Duke Football: 3 takeaways from win over NIU in Quick Lane Bowl

2. Daniel Jones sparked a huge offensive day for Duke

Sophomore quarterback Daniel Jones has been the leader of the Blue Devils offense for two years now. In 2017 Jones wasn’t quite as efficient as he was during his freshman season. In the Quick Lane Bowl, Jones showed why he could be among the best returning quarterbacks in the ACC next season if he continues to mature at the position.

Jones ended the regular season with three straight victories. Against the Huskies, Jones threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-40 passing. He added another 95 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. It was a masterful display of dual-threat quarterbacking by Jones, who kept NIU on its heels both running and passing the ball.

The solid play of Jones opened things up for everyone else on offense. With the front seven worried more about whether Jones would take off scrambling, Shaun Wilson and Brittain Brown each had rushing touchdowns. Wilson finished with 86 yards and a score on 16 carries to lead all Blue Devils running backs on the ground.

The Blue Devils controlled the clock thanks to the efficient work of an offense that was clearly driven by Jones. By the end of the game, Duke held nearly a two-to-one advantage in time of possession. A big win in the Quick Lane Bowl could set the Blue Devils up to contend in the ACC Coastal next season if Jones continues to show the same spark he exhibited at Ford Field.