Duncan still sorting things out
Because he wants to focus on the playoffs, running back Jela Duncan of Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek won't take any more visits until his team's season is over.
After that, he'll be hitting the road often.
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"I've got an official set up for Duke after the season," said Duncan, who rushed for more than 200 yards in a Mallard Creek playoff win Friday night. "And I'll probably go to East Carolina."
According to Duncan, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest also could be getting officials. The Demon Deacons have offered; the Commodores have not. Utah, which recently offered the 5-feet-10, 190-pound Duncan, might be another program to watch.
Duke, the first school to pull the trigger, has pursued him the strongest, Duncan said. Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe even attended one of his games.
"I like them a lot," Duncan said. "I like the coaches and Coach Cutcliffe. He's a really great guy. I'm strongly considering Duke."
Duncan also speaks highly of East Carolina and Wake Forest.
"I like the ECU coaches," Duncan said. "I talk to [running backs coach Clay McGuire] like every other week. They seem like they're in desperate need of a running back. I'm real serious about Wake Forest also. I might go there after the season."
According to Duncan, an offer from Vanderbilt could be on the way.
"They started recruiting me like two months ago," Duncan said. "I've been keeping in contact with the coaches. They tell me they need running backs. They seem like they are serious. It would be a good visit to take."
Duncan has only mild interest in Utah at this stage.
"They could get in the mix," he said. "They've just got to push a little bit harder. They're all the way on the other side of the United States."
For now, Duncan is keeping his options open. He insisted there is no front-runner.
"I don't have a leader right now," Duncan said. "I just want to take more visits, sit down and talk to my coaches, then talk it over with my family."
Keith Niebuhr can be reached at kneebs01@aol.com. You can follow him on Twitter @KeithRIVALS.