Get to Know Your Orange Man: #20, DB Darian “Duce” Chestnut

Name: Darian “Duce” Chestnut

Position: Defensive Back

Year: Freshman

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 196 lbs

Hometown: Camden, N.J.

High School: Camden

2020 stats: Chestnut only played in five games during the COVID-affected 2020 season. He tallied 118 career tackles and 10 career interceptions in 31 games at Camden High School.

2021 projections: It may be sooner rather than later before we see Chestnut’s true potential on the field. He’s already been rumored to impress the coaching staff in his first spring ball as a true freshman. Enrolling early has definitely given Chestnut a boost up the depth chart as the coaches figure where to play him. He could easily fit in at corner, safety, or even the all-important rover position. Either way, while he may not start right away, don’t be surprised if the true freshman is on the two-deep come week one.

How’d he get here?: Syracuse battled some big names in the college football world to get Chestnut’s signature. Baylor, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (FL), Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers, and West Virginia are just some of the Power Five schools that submitted an offer for the prized DB.

What’d recruiting sites say?: Four stars from Rivals, only three from 247sports and ESPN. Rivals and 247sports rank Chestnut as Syracuse’s top recruit this cycle.

Money quote: Chestnut told Syracuse.com’s Mike Curtis that he loved the Orange coaching being “real with me.” He later goes on to explain what that means.

“What (Syracuse) told me, the players were telling me the same thing. If they told me I gotta come in and earn my spot, that’s keeping it real. If I have to earn it and it’s not going to be given to me, that’s keeping it real. There are no given spots on any campus or college. You gotta go earn your spot anywhere you go. That told me they were being real.”

Twitter feed: @BallgameDuce

Tweets of wonder: Let’s give Chestnut some NIL ideas:

What movie would Dino recommend for him?: How much does Dino pay attention to upcoming movies? Adam Sandler and LeBron James will start filming next month a movie titled “Hustle.” The film will star Sandler as a basketball scout looking to restart his career by bringing a player from overseas. The movie will film in Chestnut’s hometown of Camden in New Jersey.

Interesting nugget o’interest: Chestnut also explains with Mike Curtis how he got his full nickname, “Ballgame Duce.”

“My older brother, he’s the original “Ballgame.” So it got passed down to me as Ballgame Duce or Ballgame II, so everybody’s just been calling me Ballgame. It started in middle school. When I make a real big play, you’ll hear me scream two words: BALL GAME!”

Let’s get a look at ya: You gotta love Nick Monroe’s energy and vibe at all times.