David Cutcliffe and quality college quarterbacks have been synonymous regardless of Cutcliffe's locale.
As Tennessee's offensive coordinator, Cutcliffe helped develop Peyton Manning into the top overall selection in the 1998 draft. As the head coach at Ole Miss, he helped mold Eli Manning into the No. 1 pick of the 2004 draft, but Cutcliffe's most amazing work may have been with Daniel Jones at Duke.
Unrated as a college prospect in the 2015 signing class, Jones grew under Cutcliffe's guidance and became the sixth overall pick this past April.
"I've always thought that he is one of the best quarterback coaches in the country," Alabama coach Nick Saban said Monday in a news conference. "Obviously, his track record has proven that. He has that reputation, so I think a lot of players are interested in playing for him. He does a fabulous job of developing those players, but their system and scheme of offense is so well-conceived, and that gives players at all positions the chance to be able to be successful.
"Their quarterbacks have the consistency that everybody looks for, because their system allows them to make quick decisions and get the ball out of their hands."
Cutcliffe is 67-72 entering his 12th season at Duke, having gone 15-33 his first four seasons and 52-39 since, with his 2013 Blue Devils reaching the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
Saban's Crimson Tide and Cutcliffe's Blue Devils will vie Saturday afternoon at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. Alabama is a 35-point favorite due to its advantages in size, strength, speed and quarterback experience.
While Alabama returns Heisman Trophy runner-up Tua Tagovailoa, Duke is expected to challenge the Tide with Quentin Harris, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound fifth-year senior from Wilton, Connecticut. Harris has played 300 career snaps in 23 career contests for the Blue Devils, completing 41 of 81 passes (50.6%) for 510 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception.
In two starts for an injured Jones last season, Harris led Duke to wins over Baylor (40-27) and North Carolina Central (55-13).
"They have a lot of guys who know that system well," Alabama junior safety Xavier McKinney said. "They've got some new faces, but they're still guys who have been there."
Alabama's defense Saturday will have the familiar faces of McKinney, Dylan Moses and Raekwon Davis, but scheduled to get his first start at inside linebacker alongside Moses is true freshman Christian Harris. The 6-2, 244-pound Harris ascended to a first-team role when fifth-year senior Joshua McMillon suffered a season-ending knee injury during the first scrimmage.
"After two scrimmages, we felt like he was the guy who gave us the best chance long-term to develop at that position," Saban said, "but there is still competition at that position."
Holding on
Tagovailoa also is serving as the holder for kicks, and he treated that status like a high school senior who had just announced his commitment to a school.
"It was really hard getting this job, and I'd like to thank everyone who's been supporting me throughout this whole process," a smiling Tagovailoa said in a news conference.
Tide tidbits
Freshman defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe (foot) is questionable for Saturday's game. ... The Crimson Tide practiced indoors Monday in preparation for the trip to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. ... Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua's younger brother, is listed as the third-team quarterback ahead of fellow true freshman Paul Tyson. ... Alabama's first-team defensive front entering the opener will consist of junior LaBryan Ray and freshman DJ Dale in addition to Davis. ... Saban on openers: "I can sit and speculate 100 different ways as to where our team is, but you never know where your team is in all areas until you actually go out and play."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.