College Sports
Email
Print
Duke's Rey emerging as defensive star
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: October 2, 2008
DURHAM
Duke's Vincent Rey is sure that he has a long way to go before he becomes a complete linebacker.
Many offensive players who have knocked heads with him this season would argue that he's already there.
Rey, a junior, is one of two tackling machines among Duke's linebackers, along with Michael Tauiliili. Rey has helped fortify what was once one of the ACC's weakest defenses and is among the chief reasons why Duke is 3-1 and one of the biggest surprises in college football.
"I like the contact," Rey said of playing linebacker. "I like the pressure that there is on the linebackers because those are the guys who are sort of leaders of the defense.
"I like the pressure that's put on me. I feel that I can handle that."
Rey is fairly easy to spot on any given play. Find the ball, and chances are he's there. He led Duke in tackles last season, supplanting Tauiliili, who held that distinction the previous two seasons.
Tauiliili and Rey are the ACC's top two tacklers this season. Rey averages 9.5 tackles; Tauiliili averages 11.5. Rey leads the ACC with 27 solo tackles and is No. 2 in the conference with 6.5 tackles for losses.
To hear Rey explain it, the credit for his success should go to another unit.
"It starts with the (defensive) line," Rey said. "If not for those guys, we can't really do anything. From there, conditioning really helps. I know it helps me and Mike. If you're not conditioned, you're not going to be as focused as you should be."
Rey (6-0, 240) broke into the starting lineup last season, had 17 tackles in his debut against Connecticut and finished the season with 111 tackles. He learned on the go but considers the 12 games he played essential to his development for this season.
"I think I'm a lot more calm when I'm on the field this year," Rey said. "I'm starting to understand the game better. I have to become a better tackler. I have to study more.
"Every week I've got to become a better football player and a better linebacker."
Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis sees a difference in Rey every day. When the first-team offense goes against the first-team defense, Lewis finds it harder to fool Rey, who he considers a defensive playmaker.
"He's very explosive; you never know what to expect out of Vinnie Rey," Lewis said. "The guy can do it all. One thing he did this year is a great job of dropping back into coverage. Before I could look Vinnie Rey off and kind of confuse him a little bit, but now he plays assignment football and knows what to do."
Coach David Cutcliffe appreciates both of his hard-hitting linebackers but sometimes worries about Rey. Cutcliffe has learned since spring practice that Rey is willing to give up everything to stop the other team.
"I think this is a talent: he has the ability to play every play as hard as you can play," Cutcliffe said. "He empties the bucket every day in practice. At the end of the game, Vinnie doesn't have much left.
"I worry about overtime with Vinnie because he gives you everything that he's got. That's why he's a junior captain. There's a reason his teammates voted him a captain. He's a special, special player."
Rey seldom comes out of a game for rest. He would have it no other way. And he isn't stunned that Duke has quickly reversed its fortunes in its first season under Cutcliffe.
"I really bought into what Coach told us, that we really get out what we put in," Rey said. "We work extremely hard. We've pushed ourselves as a team.
"We're building a program. You're going to win some, and you're going to lose some. I'm happy, but I'm not shocked at all at what we've done."
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
N.C. Politics
Federal Politics
See community events or add your own! Click here!
Advertisement
