Duplessis reflects on MVP performance
BATON ROUGE, La. – One of the top position groups at the LSU Nike Camp last weekend was the running back group. Among those in attendance were Rivals100 back Kendrick Hardy and four-stars Hasan Lipscomb and Matt Coffee. However, the player that took home the running back MVP award was New Orleans (La.) O.P. Walker back Tyrone Duplessis.
At only a shade above 5-foot-6, Duplessis does not have the prototypical size of an elite running back but he has all the other qualities you want. He proved against some of the areas best players that he was a name to be reckoned with.
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"I think it went pretty well," Duplessis said of the camp. "They were showing us some new techniques and I learned it quick. Once I learned it, I used it on the linebackers to my advantage."
Asked why he felt he was able to win the MVP award, Duplessis had a simple answer.
"I worked harder than the rest of them."
On the football field, Duplessis runs with a lot of power and strength. Despite his height, he is very strong and physical and is able take a hit use his low center of gravity to his advantage. Duplessis credits another factor to his on-field success.
"I have speed, agility and power but mostly it's my vision," he explained. "When lineman are blocking, the vision takes over after that."
That combination of skills helped Duplessis lead his team to the 5A state semifinals and also helped him rush for over 2,100 yards. In 2008, Duplessis is hoping to surpass the 2,800 yard mark.
On the recruiting front, the running back has no offers to date but is hearing from some major programs.
"I've been talking to LSU Coach Porter, Coach Knox from Auburn, Coach Shoop from North Carolina and some others," he said. "I'll be looking at the academic programs and mostly how they do on the field, their weight room programs, study habits, tutors and stuff like that."