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FARGO — Warren Township (Ill.) High School's Jailen Duffie had nearly 20 offers from NCAA Division I football programs, but he gravitated toward one school.
The 6-foot, 165-pound Duffie verbally committed to North Dakota State on Wednesday, June 22, he announced via social media. His offers included the top teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and multiple FBS programs, including Navy, Army, Colorado State and eight schools in the Mid-American Conference.
“I already knew it was the right place ever since I got the offer, the way the coaches would talk to me and the way everything felt," said Duffie, who NDSU offered in March. "Even before I did get the offer, I was an NDSU fan already because I was watching them win games all the time and stuff like that.”
NDSU has won nine of the past 11 Division I FCS national championships. Duffie, who plays wide receiver and defensive back for Warren Township, is expected to play cornerback for the Bison.
“It all stands out to me," Duffie said. "I was watching a few clips earlier (Tuesday) and I can see myself out there in that Cover 2 pressed up against all those guys, stuff like that. I see myself fitting in with that defense.”
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Fargo, North Dakota, I’M HOME.
— Jailen Duffie (@DuffieJailen) June 22, 2022
110% COMMITTED💛💚 @Coach_Entz @DomIzzoWDAY @EFTfootball @wthsfb@Phouly31 @CoachBigPete @EDGYTIM@BOOMfootball @AllenTrieu @NDSUfootball @Rivals_Clint @247Sports @Coach_Braun pic.twitter.com/I40yKs1XLo
The Blue Devils play in Class 8A, the largest-school division in Illinois. He's also an all-state track performer. He competes in the 100 and 200 meters and on the 400 and 800 relays.
Duffie said he hasn't been on NDSU's campus yet, but plans to be in Fargo this upcoming weekend.
“I always knew that NDSU was the right fit," Duffie said. “I wanted to lock my spot in. I was ready to make my decision.”
Duffie is a three-star recruit according to 247sports and Rivals. After talking it over with his parents and high school coaches, he said NDSU fit everything he wanted in a college choice.
“We felt that was the best spot for us and I can make it pretty far going to North Dakota State," Duffie said.
Duffie added he's friends with Neuqua Valley (Ill.) High School's Grant Larkin, who committed to NDSU on June 16. Warren Township is in Gurnee, which is in the northern Chicagoland area. Duffie is the fifth known commitment for the 2023 recruiting class.
“All the work I was putting in ever since I started, it worked out great," Duffie said.
