Duke taking road trip to watch former Devils in the NFL

The Duke football team is going on a field trip this Thursday as coach David Cutcliffe is taking his Blue Devils to see the Washington Redskins host the Detroit Lions in a preseason game.

The Duke players will be reunited with former teammates Laken Tomlinson, Jamison Crowder and Takoby Cofield, who are each looking to make an NFL roster this summer.

Tomlinson, the Devils star offensive tackle, was the Lions first round pick in this year’s draft, while Crowder was selected by the Redskins in the fourth round to play wide receiver and help bring life to their return game. Cofield went undrafted, but will look to make the Washington roster as an offensive tackle.

The trip to Maryland’s FedEx Field Thursday not only shows support for the Duke alums, but also fosters team unity.

“We’re excited about this tremendous opportunity – one with a couple of unique benefits,” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said.  “The educational component of taking our young men to see two of our country’s most significant historical landmarks is truly priceless.  A good number of our players will attend their first professional football game, and being able to support three former Blue Devils in the process is an added bonus.  And we can’t discount the team bonding aspect of a trip like this, where the hope is we become a more cohesive unit.”

(h/t Duke)