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DURHAM -- Duke coach David Cutcliffe had said several times that his Blue Devils were beat up by last Saturday's loss at North Carolina, but he didn't offer specifics.
Thursday's injury report offered some potentially sobering specifics for Duke fans.
Defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase was listed as doubtful with a leg injury for Saturday's showdown against No. 7 Georgia Tech (noon, ESPN2), and multiple key contributors were listed as questionable.
Linebacker Vincent Rey, the team's leading tackler, and starting left guard Mitchell Lederman are the latest additions to the questionable list. Kicker Will Snyderwine -- who missed the UNC with a strained quad -- and linebacker Abraham Kromah, who has missed the last four games with a leg injury, also are questionable.
Nearly all of Duke's passing game was listed as probable -- quarterback Thad Lewis and wide receivers Donovan Varner, Conner Vernon and Johnny Williams -- along with linebacker Damian Thornton.
Rookies no more
Kromah, when healthy, is one of six defenders that are regular starters for the first time in their collegiate careers this season.
"I'm real pleased with what those guys have done," Cutcliffe said.
Kromah (and now Adam Banks in his absence) and Thornton are new starters at linebacker; Matt Daniels and Chris Rwabukamba are new starters in the secondary; and Charlie Hatcher and Patrick Egboh are new starters on the defensive front.
While Duke will lose talented starters at the other five spots to graduation, the good news is that all of the first-year starters are either juniors or seniors."
Banks, who could start his fifth consecutive game in place of Kromah, has been named a team captain for Saturday's game. The other captains are safety Catron Gainey -- who ranks second on the team with 63 tackles -- special teams standout Jordon Byas and running back Re'quan Boyette.
"Adam Banks has really stepped in," Cutcliffe said. "He's done extremely well."
Drew impresses
True freshman defensive lineman John Drew isn't currently a starter, but there's little doubt that he will be in the future.
Drew, a 315-pounder, has 21 tackles this season. This is a special week for Drew, who originally committed to Georgia Tech.
"He's playing at a pretty high level right now," Cutcliffe said. "He's a playmaker. He's got a lot of strength and quickness, and he uses his hands real well. He has a nose for being around the ball.
"He's a guy that's going to make a lot of plays in his career."
Gattis getting 'em ready
For the second time this season, true freshman Corey Gattis out of Hillside is playing a key role in helping Duke's defense prepare for an option-oriented offense.
Gattis is listed as a wide receiver on the roster, but he's serving as the scout-team quarterback this week for Georgia Tech, just like he did earlier this season for the Army game.
"He looks good over there," Cutcliffe said. "(Freshman quarterback) Sean Schroeder still does some of the work, but Corey is the guy that pulls the trigger with the option.
"He's done a nice job with it all week long."
Gattis, who is redshirting this season, played primarily at quarterback for Hillside.
