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ASU Good Move: After injuries, McDuffie shifts to nickel safety and starts for
Robert Franklin Photo
Dominique McDuffie has an interception and nine tackles this year.
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Published: November 6, 2009
Dominique McDuffie is back, for the most part.
McDuffie, who was out with a knee injury most of last season after winning a starting cornerback job as a freshman, has made his way back into Appalachian State's starting lineup this year after moving to nickel safety.
A broken pinky finger suffered in last Saturday's game at Furman could sideline him this Saturday against his hometown Chattanooga Mocs, but it's only a temporary setback on what has turned out to be a successful road to recovery for McDuffie.
"He's played well," Coach Jerry Moore said. "He's a very physical football player, and we need that. He's the real deal. He's the kind of guy that makes the tackles on that second level where it's like a linebacker hitting you."
McDuffie (6-2, 200) was recruited by the Mountaineers with the nickel position in mind. He played free safety, basically the same position, at Red Bank High School in Chattanooga.
He considered staying home and playing for Chattanooga, or not too far from home at Tennessee Tech, but he noticed the Mountaineers' run of three straight national titles and was interested in ASU's graphic-arts program.
McDuffie wound up at cornerback, filling a void and adding size there. He played in the first three games last year before being lost for the season with a torn anterior-cruciate ligament in his right knee.
McDuffie was able to count last season as a redshirt year, but a sore hamstring and another knee problem -- he wore a knee brace until August -- hampered his progress in the preseason.
He didn't find his way back into the starting lineup until two weeks ago, against Georgia Southern and at nickel.
"He was very tentative during two-a -days," Moore said of preseason workouts. "Until you really get a lick on that knee and then you get up on it and believe it's OK, it weighs on you sometimes. That's what happened with him. He's moving around well now, and he has confidence in himself now."
McDuffie got his first interception for the Mountaineers last Saturday in a 52-27 win over Furman. He has nine total tackles, one forced fumble and 1.5 tackles for loss in three games this season.
McDuffie said that moving to nickel after preparing to play cornerback last season wasn't a problem.
"Corner was a harder transition because of one-on-one coverage and you're on the edge of things," McDuffie said. "The nickel/free safety spot, you're in the middle and can see most of the field."
McDuffie doesn't downplay his return to the starting lineup for the past two games.
"Personally, it's a huge deal," he said. "Playing is fun. Last year I got a taste of it, and I wanted to be back in there."
He might have to wait another week to get back in after a finger got caught in an opponent's helmet last Saturday, but he might play Saturday against the Mocs.
"Hopefully, but I don't know for certain," McDuffie said.
If not, it should be a short-lived setback this time.
"Dominique is a tremendous athlete," Moore said. "When we recruited him, we thought he was real special and still do. He's coming along. He still has things to learn, but he's going to be a terrific football player."
tbowman@wsjournal.com.
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