SE: K-State Senior Duke Shelley Embracing Bigger Role in Wildcat Secondary
Apr 20, 2018 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Duke Shelley wants to be seen and heard in his senior season for K-State. So far this spring, the veteran cornerback is definitely being noticed.
"He's coming over and telling Coach (Andre) Coleman and Coach (Collin) Klein, 'Listen, y'all aren't throwing my way or running way.' He lets them know, and that's what I love about Duke," K-State senior right tackle Dalton Risner said. "At that position, that's what you need, and Duke Shelley has really come into his own. He's a heck of a player. I wouldn't want to throw over at him, either."
When Shelley has been thrown at this spring, he's made it his mission not to allow the completion. At least, that's what it has looked like to redshirt junior receiver Dalton Schoen.
"He just kind of has this personal mindset that he's not going to let anyone catch anything on him," Schoen said of Shelley, who ranked fourth in the Big 12 last season with 13 passes defended. "He just takes that into every single play, every single practice, and I think that's definitely been helping him."
K-State head coach Bill Snyder said Shelley is having the "best spring" of his career. Snyder added that he "still has room at the top," a call for more from the Georgia product.
Shelley, a three-year starter, has embraced a more front-and-center role for the K-State defense. He talks more, and not just to the offense's players and coaches. He's aware that, as a senior with 30 starts under his belt, players are looking to him for leadership. He's had no problem providing it, either.
"He's come (out of) his shell as a leader," Risner said.
This change in roles comes partly from the departure of All-America D.J. Reed, who played two seasons opposite Shelley in the secondary before declaring for the NFL Draft after last season.
It was not a difficult transition for Shelley. Quite frankly, he said it took him a while to realize that his role had really changed.
"Being that I've played so much, being that I have that experience, and then off the field, seeing how I work and seeing how I attack situations and attack every day, they definitely look at you in a leadership role. Before you know it, you're in a role without even knowing it," he said. "You have guys looking at you and evaluating how you handle yourself and how you carry yourself, and you see those guys kind of take that from you. So you know you have to be on your toes at all times and lead those guys, but it's not been a problem for me."
Shelley spent countless hours watching film with Reed the past two years, a tradition he plans to carry on with all of K-State's defensive backs. It's one of the off-the-field habits Shelley picked up from his former counterpart in the secondary, another being how he takes care of his body.
"(He was) always in the training room, always trying to work hard to get himself in the best shape to play," Shelley said. "Off the field, in your spare time, you always have to take care of your body because you're playing in the Big 12 and you're playing week in and week out. You have to be healthy."
The natural sense of urgency that comes with being a senior has also factored into Shelley's role transition. The word "last" has come into his mind much more often, sparking a desire to finish off on a high note in everything he does.
"It went by so quick. I remember being a freshman and getting my first start against TCU," Shelley said, as he'll play in his last Purple/White Spring Game on Saturday. "Now I'm a senior in my last spring and it's my last (spring) practice and everything I do now is the last one. You try to end on a positive note and just work hard and hope everything pays off for you.
"You always want to end on a positive note, finishing well. I have played for so long. I just want to come out, put my best foot forward my last year and show the nation and the world what I can do, whether that's on special teams or at cornerback, whether that's leading my team and leading those defensive backs, whatever it is, wherever I fit in, I'm just trying to put my best foot forward."
Duke Shelley wants to be seen and heard in his senior season for K-State. So far this spring, the veteran cornerback is definitely being noticed.
"He's coming over and telling Coach (Andre) Coleman and Coach (Collin) Klein, 'Listen, y'all aren't throwing my way or running way.' He lets them know, and that's what I love about Duke," K-State senior right tackle Dalton Risner said. "At that position, that's what you need, and Duke Shelley has really come into his own. He's a heck of a player. I wouldn't want to throw over at him, either."
When Shelley has been thrown at this spring, he's made it his mission not to allow the completion. At least, that's what it has looked like to redshirt junior receiver Dalton Schoen.
"He just kind of has this personal mindset that he's not going to let anyone catch anything on him," Schoen said of Shelley, who ranked fourth in the Big 12 last season with 13 passes defended. "He just takes that into every single play, every single practice, and I think that's definitely been helping him."
K-State head coach Bill Snyder said Shelley is having the "best spring" of his career. Snyder added that he "still has room at the top," a call for more from the Georgia product.
Shelley, a three-year starter, has embraced a more front-and-center role for the K-State defense. He talks more, and not just to the offense's players and coaches. He's aware that, as a senior with 30 starts under his belt, players are looking to him for leadership. He's had no problem providing it, either.
"He's come (out of) his shell as a leader," Risner said.
This change in roles comes partly from the departure of All-America D.J. Reed, who played two seasons opposite Shelley in the secondary before declaring for the NFL Draft after last season.
It was not a difficult transition for Shelley. Quite frankly, he said it took him a while to realize that his role had really changed.
"Being that I've played so much, being that I have that experience, and then off the field, seeing how I work and seeing how I attack situations and attack every day, they definitely look at you in a leadership role. Before you know it, you're in a role without even knowing it," he said. "You have guys looking at you and evaluating how you handle yourself and how you carry yourself, and you see those guys kind of take that from you. So you know you have to be on your toes at all times and lead those guys, but it's not been a problem for me."
Shelley spent countless hours watching film with Reed the past two years, a tradition he plans to carry on with all of K-State's defensive backs. It's one of the off-the-field habits Shelley picked up from his former counterpart in the secondary, another being how he takes care of his body.
"(He was) always in the training room, always trying to work hard to get himself in the best shape to play," Shelley said. "Off the field, in your spare time, you always have to take care of your body because you're playing in the Big 12 and you're playing week in and week out. You have to be healthy."
The natural sense of urgency that comes with being a senior has also factored into Shelley's role transition. The word "last" has come into his mind much more often, sparking a desire to finish off on a high note in everything he does.
"It went by so quick. I remember being a freshman and getting my first start against TCU," Shelley said, as he'll play in his last Purple/White Spring Game on Saturday. "Now I'm a senior in my last spring and it's my last (spring) practice and everything I do now is the last one. You try to end on a positive note and just work hard and hope everything pays off for you.
"You always want to end on a positive note, finishing well. I have played for so long. I just want to come out, put my best foot forward my last year and show the nation and the world what I can do, whether that's on special teams or at cornerback, whether that's leading my team and leading those defensive backs, whatever it is, wherever I fit in, I'm just trying to put my best foot forward."
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