Devils best fit for tight end

Panther Creek High senior Dan Beilinson last year narrowed his list of college football programs to Duke, N.C. State and Wake Forest.

A three-star tight end prospect according to Scout.com and other recruiting analysts, he considered each school for its academics, coaching staff and style of play before committing to Duke.

Wednesday, he plans to sign a binding national letter of intent to play for the Blue Devils.

With offers to attend schools that have participated in recent bowls, including Vanderbilt, Beilinson chose a program that hasn't been to a bowl since 1994. The Blue Devils, who finished 1-7 in the ACC last fall, have struggled with back-to-back 3-9 seasons.

"I've been watching them in the past, and I just see the difference in mentality," said Beilinson, who considers Duke a rising program under fifth-year coach David Cutcliffe.

Beilinson, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound Cary native, is one of 10 three-star recruits, as rated by ESPN.com, who are expected to sign with the Blue Devils. He's one of the highest regarded in-state recruits to commit to them.

Much of the state's football talent, including Millbrook's top-ranked running back Keith Marshall, who is headed to Georgia, has chosen play for out-of-state schools. But Beilinson, a three-year starter for the Catamounts, wanted to be closer to his own bed. On recruiting visits, he listened to players complain about being homesick and, to his surprise, missing their parents.

Duke offered convenience.

"I just figured it's 30 minutes away from my house," Beilinson said. "It really doesn't get more comfortable than that. You're far enough, but definitely close enough."

Duke also offered the style of passing football he enjoys. He attended home games last season and envisioned himself catching touchdown passes in the spread offense.

Beilinson said the Blue Devils hooked him with their formations deploying two or three tight ends.

"That really intrigued me," he said. "They really use tight ends like I would like to be used."

Duke also offered academics in line with Beilinson's requirements. He plans to study biomedical engineering in one of the nation's top programs in that field. Cutcliffe, who has brought in 25 in-state recruits since arriving on campus, has set recruiting the state as a priority in building the program. Last year's recruiting class featured five in-state prospects, whereas the Blue Devils are expected to sign just three this year.

Duke expects to add about 17 recruits who have committed, according to Scout.com. Over the past three seasons, the Blue Devils have concentrated on building depth at running back and on the offensive and defensive lines.

This season, with just one running back on its projected recruit list, the Blue Devils continue to pursue defensive talent, particularly on the defensive line and in the secondary. The Blue Devils recently added Ohio State transfer Jeremy Cash to the roster. The 6-2, 190-pound defensive back played five games with the Buckeyes as a true freshman.

Scouting services list kicker Ross Martin, a 5-8, 185-pound native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, as Duke's top prospect. The Walsh Jesuit High player joins a team losing senior All-American kicker Will Snyderwine to graduation.

Duke was the second school after N.C. State to offer Beilinson a scholarship.

"From Duke's prospective, to land this kid in their offense, I think he'll emerge as a prototype tight end," said Jamie Newberg, an ESPN recruiting analyst who covers the Southeast.

"He's a kid with great size. ... He can stretch the defense. He's got great hands."

Newberg said Duke has recruited the state hard, though its pool of available talent is smaller because of academic standards. Still, he said, with Beilinson and other in-state commitments such as Shelby High's Carlos Wray (defensive end) and South Mecklenburg High's Casey Blaser (offensive tackle), "They have some good athletes headed their way."

Beilinson, of course, agreed. He believes the Blue Devils have the young talent to win.

"I can see it next year already," he said. "And hopefully we'll work our way up where we'll be one of the top teams in the nation."