Training Camp Q&A with second year Rutgers Football Wide Receiver KJ Duff
Rutgers Football training camp is in full swing and recently second year wide receiver KJ Duff had a chance to speak with the media after practice.
Here’s a look at what Duff had to say about his second year with the program, his offseason improvements and the expectations for the wide receiver room.
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Q: How has the first week of camp been?
DUFF: “It was good. Good opening week and we are all just excited to get out there and get to work. So we are just looking forward to every day and getting better.
Q: You played a lot last year and even started some games as a true freshman. What did you realize that you have to work on for this season?
DUFF: “I’d say the biggest thing I worked on in the offseason was just understanding the game, letting it slow down for me, and whether that be with the coaches, Athan and the rest of the receivers just building out relationship and really that connection on and off the field. I think that would help a lot this season.”
Q: What do you think will be different about you this season on the field?
DUFF: “I always say, it’s just experience. Even from the beginning season to the end of last year, I feel like I’m a whole different person. So having that experience under my belt, I’m just excited for this season.”
Q: What do you think about the room and the different guys that can do different things?
DUFF: “It’s a very dynamic room, but you know, we just go out there and work every day, bringing the young guys along with us. So I’m just excited for this season, and getting ready to play.
Q: Ian Strong was at Big Ten Media Days recently and he was talking about the relationship between you two, both St. Anthony’s guys. What would you say about your guys’ relationship?
DUFF: “It goes back to high school, like you kind of mentioned. It started from him driving me to school everyday and now here we live in the same apartment, so we are just always around each other, whether we’re working or we’re just chilling and hanging out.”
Q: How much is coach (John) McNulty helped you guys this offseason?
DUFF: “There’s a lot of change in the offseason, but yeah, we love working with him. You know I always say whenever I’m talking with coach (Dave) Brock and coach McNulty too, I just always always take away something from it, even if it’s little nugget.”
Q: Is there anything to working with Athan (Kaliakmanis) for a whole year, being around him more, building a chemistry, and does that actually help see more results on the field knowing how he throws routes, he likes to run things like that?
DUFF: “Definitely. I think the offseason is a big thing for us, just getting together and throwing every day, talking, and even just the off field connection. We are just hanging out and becoming better overall and closer off the field. So I think that’s the huge part of it.”
Q: Speaking of the offseason, you guys added a veterans to the room in DT Sheffield. What’s he brought to the group?
DUFF: “You see he’s fast, so it’s been fun working with him. We were helping to get him acclimated through the spring and just excited to finish training camp with him and go through the season.”
Q: You were really coming on towards the end of the year in the passing game. Do you see a carrying over from last year?
DUFF: “Like I said, just, everyone playing throughout the year last season and the experience is a big part. So I definitely look forward to the season and hope to see is carry over.”
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