Upcoming Event: Men's Tennis versus #19 University of Southern California on May 1, 2026 at 2 p.m.
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2 p.m.
Men's Tennis
vs #19 University of Southern California
Tomko: Running Like a Devil
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DURHAM, N.C. - Head coach David Cutcliffe and several players cooled down from the high temperatures outside by coming inside the Yoh Football Building to speak with the media on Tuesday afternoon.
Cutcliffe is pleased with what he has seen from both Re'quan Boyette and Jay Hollingsworth at the running back position early on in camp, as he envisions both having significant roles in the backfield for the Blue Devils this season.
"He [Boyette] has vision and makes cuts that most backs can't make," Cutcliffe said. "Re'quan, one of the first things I noticed about him when we were playing games, and he was over on the sidelines on crutches, I had never seen the kind of intensity he displayed [on the sideline]. Not only are we getting talent, we are getting competitiveness and fire. Re'quan lights it up on game day in that regard. He looks back full speed."
Boyette, who missed all of the 2008 season with an injury, will add a breakaway threat in the backfield that will compliment Hollingsworth's ability to run between the tackles and catch passes out of the backfield.
"Jay will play," Cutcliffe said. "Unless you are an unusual offense in a league where a guy doesn't take a beating, you are going to have to play both of them just about equally. You view Re'quan and Jay right now as our starters. They are both a little different. I love to watch Jay Hollingsworth attack people with the ball. He is a good receiver. He is a good pass protector. I said this the other day after our first practice one of the things that caught my eye the quickest was how much quicker Jay Hollingsworth was on the practice field than what he had been. It was a pleasure to watch him work."
Hollingsworth never anticipated playing as much as he did last year, but the injury to Boyette opened a door for Hollingsworth to walk on through.
"It really was a surprise to play that much," Hollingsworth said.
He was productive during his freshman year, racking up 399 yards on the ground and 188 receiving yards including two touchdowns, but the learning curve from high school football to college came at Hollingsworth quickly.
"No one is really ahead of the curve coming in," Hollingsworth said. "It is all rough. The biggest difference is pass protection coming in. That was really rough."
But Boyette was there to help the freshman through the tough times and is still playing a crucial role in his development as a football player.
"We are still close," Hollingsworth said. "We have a big brother program on the team. We started this last year. He was my big brother, and since he is still here he is still my big brother. We have a great bond. We are really close. It doesn't change anything that we do on or off the field, but we are still competing and getting after it trying to beat each other out."
Boyette has witnessed the maturation of Hollingsworth first hand.
"He has matured a lot," Boyette said. "He is definitely able to see a lot of things better as far as protection and understanding the scheme of the game, and he matured a lot as far as his body. He gained some weight and that will help him in between the tackles and being a great receiver out of the backfield. He is doing a great job."
As for Boyette, he feels physically ready for the season, and feels he has a greater mental edge going into this season.
"I am able to do everything I used to do, probably a little bit better," Boyette said. "The mental aspect of my game has developed a lot better. I am able to see a lot more reads and understand schemes and understanding what the offensive line is doing based on looks that they get. I think that will help us."
Boyette will see work in Saturday's scrimmage but just enough to continue honing his skills.
"I think I would say I am the new and improved Re'quan Boyette because coach says 'nothing and no one stays the same'," Boyette said. "I think the coaching staff and the strength and conditioning staff and the training room did a great job of getting my knee right and developing my body to give me the chance to be out their this year."
