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Radloff Adjusts To New Number As Duke Continues Practice
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke returned to the field on Tuesday for its second practice of the season, and sophomore defensive end Ryan Radloff is quickly adjusting to his new jersey number. Prior to the season, the Hilton Head Island, S.C., native changed from number 50 to 55.
"My pops wore 55 throughout his college years and into the pros," Radloff said. "I want to be half the player he was so I figured this might give me a little mental edge. I admire everything he ever did in football. He was a good leader at Georgia and in the pros and I'm hoping to follow in his footsteps."
Wayne Radloff starred for the Bulldogs from 1979-82, earning four varsity letters while leading Georgia to a four-year ledger of 39-8. He was a member of three SEC championship teams and started on the offensive line as a sophomore when Georgia went 12-0 and captured the national title. As a senior, the elder Radloff served as team captain and received first team All-SEC honors before embarking on an NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons (1985-88) and San Francisco 49ers (1989-91).
"Coach Roof and I were freshmen at Georgia Tech when Wayne was a senior at Georgia," said Duke assistant head coach Glenn Spencer, a former defensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets who fell, 38-18, to the then number one-ranked Bulldogs on November 27, 1982 in Athens. "I remember them running with Herschel Walker behind a veteran offensive line. I'm sure we butted heads our first season and he probably got the best of me."
"(My dad) knows about the jersey switch," Ryan Radloff stated. "He said he is honored, and I'm very proud to wear the number to keep it in the family."
Following off-season surgery, Radloff worked himself into shape during the summer months in preparation for the 2007 season.
"I've been training hard," he said. "I had back surgery and I've come back from that. Everything is full go and it doesn't hurt at all. I've been working with Coach Combs and Coach Falcone to get things together and that is paying off now. I feel ready to go."
Duke's defensive front has a youthful appearance with sophomores like Radloff, Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk in the trenches, but that lack of experience doesn't bother them.
"We've got some big shoes to fill with Eli (Nichols) and Casey (Camero) gone," said Radloff. "Vince is leading us, and we're beginning to step up and get things done. Now is our time."
"My pops wore 55 throughout his college years and into the pros," Radloff said. "I want to be half the player he was so I figured this might give me a little mental edge. I admire everything he ever did in football. He was a good leader at Georgia and in the pros and I'm hoping to follow in his footsteps."
Wayne Radloff starred for the Bulldogs from 1979-82, earning four varsity letters while leading Georgia to a four-year ledger of 39-8. He was a member of three SEC championship teams and started on the offensive line as a sophomore when Georgia went 12-0 and captured the national title. As a senior, the elder Radloff served as team captain and received first team All-SEC honors before embarking on an NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons (1985-88) and San Francisco 49ers (1989-91).
"Coach Roof and I were freshmen at Georgia Tech when Wayne was a senior at Georgia," said Duke assistant head coach Glenn Spencer, a former defensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets who fell, 38-18, to the then number one-ranked Bulldogs on November 27, 1982 in Athens. "I remember them running with Herschel Walker behind a veteran offensive line. I'm sure we butted heads our first season and he probably got the best of me."
"(My dad) knows about the jersey switch," Ryan Radloff stated. "He said he is honored, and I'm very proud to wear the number to keep it in the family."
Following off-season surgery, Radloff worked himself into shape during the summer months in preparation for the 2007 season.
"I've been training hard," he said. "I had back surgery and I've come back from that. Everything is full go and it doesn't hurt at all. I've been working with Coach Combs and Coach Falcone to get things together and that is paying off now. I feel ready to go."
Duke's defensive front has a youthful appearance with sophomores like Radloff, Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk in the trenches, but that lack of experience doesn't bother them.
"We've got some big shoes to fill with Eli (Nichols) and Casey (Camero) gone," said Radloff. "Vince is leading us, and we're beginning to step up and get things done. Now is our time."
