Ben Dupree ready to take the reins as Citadel's quarterback

Last year, Ben Dupree began The Citadel's football season as the starting quarterback. By the end of the first game, he had lost the job.

This season, the Bulldogs are counting on Dupree to hold onto the position a bit longer.

Dupree, a sophomore from Harrisburg, Pa., has once again won the starting QB job heading into The Citadel's season opener, Sept. 3 against Jacksonville at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

By all accounts, the 5-9, 180-pounder is ready this time.

"It's night and day," Dupree said recently. "I feel 100 percent better prepared."

New quarterbacks coach Craig Candeto, who played in a triple-option offense similar to The Citadel's while at Navy, agreed.

"He seems more confident," Candeto said. "Both he and (backup) Matt Thompson had a great summer, stepping up as leaders. They look more comfortable out here, they are more comfortable with me. They know what I expect out of them, and they are getting more and more confident with the X's and O's."

Dupree, Thompson and Sam Martin all took turns starting at QB for the Bulldogs during last year's 3-8 campaign. After losing the job to Thompson, Dupree switched to running back.

But in a late-season staff meeting, Citadel coaches decided Dupree was the long-term solution at QB.

"We said, 'In the long run, we've got to give Ben a chance,' " coach Kevin Higgins said. "He's got the skills you need to change directions and make guys miss that we need in this offense."

Dupree returned to the starting lineup in the 10th game, a 27-16 loss to Elon, and rushed for 85 yards on 23 carries. He also hit 3 of 6 passes for 48 yards without an interception. It was enough to convince Higgins that he had found his quarterback.

"That was the breakthrough game," Higgins said. "We walked away from that game saying, this guy can do it. He can be the guy."

Dupree solidified that feeling in spring and fall practice, seizing a leadership role despite his status as a sophomore.

"He wants it," said center Mike Sellers, another sophomore. "Most guys get forced into being a leader, but Ben wants it. He tells us all the time, 'Y'all follow me.' The quarterback is the No. 1 guy, he makes decisions every play. And I think he's ready for that."

Leadership comes naturally to Dupree, who is the youngest of four kids in his family. At Susquehanna Township High School in Harrisburg, Dupree played QB on the football team and point guard on the basketball team. His football team went 12-2 his senior year, the basketball team 32-3.

"I didn't know if I'd play quarterback in college," Dupree said. "If you look at my highlight tape from my senior year, it's all running plays. I thought I might play slotback in college, but The Citadel wanted me as a quarterback."

Dupree had a lot on his plate last fall, trying to earn the starting QB job while also dealing with the rigors of knob year.

"It's always a challenge when you come to a place like The Citadel," Higgins said. "There are so many other things you have to get right besides football. I was concerned at first about his ability to adjust to the Corps of Cadets. But we put him in the toughest company there is, Hotel Company, where there are not a lot of football players. And he survived that.

"And then this summer, he just took off. He organized our 7-on-7 drills, he was the one who came in to ask for the drills the players should do. He held guys accountable."

Of course, Dupree is not alone at quarterback. Thompson, who started seven games last season, also is back and showing progress. True freshman Aaron Miller will redshirt if all goes as planned, but has shown in practice that he might be able to help this season.

But Dupree is confident he can do the job.

"I've got a year under my belt, I've been around the guys for a year," he said. "I'm ready."