[GoRU]

North Country Sports Net

Indian River football standout Curtis Dukes is fast becoming a well-recruited Division I football prospect, as he closes out his junior year at the Philadelphia, NY school. Dukes’ modest numbers for the Section X Warriors last season have not obscured his growing on-field presence and talent that one Penn State recruiter called “a best kept secret” and “a valuable commodity.”

Indian River Coach Cory Marsell and Athletic Director Ralph “Sandy” Overton are excited about Dukes’ Division I possibilities. Dukes has received interest letters from no less than 15 Division I schools. At the top of the list – and the most persistent to court Dukes – is Penn State, Home of the Nittany Lions and legendary longtime coach Joe Paterno. Penn State recruiters have made at least three visits to Indian River to meet with Dukes.

Curtis has also received interest from Syracuse, Pitt, Connecticut, Maryland, Villanova, Notre Dame, and University of Buffalo, along with others. The Warriors’ running back and defensive end has caught the attention of recruiters because of a growing work ethic, improving not only his physical abilities and endurance, but his scholastic standing as well.

“Curtis great kid and has really stepped up has stepped up his work ethic both on and off the field,” said both Marsell and Overton. “He comes in on his days off during the offseason and continues to demonstrate his commitment and work ethic in the weight room.”

And the effort is paying off big time, with Dukes having bulked up from his 6'1", 200-pound personal stats last year to 6'2" and 230 pounds now. In addition to his size, weight and strength, Dukes also runs track-and-field. The fact he can streak a 100-yard dash in 10.8 seconds has also caught the attention of college recruiters.

Dukes was also invited to Penn State football camp on June 20th to 22nd where college staff got a better look at his talents and work ethic. He also got a look at the school that appears to be his top choice for college in the fall of 2009. Coach Marsell says he expects to make some adjustments to better utilize and showcase Dukes’ talents this fall in his senior year.

“We’ll experiment some, perhaps more “I” formation, running off tackle and giving Curtis the ball a bit more than last year. It will also depend some on the score. We’re not out to embarrass teams and Curtis understands that. We might also move him out to outside linebacker to give him more time on defense.” And said Marsell, “Curtis’ intensity on the field picks up the other Warriors in the game. He helps keep everyone focused.”

How is Dukes taking all of the attention? “He seems to take it all in stride, said Overton. “He’s staying grounded and working hard in school and on the field. He’s a great kid and knows he had a big opportunity.”