The Blue Devils weren't scurrying late in the recruiting process. Instead, coach David Cutcliffe said that it was more a matter of protecting the commitments secured months earlier.

He said that's a sign of the program's improving image. Nineteen of the 20 players signed for the 2011 recruiting class were players who made verbal commitments by the end of the summer.

"They've been pulled and tugged at," Cutcliffe said. "They stood firm."

Now, the Blue Devils lost four players who made verbal commitments at some point. But none of the defections were surprises by February. And further, Cutcliffe said, it's a sign that Duke is recruiting the types of players that other programs want as well.

Duke might not need as much immediate help for the 2011 season as some other years given the development of past recruiting classes. And the 2011 has an unusual factor as well because Duke doesn't include a quarterback or a running back.

"I know people find that unusual," Cutcliffe said. "... The theme on offense was up front. We knew on offense we had to have a tremendous year up front."

Cutcliffe hopes that many of the newcomers don't have to be put in key situations right way. There should be enough players on board during spring workouts to develop a solid depth chart without waiting for true freshmen to fill gaps upon their arrivals in the summer.

TOP OF THE CLASS

TE David Reeves ( Greensboro Public West, Greensboro, Ala.) -- He was the No. 1 tight end prospect out of Alabama by some recruiting services and he was the lone signee who wasn't an early commitment to Duke. His size at 245 is automatically something that could be a major asset.

LB Kyler Brown (Charlotte Christian, Matthews, N.C.) -- He's considered a hybrid type of player and that might make him a fit at safety if there's a logjam at linebacker. The coaching staff is encouraged by seeing his brother, Kelby Brown, make an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2010 as a Duke linebacker.

P Will Monday (Flowery Branch, Flowery Branch, Ga.) -- He's arriving as a punter and it's possible that he could compete for that starting role right away. That will be his area of concentration, though he could also evolve into contending for some of the place-kicking duties as well.

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