Duke quarterback Sean Renfree is about to begin his fifth season in Durham and his third as the starter under center for coach David Cutcliffe. Renfree has started 23 games for the Blue Devils.
Renfree arrived at Duke as a highly touted recruit. He was a Parade All-American coming out of Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2008. Renfree enters this season as Duke’s all-time leader in completion percentage (63.4), and he is looking to become the first Blue Devil to pass for more than 2,500 yards in a season for three consecutive years.
Here is a look at how Renfree’s final season at Duke could play out:
Why he’ll flourish: Renfree has a lot of playing experience, and he knows Cutcliffe’s offense inside and out. There shouldn’t be anything an opposing defense throws at Renfree that he has not seen before. Wide receiver Conner Vernon returns for his senior season after back-to-back seasons with at least 956 receiving yards, and he will be Renfree’s go-to receiver. There is also plenty of experience retuning along the offensive line, good news considering Duke allowed just 18 sacks last year.
Why he’ll struggle: Renfree has not taken good care of the football. He has thrown 30 interceptions in his career, compared to 32 touchdowns. The Blue Devils don’t have much proven depth at wide receiver, and the running game has not been a big help. Duke ranked No. 115 in rushing offense (94.1 yards per game) in 2011. The schedule also won’t do Renfree any favors this year. The Blue Devils play Stanford in the nonconference and have to face Virginia Tech, Florida State, and Clemson in ACC play.
NFL outlook: Renfree is a prototypical drop-back passer. At 6-5, 225 pounds, he has ideal size and arm strength. He also has been tutored by Cutcliffe, who was instrumental in the development of both Peyton and Eli Manning. NFLDraftScout.com ranks Renfree the No. 17 quarterback in this year’s class and projects him to go on the third day of the draft.
Projected 2012 stat line: 2,700 passing yards, 66-percent completion rate, 18 touchdowns, 10 interceptions.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.
