A Week at Duke: Why This Visit Mattered More Than Most
My first time shadowing someone in player development—and who better than my mentee, John Battle.
This past week, I spent three incredible days with the Duke Football program, and I can confidently say—it was special.
Not just because it was my first time ever shadowing someone in a player development role.
Not just because I got to speak to the team.
But because I got to follow the journey of my mentee—and now peer—John Battle, Director of Player Development at Duke Football.
It was a full-circle moment.
And it reminded me why I love this work.
🧭 Full-Circle Mentorship, Real-Time Impact
Years ago, John and I met through Justus Jones (now with the New York Jets). Back then, Justice said, “I’ve got a guy who’s really interested in player engagement. You’ve got to talk to him.”
We hopped on a call—and right away I knew: John got it.
We stayed connected through messages, emails, even caught up once in Miami, where he surprised me with a player development framework he built from my first eBook. It was detailed, thoughtful, and organized by quarters, yardage, and downs. I remember thinking, “He’s not just studying the field. He’s building on it.”
So when John invited me to Duke, it wasn’t just another campus trip. It was the first time I had the chance to follow a player development professional in action—and who better than someone I’ve had the privilege to mentor?
🎙️ Content Coming This Week:
You’ll see just how intentional John is in his role. Here's what’s dropping:
✅ Tuesday – Podcast episode w/ John Battle
✅ Thursday – Podcast episode w/ Head Coach Manny Diaz
✅ Saturday – My full reflection from the trip
🎥 Next Week – Behind-the-scenes photos + Day in the Life footage
📸 Ongoing – Snapshots and stories from my time with the team
🕹️ The Power of Intentionality
One moment that stood out was our visit to Epic Games Headquarters in Cary, North Carolina—less than an hour from campus.
Epic Games (creators of Fortnite, Gears of War, and more) is a tech and entertainment giant. And in a time when schools are cutting athlete development funding due to revenue sharing and NCAA House settlement pressure, John’s intentionality stood out.
He didn’t take the whole team. He took a select group of athletes who would truly benefit. And those young men were locked in—asking questions, soaking it up, thinking beyond football.
Trips like this prove that intentionality > excess.
It’s not about how far you travel. It’s about how deep the impact goes.
💬 What the Players Said
I also had the chance to speak to the team about the power of networking.
And this quote from one of the players stuck with me:
“He’s very enthusiastic and wants to help people in the real world.”
That’s my mission.
And for a student-athlete to grasp that in 40 minutes? That’s confirmation.
🧠 Leadership at the Top
Here’s what I’ve learned:
You can’t have true player development impact without support from the top.
And Coach Manny Diaz supports everything John is doing.
From the culture to the scheduling to the space—it’s clear that this is a program that values the whole athlete.
🙌🏾 What’s Next
Duke was everything I hoped for—and more.
This trip showed me how powerful player development can be when it’s aligned, supported, and executed with intention.
I’m proud of John.
I’m thankful for the Duke staff and student-athletes.
And I’m energized for the next chapter.
To every coach, department, or administrator out there:
If you want your player development program highlighted, reach out.
I’d love to be on your campus next.