How Does Duke Replace Jack Wohlabaugh?

Next men up for the Blue Devils

With two-year starter Jack Wohlabaugh lost for the season, due to ankle surgery, Duke will need to find the next man up at center.

“Will Taylor will start at center,” coach David Cutcliffe said.

The redshirt sophomore came to Duke as a three-star recruit. After sitting out the 2017 season, he played in three games last year, getting a total of 30 snaps. He’s played in another three games this season, with 28 snaps.

Next up on the depth chart would be Zach Baker, who started last season at the position, before he went down to injury and was replaced by Wohlabaugh.

“Zach’s getting work,” Cutcliffe said. “Will’s much more down the road than Zach, because of the amount of spring reps. Zach was starting at guard for the most of this (season), and then Zach’s been out (with an injury) and hasn’t practiced a good bit. We had him back last week, but we will have both of them available to play.”

And after Taylor and Baker?

“The next guy would be Liam Smith,” Cutcliffe said.

Smith was a four-star recruit at tackle in 2016. He redshirted that season, then got nine snaps in one game in 2017 and 10 snaps in two games last year. He switched to center this offseason and hasn’t seen the field yet.

In the meantime, Cutcliffe took time to comfort Wohlabaugh after his surgery.

“I told him last night, I’m thankful every day that you became part of this group,” he said. “He told me—and he meant it—he said he felt the same way. It’s been tough emotionally.”