Duke adds defensive end from Colorado

Duke made an addition to its football recruiting class Tuesday, returning to a school where it had earlier success to fill a hole the day before national signing day.

Michael Mann, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound defensive end from Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Valor Christian High School, committed to become the 18th member of Duke's class.

He is a teammate of Max McCaffrey, a receiver and longtime Duke commitment. The two helped Valor Christian go 14-0 and win Colorado's Class 4-A title for the third consecutive season under coach Brent Vieselmeyer.

"They actually live next door to each other," Vieselmeyer said with a laugh. "It's a little scary."

Mann, McCaffrey and all other players who previously announced commitments can sign binding national letters-of-intent starting today.

Mann had committed to Arizona State but re-opened his recruiting after coach Dennis Erickson was fired. He also considered UCLA and Colorado State. He will help make up for last week's loss of Terrell Jackson, a defensive tackle from Columbus, Ohio, who withdrew his commitment to Duke.

Mann was a fulltime starter the past two seasons and started much of his sophomore season.

He had 49 tackles, 11 tackles for losses, four sacks and two interceptions as a senior, and SuperPrep magazine ranked him as the No. 48 senior in the Midlands, an eight-state area.

He has 4.8-second speed over 40 yards.

"His speed would be the first and foremost quality," Vieselmeyer said. "I think his ability to rush the passer is phenomenal. He'll be better in college than he was in high school because he played against so many run-oriented teams."

Duke also could land Jela Duncan, a 5-10, 200-pound running back from Charlotte's Mallard Creek High, and Keilin Rayner, a 6-3, 238-pound linebacker from North Brunswick High.

Duncan also was considering Wake Forest and East Carolina, and Rayner was looking at ECU.

Elsewhere, Wake Forest expects to sign about 20 players today, North Carolina has 22 commitments and N.C. State has 23.

Wake Forest could bring in its largest class since signing 23 players in 2009. There was an emphasis on linemen, and three offensive linemen (Tyler Hayworth, Will Smith and Joel Suggs) and three defensive linemen (Taylor Harris, Shelldon Lewinson and Josh Banks) have committed.

The Deacons also recruited two left-handed quarterbacks, Tyler Cameron of Jupiter, Fla., and Steve Donatell of Highlands Ranch (Colo.) High. Cameron is enrolled at Wake Forest and will participate in spring practices.

Wake Forest has only three running backs on scholarship — Josh Harris, Orville Reynolds and Deandre Martin — which makes Joshua Wilhite, a 5-7, 187-pound running back from Sugar Land, Texas, one of the most critical recruits in the class.

North Carolina and N.C. State could add at least one player each today.

North Carolina is hoping to land receiver Quinshad Davis (6-3, 180) of Gaffney, S.C., who also is considering Wake Forest and Tennessee, and receiver Davonte Neal (5-10, 175) of Scottsdale, Ariz., who also is considering Arizona, Arkansas, Notre Dame and Ohio State.

N.C. State is waiting on a decision from linebacker Jamal Marcus (6-2, 225) of Durham Hillside, who also is considering Florida, Ohio State and East Carolina.

North Carolina and N.C. State haven't fared well in keeping the state's top players at home. Barring changes, 14 of the state's top 20 seniors in SuperPrep's rankings will play outside the state.

Last year, 11 of the state's top 20 seniors chose out-of-state programs.

N.C. State does have one top-10 senior, as defensive lineman K'Hadree Hooker (6-3, 290) of South Lenoir High is ranked No. 5 by SuperPrep. North Carolina has none of the top 10.

N.C. State has commitments from five of the state's top 30 players in the SuperPrep rankings.

North Carolina has commitments from six of the top 35, including No. 18 J.J. Patterson, a 6-4, 310-pound offensive lineman from Roanoke Rapids High.