It seems like a long time ago; when Michael Duclos was the water boy for the Robinson Knights. He used to be scared of his, now current, coach.
“I thought he was mean and grumpy; I was scared of him at first.”
Now Duclos is a 5-foot 6-inch brick wall. His favorite player growing up was Mike Alstott. Now, coaches compare him to the 2012 No. 3 overall pick.
“I don’t like running around people,” says the 200-pound Duclos. “The way he played, run over defenders, makes me excited. Everyone else compares me to Trent Richardson. He runs behind blocks, is quick, and runs over people. My style is to stay behind blocks and in open field run over people.”
Duclos hails from Haiti. He moved to Miami, Fla when he was five or six years old. The freshman received an early invite to the Hurricanes’ summer camp.
“I’m definitely attending the July camp,” Duclos said. “I like the history [at Miami]. Used to be this team beating everyone they played. I also like their mascot.”
The second-leading rusher, as a freshman, for the Robinson Knights, Duclos has focused on improving his speed an ball security.
“Towards end of the season, like against Plant, I fumbled 3 times,” the freshman said. “They were going for the ball. I almost fumbled in a few other games too.”
After rushing for 481 yards on 75 carries as a freshman, Duclos says he will come back even stronger in 2012. SEE HILITES HERE
“I’m going to be bigger faster stronger. I feel I’ve improved a lot; plus our linemen are all seniors too.”
Duclos is extremely quite off the field, but when his toes cross that painted stripe, he turns into a different person.
“When I got to high school I decided to mature. I’m very quiet. I watch for little things,” he explained. “People aren’t who they say they are. I don’t party. I stay away from crowds. I’m a positive person. Don’t do a lot of smack talk.”
“On the field I’m high energy though I’m more excited. Its where I go to get away.
He grew up being encouraged by his older brother, Carlos Duclos.
In the eyes of Michael Ducles:
Encouragement – brother played 1 on 1 with a friend together. Brother taught me how to catch, certain moves. We started playing at Robinson practice field, jumped fence to play with other kids. Titans – played on same team even though he’s older. Played as lineman at first (1st year). Coach norman tried me at RB 2nd year, but I always fumbled. I would run people over, but I would always fumble. Could never hang onto the ball.
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