Duke picked up a quarterback commitment yesterday from an unheralded signal caller
Thomas Sirk (Glen St. Mary, Fla./Baker County). Sirk, 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, loved the opportunity that Duke presents academically and to be coached by one of the top quarterback teachers in college football."I committed to Duke yesterday morning after practice," Sirk said. "The education and coaches are just great. To work with Coach Cut [David Cutcliffe] would be great. His resume as a quarterback coach is outstanding. He has coached guys like Peyton and Eli [Manning]. The school really impressed me with how things are set up. The entire staff took me under their wing. I like their facilities and everything about Duke is so nice."Sirk believes Duke is close to big things. The Blue Devils are a young and talented team that has a chance to sneak up on teams in the future."Duke went 3-9 last season but I know things are changing with Coach Cut," Sirk said. "They are building new indoor facilities and they are bringing in better and better recruiting classes. Duke has committed some guys from my area that I know are good. We will be a competitor for the ACC championship and eventually be a competitor for the national championship."Sirk wowed the Duke staff with his recent camp performance in Durham. Last season as a junior his primary position was receiver. He also played safety and a little quarterback."This will be my first full season at quarterback," Sirk said. "For Duke to take a shot on me, that's impressive. I did have a really good camp. There were 40 QBs there. I competed hard, threw well and in the end, we all ran a race and I won. I will bring arm strength and athletic ability to Duke. I can throw on the run and I think I read the field pretty well, too."Iowa State and Southern Miss also had offered Sirk.