never easy to follow up a quarterback who had great success at a program. It’s even harder when that quarterback is Anthony Boone with the Duke Blue Devils, who left the school as the winningest quarterback in Blue Devil history. But that’s the challenge awaiting Thomas Sirk, and it’s a challenge that he is ready to take on.
Boone’s legacy at Duke is going to be a tough act to follow. In the last two seasons as the starter, Boone racked up 4,960 yards passing, 589 yards rushing and 42 total touchdowns. More importantly, he led the Blue Devils to their first Coastal Division title and 10-win season in program history in 2013 as he racked up 19 wins as a starter, more than any other quarterback in school history. When he graduated after last season, he left as part of the class that turned Duke from ACC cellar-dweller to legitimate contender.
And now Sirk will step into the void left by Boone’s absence in 2015. But he won’t be completely green when he leads the Blue Devils this fall. Last season, Sirk would often come in and spell Boone when Duke was in short-yardage situations (much like Boone did his first two years for Sean Renfree). Last season, he rushed for 238 yards, averaging 5.06 yards per carry, and scored eight rushing touchdowns. He only attempted 14 passes, completing 10 for 67 yards and three touchdowns, but head coach David Cutcliffe has expressed confidence that Sirk will be able to run the offense from the pocket just as well as when he tucks the ball and runs.
That experience with the offense in real game situations, though limited, has given Sirk the confidence to step up and take on a leadership role for this team in 2015. Will he be able to continue the strong upward trend of the Duke football program this fall?
You can follow Tyler Brett on Twitter @ATylerBrett, on Facebook and on Google.
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