Jela Duncan Injury a Serious Blow to Duke RB Corps

As the Duke Blue Devils look to maintain their recent run of success, they are looking for new leaders to step up and take the reins. With fall camp ramping up, the Blue Devils have been hit hard with injuries. The latest, running back Jela Duncan, might just be a devastating blow tok the Duke backfield.

Duncan was working his way back into the running back rotation after missing the entire 2014 season due to an academic suspension. In his first two seasons with the team, he showed flashes of solid productivity, rushing for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns while catching 32 passes for 212 yards and a score. He looked to be stepping into a larger role for 2015 before partially tearing his right pectoral muscle this week in practice, sidelining him indefinitely.

This injury caps a rough stretch for Duke running backs with sophomores Joseph Ajeigbe and Shaun Wilson have “lower body injuries” and have been held out of contact drills. Wilson was the second-leading returning rusher on the team this fall, rushing for 598 yards and five touchdowns, averaging an impressive 7.67 yards per carry. That leaves returning starter Shaquille Powell as the only experienced scholarship back available in fall camp.

When Duncan was projected to return to the roster this fall, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe had to be feeling confident about the depth at running back he would have for 2015. But with Jela Duncan indefinitely sidelined and two other running backs nursing injuries, can the Blue Devil rushing attack find their footing this fall?

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