Mike Elko shares how Duke can help freshman Grayson Loftis settle in at QB

Duke has turned to true freshman quarterback Grayson Loftis on the road against in-state rival North Carolina. It’s a move resulting mainly because of an injury to starter Riley Leonard, and one that head coach Mike Elko knows is better done slowly.

But the Blue Devils don’t have that luxury. And after falling behind early against North Carolina — Duke trailed, 13-0, early in the second quarter — Elko talked with ACC Network sideline reporter Taylor Tannenbaum about how Loftis can get settled in.

“I think every series he’ll calm down a little bit. Made a nice throw there. Thought he had another one on the third down, we got a little pressure. We’ve just gotta settle him, try to keep finding easy, rhythm throws. We gotta keep establishing the run. We gotta make a big stand here on defense,” Elko said shortly before North Carolina kicked the field goal to take a 13-0 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Loftis started to look a bit sharper after beginning the game 1-of-4 passing for 10 yards.

The Blue Devils scratched out some points to make the score 13-7, with Loftis starting to complete at a high rate and capping it with a passing touchdown. He went 3-of-3 on the drive for 38 yards. It capped off a 70 yard scoring drive following less than 40 yards combined on Duke’s first two drives.

Duke is likely to be without Leonard for a while

Leonard will reportedly miss significant time due to an injury he sustained against Louisville. Late last week, ESPN’s Pete Thamel provided additional details.

“Riley Leonard will miss an ‘extended period of time’ with a left toe injury suffered late in the game against Louisville,” Thamel wrote on Twitter. “Freshman Grayson Loftis will get his first career start tonight against Wake Forest.

“A definitive timetable on Leonard’s potential return from this injury has yet to be determined, per sources. It’s a *different* injury than the right ankle injury he suffered against Notre Dame that kept him out of the NC State game.”

Leonard struggled in Duke’s 23-0 loss to Louisville in late October. In the defeat, Leonard only completed 9-of-his-23 pass attempts for 121 yards while throwing an interception. He also recorded 10 carries for a mere 13 yards, averaging 1.3 yards per rush.

Leonard missed time earlier this season after sustaining an ankle injury in the closing moments of Duke’s Week 6 loss to Notre Dame. He seemingly re-aggravated this injury in the second half of Duke’s 38-20 loss to Florida State in Week 8.