bstrickland@heraldsun.com; 419-6671
DURHAM -- Matt Lubick, the son of longtime Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick, has been hired to coach Duke's wide receivers and to take on the role of recruiting coordinator.
Lubick, who spent the past three seasons as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at Arizona State, replaces Scottie Montgomery as wide receivers coach after he left earlier in the month for the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Lubick also will spell running backs and special teams coach Zac Roper as recruiting coordinator and will carry the title of passing game coordinator.
"I am extremely excited about the opportunity I have been given to coach at Duke," Lubick said in a statement released by the school. "Duke is a special place with great people. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it as a member of Coach Cutcliffe's staff."
Lubick coached safeties for the Sun Devils, but before that he coached wide receivers from 2001-04 at Colorado State, where his father was head coach from 1993-2007. He then coached the receivers at Ole Miss in 2005-06.
On the recruiting front, Lubick is credited with signing linebacker Vontaze Burfict, the highest-rated prospect in Arizona State football history, as well as former Ole Miss standout Dexter McClusker, who in 2009 became the first player in SEC history to amass 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season.
"We couldn't be more thrilled with Matt joining the Duke football family," Coach David Cutcliffe said. "Number one, he is a good man from an outstanding football family. I've known his father a long time, and Sonny Lubick's sensational track record in this business speaks for itself.
"Matt has proven that he is one of the top young coaches and certainly one of the top recruiters in the country. His knowledge and work ethic will pay dividends for us offensively, especially with our passing schemes. We know him to be a tireless worker and feel he will be an outstanding addition to our program."
Lubick has big shoes to fill. Montgomery, one of the top receivers in Duke history, was the only holdover from former Duke coach Ted Roof's staff when Cutcliffe took over two years ago. This past season, he helped the Blue Devils produce three receivers with 50 catches for the first time in school history.
"I hate to lose him, and I really appreciate his contributions to the program," Cutcliffe said. "He has a great love for Duke. It was his first coaching job; it's the only place he's ever been.
"He didn't pursue that. The Steelers pursued him. I respect him for following a dream."
NFL Combine convenes
Former Duke quarterback Thad Lewis and defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase hope to put their best foot forward and kick-start their draft status at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week.
Both will go through four days of intense scrutiny with every NFL team watching. Lewis will report on Thursday with the other quarterbacks; Oghobaase will report with the defensive linemen on Friday.
Two UNC and two N.C. State players have been invited to participate as well: defensive end E.J. Wilson and offensive tackle Kyle Jolly for the Tar Heels, and defensive end Willie Young and center Ted Larsen for the Wolfpack.
"I'm looking forward to showing scouts that I am worthy of being drafted," Oghobaase said. "I have been working hard the last month in workouts so that I can prove I am healthy and my body is in good shape.
"Hopefully, everything will fall into place on draft day."
Currently, Oghobaase looks to be a solid bet to be selected toward the back half of the seven-round draft, while Lewis may be drafted or may have to go the free-agent route.
The combine, however, can make or break a prospect.
"I'm looking forward to it," Lewis said. "I'm thankful for this chance, and now it's time to make the most of the opportunity."
Manning mending
Cutcliffe said he had a lengthy phone conversation with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning after his team's loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl.
"I had a long talk with him, probably a good solid hour," Cutcliffe said. "I think it was probably therapy for both of us -- I was frustrated for him. He certainly is a competitor, and it's a tough thing to go through."
Cutcliffe said he hopes Manning, who played quarterback at Tennessee when Cutcliffe was the Vols' offensive coordinator, will take some time for himself in the offseason.
"I hope he's able to rest a little bit; he doesn't stop much," Cutcliffe said. "The last 30 minutes of the conversation were about offseason and next year."
