Palma’s RB Eli Duke has offers so far from Cornell, Yale, Dartmouth and Davis. He’s on radar of several D1A programs and other Ivy league.
2027 offers
- Thread starter NorCalSportsFan
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He's taller and a little bigger as a soph than Emilio. Emilio was a little faster as a senior in the 100M (I think he was 11.06 and maybe broke 11) but by senior year Dukes may be about the same as he runs more track. As far a rushing both are downhill runners. Emilio was a slashing rusher and would get open space and jet. Dukes moves laterally (by a lot) at full speed and has an after burner. Emilio in high school ran better on one side of the field when he broke and Dukes does both well. Both it took several people to take down. Both are physically strong: Emilio benched around 300 lbs as senior and as soph Dukes I think is 250+ bench as but Dukes has crazy clean and jerk and both strong squat. I think Dukes was times at 4.64 in 40 laser and 4.21 in the shuttle and 31.9" in vertical jump at the Opening as a soph. He should have another big year with the line Palma will have and more experience at QB to open up the passing. His younger brother will also probably be up who is another athlete and a little bigger. He's also one to watch and probably will play both RB and WR. Not to take anything away from Emilio. I know him well. He is a close friend of my nephew. I think Emilio could have played at a stronger program in college. At the time Palma also had a stronger line with Dahlman and others but this year the line should be very good. Dukes is getting some interest by some large D1A programs and he has another year + to improve. At this stage as both sophs - Emilio was a little faster but he ran track more (Dukes runs track but missed some events). Emilio had little interest as a soph from college programs. Dukes may be stronger at this stage as well going into junior season.
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I wonder what the record is for all time rushing in norcal? Dukes as a frosh he had 168 carries for 1227 yards and 18 TDs rushing and last season as a soph 254 carriers, rushing yards 2034 and 17 TDs. He could easily get another 3000+ yards over the next two years if he is healthy for over 6,000 rushing yards in his high school career if he stays healthy.
Looks like he has a shot at all CCS
Top CCS all time rushing career is: from CalHiSports
6,214 – Trevor Bearden, Morgan Hill Live Oak, 2012-2014 (32)
Top Norcal:
8,029 – Edgar Segura, Mendota, 2011-2013 (37) - if you count Fresno county
7,948 – Najee Harris, Antioch, 2013-2016 (41) - NCS
7,761 – Dominique Dorsey, Tulare, 1998-2000 (36) - If you count Fresno County
All time career - 9,662 – Toby Gerhart, Norco, 2002-2005 (44)
Top CCS all time rushing career is: from CalHiSports
6,214 – Trevor Bearden, Morgan Hill Live Oak, 2012-2014 (32)
Top Norcal:
8,029 – Edgar Segura, Mendota, 2011-2013 (37) - if you count Fresno county
7,948 – Najee Harris, Antioch, 2013-2016 (41) - NCS
7,761 – Dominique Dorsey, Tulare, 1998-2000 (36) - If you count Fresno County
All time career - 9,662 – Toby Gerhart, Norco, 2002-2005 (44)
Dukes vision and change of direction is pretty impressive. He will make some insane cut backs look effortless. He also plays on defense in certain packages which I don't think Emilio did. The depth chart got a little lighter with Hernandez transferring to Salinas. It might be a little harder to reduce his work load like last year so I wouldn't be shocked to see him go for 2500+. 2000 is inevitable with a playoff push like the last 2 years.
Emilio had several more years of football experience than Dukes. He was a top RB in the Salinas area for youth football. Did Dukes even play football before high school?
Anthony Villegas needs some love for the recent Palma stud RBs. He played on teams with significantly less talent than Emilio and Dukes.
First time I saw Emilio play in youth league was for the Alvarez Titans youth league against the Salinas Colts. My brother was head coach of the Colts and my nephew was on the team as well as Drew Dalman. My brother told me to watch him play and said he was probably going to Palma. I was happy to know that. At Palma, Emilio played a little defense during the playoffs but was used sparingly mostly on pass defense. Emilio was very fast and probably could have played defense in college - he was really good.
Next season, Palma has good group of DBs and Safety. Most are back and I will be surprised if Eli plays defense but if I were coach I would. Dukes younger brother who is a little bigger will be up as a soph believe and also is really good. Most likely as a WR but could also rotate in at RB which he played on the frosh team and on defense as well. Younger brother also has good football speed but I think he would be a better WR next season. Palma's Full back is going to be a stud next season as well (they have a couple players). I think they will platoon at RB to rest Dukes with Sr David Garcia who rotated in last season and Sr Sam Strachan and those up from JV. Losing Jr Hernandez to Salinas High is big from a depth perspective. Hernandez isn't as fast as Dukes but he sees holes and has a little burst and is tough to tackles. He'll help Salinas out and Palma depth at RB is hit.
On a positive note is Palma QB Drischol has been working with former NFL QB David Fales for the last 1 1/2 years and gotten a little bigger. He will have improved and WR return a couple of really good WRs and underclass coming up (including Copper Dukes). Backup QB should be really good as well with jr Cruz Espinoza who has been working hard in off season. Not sure 6'8" Sr QB JT Herrald is playing this year after last season injury and whether he may focus on basketball. QB will have depth and TE they have people coming back who will be very good.
Defense should be really good especially LBs and DEs and DBs. Line should be better as well. They have lots coming back and lots of underclass that are pretty good. Coming back are two-way starters Jr. Kaden Colon, RT/DT (6-3, 275) and Sr. Job Barroso-Robles, LG/DT (6-0, 255) and Jr Luke Mahler and a couple others. Will be interesting if Jr Josiah Castaneda, T/NG (6-7, 325) will get in the mix this season as a starter on the line, I know he has been working hard in the off season. He's athletic for his size but need to get stronger (not weak but he could be a monster once he matures). I'm sure he will rotate in but not sure if he will start. Just not sure if this year is his big year or next. He's also got long arms and prototype college size. Line will be a little bigger than last season and lots of experience and have worked the weight room and should be stronger than last season. Overall the team will be better than last season, but need to stay healthy at RB.
Agree that Anthony Villegas deserves some love. Between Junior and senior years he transformed into a terror in the back field after being Rookie of the year. I think he could have played college as well like Emilio. Lots of great Palma RBs - I watched many starting in the mid 1970s. My year we had Randy Shade who played JC but was really good (we played North High when they had future NFLer Anthony Tony). I always thought Joey Wilrodt (I believe played at AZ), Luke Lippencott (Nevada Reno) , Michael Sparks (played on my brothers team); Robert Rossi (early 70s) and David Walker (class after mine and I played with who played at Cal), Brandon Oliveras, Jack Baird, were among the best RBs to come out of Palma at the position
I don't know if Palma will take league this year but they should be competitive. I think Soquel will be favorite, and Salinas will be in the mix and Palma will be better than last season.
Next season, Palma has good group of DBs and Safety. Most are back and I will be surprised if Eli plays defense but if I were coach I would. Dukes younger brother who is a little bigger will be up as a soph believe and also is really good. Most likely as a WR but could also rotate in at RB which he played on the frosh team and on defense as well. Younger brother also has good football speed but I think he would be a better WR next season. Palma's Full back is going to be a stud next season as well (they have a couple players). I think they will platoon at RB to rest Dukes with Sr David Garcia who rotated in last season and Sr Sam Strachan and those up from JV. Losing Jr Hernandez to Salinas High is big from a depth perspective. Hernandez isn't as fast as Dukes but he sees holes and has a little burst and is tough to tackles. He'll help Salinas out and Palma depth at RB is hit.
On a positive note is Palma QB Drischol has been working with former NFL QB David Fales for the last 1 1/2 years and gotten a little bigger. He will have improved and WR return a couple of really good WRs and underclass coming up (including Copper Dukes). Backup QB should be really good as well with jr Cruz Espinoza who has been working hard in off season. Not sure 6'8" Sr QB JT Herrald is playing this year after last season injury and whether he may focus on basketball. QB will have depth and TE they have people coming back who will be very good.
Defense should be really good especially LBs and DEs and DBs. Line should be better as well. They have lots coming back and lots of underclass that are pretty good. Coming back are two-way starters Jr. Kaden Colon, RT/DT (6-3, 275) and Sr. Job Barroso-Robles, LG/DT (6-0, 255) and Jr Luke Mahler and a couple others. Will be interesting if Jr Josiah Castaneda, T/NG (6-7, 325) will get in the mix this season as a starter on the line, I know he has been working hard in the off season. He's athletic for his size but need to get stronger (not weak but he could be a monster once he matures). I'm sure he will rotate in but not sure if he will start. Just not sure if this year is his big year or next. He's also got long arms and prototype college size. Line will be a little bigger than last season and lots of experience and have worked the weight room and should be stronger than last season. Overall the team will be better than last season, but need to stay healthy at RB.
Agree that Anthony Villegas deserves some love. Between Junior and senior years he transformed into a terror in the back field after being Rookie of the year. I think he could have played college as well like Emilio. Lots of great Palma RBs - I watched many starting in the mid 1970s. My year we had Randy Shade who played JC but was really good (we played North High when they had future NFLer Anthony Tony). I always thought Joey Wilrodt (I believe played at AZ), Luke Lippencott (Nevada Reno) , Michael Sparks (played on my brothers team); Robert Rossi (early 70s) and David Walker (class after mine and I played with who played at Cal), Brandon Oliveras, Jack Baird, were among the best RBs to come out of Palma at the position
I don't know if Palma will take league this year but they should be competitive. I think Soquel will be favorite, and Salinas will be in the mix and Palma will be better than last season.
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