Duke defeated Lafayette in a rain-soaked atmosphere at Wallace Wade Stadium. The Blue Devils were able to get into their depth chart during this game. Here are the players who earned helmet stickers for week 2.
BRIAN’S PICK: JORDAN WATERS
I have a feeling this could very well be the first of many helmet stickers I give to the running back room this season, but Jordan Waters had himself a DAY against Lafayette. For the first time in his Duke career, Jordan ran over the 100 yard mark, rushing for a total of 112 yards. To add to it, Waters averaged 10 yards per carry and hit the end zone twice. He had a performance any running back in the nation would envy.
For the year so far, Jordan already has 175 rushing yards, with 3 rushing touchdowns. (Glad I picked him to lead the team in rushing touchdowns.) To put things in perspective, Jordan only needs 392 rushing yards in the remaing 10 games of the season to beat his rushing total from the 2022 season. I said it before the season started, and I will say it again, the running back room is one of the most secure rooms on this team. Being able to see Jordan Waters be the power back we know him to be is nothing but validation.
JAMIE’S PICK: HENRY BELIN IV
This week my helmet sticker is staying in that QB room. It’s just going to a different QB. My helmet sticker this week goes to Henry Belin IV. In some significant action in the second half, Henry showed poise, control of the offense, and pin-point accuracy, all while playing in a very hard rain. Coach Johns showed confidence in Henry, opening up the offense in the heavy rain, and Henry showed why that confidence is warranted. He was 8-8 for 118 yards and 1 touchdown, and he added 2 carries for 7 yards and another touchdown.
Just a little over a year ago, we didn’t even know who our starting QB would be, and the QB room as a whole was a perceived weakness. That has all changed now. The QB room is now a very strong room, and Henry Belin is a big part of why that’s changed. For his outstanding performance in the second half, my helmet sticker goes to Henry Belin.
JOSH’S PICK: JOSHUA PICKETT
This was admittedly a tough choice. Myles Jones picked off a pass earlier in this game that would warrant a helmet sticker on any other Saturday. But our guy Joshua Pickett not only recorded his first ever interception, but he did so in perfect fashion.
Pickett read the play immediately. The Lafayette QB stared down the receiver, and Pickett simply held his inside position and waited for the ball to be thrown. Pickett tracked the ball early, and pulled in the interception as the rain poured. I am sure this was a special moment for Joshua. I am also sure that Duke fans who have been around the program are just happy to see our secondary finding the football early. But this week’s well-earned helmet sticker goes to Joshua Pickett.
SCOTT’S PICK: THE OFFENSIVE LINE
Another tough choice on who to pick this week. My helmet sticker for the Lafayette game will be the Offensive Line. Graham Barton, Jacob Monk, Scott Elliott, Maurice McIntyre, Jake Hornibrook, and Justin Pickett along with all of the reserves have done a great job in the first 2 games of the season. They are also a huge part to Duke being 2-0. Duke had 45 rushes for 261 yards and 4 rushing TD’s, and Riley Leonard and Henry Belin IV went 20-20 with 254 yards and 2 passing TD’s against Lafayette. Duke has 75 rushes for 460 yards and 7 rushing TD’s on the season. One of my favorite stats so far this season is the Blue Devils have given up 0 sacks to Clemson and Lafayette. To me one of the biggest keys for the season was for the offensive line to stay healthy (which they have so far except for a sprained elbow for Justin Pickett), keep the jersey of the QB clean, and make way for the ground and pound offense especially in the 4th quarter with big leads to seal the deal. It was also nice to be able to get some of the younger guys game experience against the Leopards.