Walk-On's Independence Bowl Q&A: Jack Wohlabaugh

DURHAM, N.C. – With the Duke football team set to depart for the Independence Bowl on Saturday, redshirt sophomore center Jack Wohlabaugh spoke with GoDuke.com about the trip to Louisiana and his inaugural season in Durham.

After spending his first two college campaigns at Ohio State, Wohlabaugh chose to join Duke, where he appeared in all 12 of the Blue Devils' regular season games with eight starts, including the final five of the year.

GoDuke.com: How has your first season at Duke gone in your mind and what has that transition been like?
JW: “My first season at Duke has been great. The transition was made really easy by the guys in the locker room and the coaches. It has been a really enjoyable experience going through the season and being able to start the majority of the season. With the other guys on the line, it's been a great experience.”

GoDuke.com: You grew up in Ohio and spent the first two years of your college career in Columbus. How are you enjoying life in Durham so far?
JW: “Coming from a big city and school in Columbus, it's a big change to Duke, with a lower amount of students here. It's definitely a different environment with the teachers in the classroom and the city itself. But it has definitely been enjoyable.”

GoDuke.com: What emotions surround your first bowl experience at Duke?
JW: “It's my first bowl as a starter, so I want to win. Even if I wasn't a starter, I would want to win. It's exciting going down there for about a week and being able to practice in Louisiana and not having to worry about school, or homework, or anything like that. Just focusing on football, kind of being a professional and focusing on the game.”

GoDuke.com: How do you feel the offensive line has developed from the beginning of the season?
JW: “I think we've developed greatly throughout the season. We had our struggles in the beginning. Every game you could see us taking steps of improvement and I think we've showed a lot of our depth with people going down injured. We lost [Jaylen Miller] and Zach Harmon for a little bit and we're rotating guys throughout the game. I think that proves a lot, how many of us can play. We're going to continue to improve.”

GoDuke.com: What is your relationship with Daniel Jones like and how has it evolved from your arrival at Duke?
JW: “It's grown a lot throughout the course of the year. Being the center, you have to have that relationship with the quarterback. When I first got here, it was nothing, because it was my first time here. As I'm playing throughout the year, we've become friends. We mess around in the locker room. He messes around with other linemen. He's a great guy, so our relationship has grown pretty well.”

GoDuke.com: What do these pre-bowl practices mean for the team heading into next season?
JW: “Making a bowl game is super important to the overall improvement of your team. That's 15 extra practices the teams that don't make a bowl game don't get. Especially for the younger guys, during bowl season they get a chance to get more reps in practice to get better. Bowl season is definitely a serious time for your team to improve and get these young guys going to start getting looks for next year.”

GoDuke.com: What are you looking forward to most about the experience of the Walk-On's Independence Bowl?
JW: “I've never been there. Football has brought me a bunch of opportunities to go places I haven't been. Especially this year, being in the ACC. I'm looking forward to that and testing out the food there, their culture, all of that. That's probably what I'm most excited for.”

GoDuke.com: This is not exactly your typical holiday experience. What is a favorite holiday memory you have with your family?
JW: “I think my favorite holiday memory, especially Christmastime, was just being home. I didn't want to leave my home. Throughout all of Christmas Day, I didn't want to go to any family member's house. I always wanted them to come to my house. That's way different from now, because I'm not even home. I miss my family at home but being with the guys here really fills in that void and being able to hang out with them. After the bowl, I'll go home and celebrate Christmas. I'm lucky enough for them to wait for me. It's really different, but I'm not missing out on much right now with these guys.”

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