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Aug. 7—GRAND FORKS — Eric Schmidt first got to know Darnell Duckett at the University of Washington.
Duckett, a recruiting analyst and player development coach, spent time playing the video game Madden with Schmidt's son, Truman. They'd also hang out after practices.
Schmidt started learning Duckett can connect with just about anyone.
"We would bring guys on campus and I would request Darnell to show the family around, just because he did such a good job relating to people," Schmidt said. "I don't care if you're from a small Midwest community or from the inner city in Los Angeles, he has a gift to be able to talk to people and make people feel important. I've always been driven to people like that. I think a huge piece of recruiting is making people feel comfortable and like they're valued."
When Schmidt was named head coach at UND in December 2024, he created a new position to oversee scouting and recruiting — and knew exactly who he wanted in that spot.
Schmidt first called Duckett just before Christmas. Duckett passed that time, but Schmidt circled back two months later and brought him to Grand Forks.
Duckett, UND's general manager and director of player personnel, is integral to the program's recruiting efforts.
"Everything you can think of within talent acquisition is under his umbrella," Schmidt said.
That includes scouting players, developing relationships, setting up official visits and building the roster through both high school recruiting and portal recruiting.
He scouts high school, junior college, NCAA Division III, Division II, FCS and FBS.
"He's understanding our roster and where we feel the holes are as you project things out," Schmidt said. "He's putting people in front of the coaches, 'Hey, these are the top five tight ends I think are in the portal, these are the top five kids in the Midwest.' He'll lay those kids on coach (Gordie) Haug's desk. Coach Haug will watch them. Then, they'll start their board and start to build their relationships."
Schmidt said the priority is high school recruiting, though.
"We understand our best way to be able to build our program and be able to acquire the best talent is through the high school level," Schmidt said. "The price tag on guys who are 21, 22, who have proven they can do it, is going to be a lot of money. Their market is really, really high.
"We feel if you do a good job on a 17- or 18-year-old, evaluate that kid properly, recruit him properly, get him into your building, those are the guys that have the right traits that we feel we can develop once they get here."
Schmidt said when he does Zoom calls with recruits, he will be on the call along with Duckett and the position coach.
"Darnell is heavily involved in everyone we acquire into our program," Schmidt said.
Duckett comes from a football family.
His uncle, Ronnie Crump, is a longtime coach at Potomac High School, located in suburban Washington, D.C. Crump coached Super Bowl champion Ronald Darby there.
Duckett played for his uncle as a senior, then earned a spot at Division-III Salisbury College in Maryland, where he played wide receiver. His senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the University of Maryland's head coach, Mike Locksley, offered Duckett an unpaid position helping with recruiting.
A year later, he ended up at Washington, where he learned from the program's general manager, Courtney Morgan.
Morgan was at Michigan before joining Washington.
In 2023, the two teams Morgan helped build played for the college football national championship.
Morgan is now the general manager at Alabama.
Duckett said one lesson he's learned is the importance of matching players' personalities to the head coach.
"Of course, people can run, catch and throw footballs all day," he said. "But they have to match the same energy the coach wants to bring to the program as well."
What does Schmidt want?
"He wants JYDs," Duckett said, referring to Schmidt's mantra of junkyard dogs. "He wants nasty guys that will eat off the floor when it comes down to it. If you break this table in half, who is going to pick up the food and eat? He wants guys that won't back down from a challenge, guys that are gritty and will get their hands dirty."
Duckett tries to pick that up by watching video.
"You can tell by how he plays," Duckett said. "Some play with swagger. Some play with aggression. But when they mix it all together, you can tell who a JYD is. It's an interesting trait that they must possess for us to go after them and recruit them."
Duckett typically spends his mornings at UND football practice.
"That's a big part of it, because you have to recruit and retain," he said.
Then he returns to his office and begins watching video. He usually does that until 4:30 or 5 p.m.
Duckett also helps the coaching staff decide where to make in-home visits.
"Do I go see the kid in Iowa?" Schmidt asked. "Is that more important? Or do I go see the kid in Dickinson this weekend?"
Duckett also organizes official visits.
He said the most vital part about visits is giving players and their parents a look at life on campus beyond football.
"Parents get to see who they're leaving their children with," Duckett said. "Sometimes, this is the first time that parents are letting their children go miles away without them being there. It's important to make sure they see their kids are going to be coached hard, they're going to be loved and they're going to be held to a certain standard."
The season will soon begin.
Duckett will be on the sidelines with a headset on, watching the team he helped construct go to work.
"The goal here is a national championship," Duckett said. "That's what we plan on doing."
Continue reading...
Duckett, a recruiting analyst and player development coach, spent time playing the video game Madden with Schmidt's son, Truman. They'd also hang out after practices.
Schmidt started learning Duckett can connect with just about anyone.
"We would bring guys on campus and I would request Darnell to show the family around, just because he did such a good job relating to people," Schmidt said. "I don't care if you're from a small Midwest community or from the inner city in Los Angeles, he has a gift to be able to talk to people and make people feel important. I've always been driven to people like that. I think a huge piece of recruiting is making people feel comfortable and like they're valued."
When Schmidt was named head coach at UND in December 2024, he created a new position to oversee scouting and recruiting — and knew exactly who he wanted in that spot.
Schmidt first called Duckett just before Christmas. Duckett passed that time, but Schmidt circled back two months later and brought him to Grand Forks.
Duckett, UND's general manager and director of player personnel, is integral to the program's recruiting efforts.
"Everything you can think of within talent acquisition is under his umbrella," Schmidt said.
That includes scouting players, developing relationships, setting up official visits and building the roster through both high school recruiting and portal recruiting.
He scouts high school, junior college, NCAA Division III, Division II, FCS and FBS.
"He's understanding our roster and where we feel the holes are as you project things out," Schmidt said. "He's putting people in front of the coaches, 'Hey, these are the top five tight ends I think are in the portal, these are the top five kids in the Midwest.' He'll lay those kids on coach (Gordie) Haug's desk. Coach Haug will watch them. Then, they'll start their board and start to build their relationships."
Schmidt said the priority is high school recruiting, though.
"We understand our best way to be able to build our program and be able to acquire the best talent is through the high school level," Schmidt said. "The price tag on guys who are 21, 22, who have proven they can do it, is going to be a lot of money. Their market is really, really high.
"We feel if you do a good job on a 17- or 18-year-old, evaluate that kid properly, recruit him properly, get him into your building, those are the guys that have the right traits that we feel we can develop once they get here."
Schmidt said when he does Zoom calls with recruits, he will be on the call along with Duckett and the position coach.
"Darnell is heavily involved in everyone we acquire into our program," Schmidt said.
Duckett comes from a football family.
His uncle, Ronnie Crump, is a longtime coach at Potomac High School, located in suburban Washington, D.C. Crump coached Super Bowl champion Ronald Darby there.
Duckett played for his uncle as a senior, then earned a spot at Division-III Salisbury College in Maryland, where he played wide receiver. His senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the University of Maryland's head coach, Mike Locksley, offered Duckett an unpaid position helping with recruiting.
A year later, he ended up at Washington, where he learned from the program's general manager, Courtney Morgan.
Morgan was at Michigan before joining Washington.
In 2023, the two teams Morgan helped build played for the college football national championship.
Morgan is now the general manager at Alabama.
Duckett said one lesson he's learned is the importance of matching players' personalities to the head coach.
"Of course, people can run, catch and throw footballs all day," he said. "But they have to match the same energy the coach wants to bring to the program as well."
What does Schmidt want?
"He wants JYDs," Duckett said, referring to Schmidt's mantra of junkyard dogs. "He wants nasty guys that will eat off the floor when it comes down to it. If you break this table in half, who is going to pick up the food and eat? He wants guys that won't back down from a challenge, guys that are gritty and will get their hands dirty."
Duckett tries to pick that up by watching video.
"You can tell by how he plays," Duckett said. "Some play with swagger. Some play with aggression. But when they mix it all together, you can tell who a JYD is. It's an interesting trait that they must possess for us to go after them and recruit them."
Duckett typically spends his mornings at UND football practice.
"That's a big part of it, because you have to recruit and retain," he said.
Then he returns to his office and begins watching video. He usually does that until 4:30 or 5 p.m.
Duckett also helps the coaching staff decide where to make in-home visits.
"Do I go see the kid in Iowa?" Schmidt asked. "Is that more important? Or do I go see the kid in Dickinson this weekend?"
Duckett also organizes official visits.
He said the most vital part about visits is giving players and their parents a look at life on campus beyond football.
"Parents get to see who they're leaving their children with," Duckett said. "Sometimes, this is the first time that parents are letting their children go miles away without them being there. It's important to make sure they see their kids are going to be coached hard, they're going to be loved and they're going to be held to a certain standard."
The season will soon begin.
Duckett will be on the sidelines with a headset on, watching the team he helped construct go to work.
"The goal here is a national championship," Duckett said. "That's what we plan on doing."
Continue reading...
