JACKSONVILLE—Former Orange Park High all-state defensive end Kendy Charles is circling back to his hometown this week. His Duke University Blue Devils football team is set to play the Ole Miss Rebels in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl in Everbank Field on Thursday, January 2, in Jacksonville. Duke comes in with a 9-3 record, while Ole Miss is ranked 16th in the NCAA, also at 9-3.
Charles, 23, and with a sports management degree from Liberty, brings five years of outstanding defensive football play to the Gator Bowl with his first four years at Liberty University, then a final fifth-year season at Duke.
"When I decided to come to Duke from Liberty it was mainly because I wanted to see how I could play in a system that was better suited for my style of play," said Charles, who had 21 game starts in his five years of play with 37 games and four bowl games played before the Taxslayer Gator Bowl; 2020 Cure Bowl (Liberty 37-34 over Coastal Carolina), 2021 Lending Tree Bowl (Liberty 56-20 over Eastern Michigan), 2022 RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl (Toledo 21-19 over Liberty) and the 2023 VRBO Fiesta Bowl (Oregon 45-6 over Liberty). "This is my final collegiate football game, but I'm playing in a senior bowl in Orlando after the Gator Bowl."
Charles, who came to Duke after Duke had hired former University of Miami head coach Manny Diaz, immediately took the defensive philosophy of his new program with 49 tackles on the season, seven tackles for losses and two sacks with one quarterback hurry and one recovered fumble.
Ole Miss is coached by former University of Tennessee and NFL Las Vegas Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin, who has the First-Team All-Southeastern Conference quarterback in Jaxson Dart. Duke had its starting quarterback, Maalik Murphy, and top running back Jaquez Moore (of nearby Suwannee High School in Live Oak, FL) both opt out of the Gator Bowl.
"My two best games had to be the Southern Methodist game and the Virginia Tech games for this year," said Charles, noting SMU beat Duke 28-27 in overtime and beat Virginia Tech 31-28. "I had 11 tackles in the SMU game and 10 tackles against Virginia Tech with a couple tackles for loss and a sack."
As Charles has progressed from his Orange Park days, he credits former Raider head coach Tom Macpherson, now a defensive coach at Bishop Kenny High School, for preparing Charles' game with near-college-type practices and schemes.
"Coach Tom Macpherson was a high football IQ coach that ran his practices and games almost at a college level," said Charles, who got to see Macpherson at the Duke Monday practice in Jacksonville. "His goal was to prepare me for the next level and his approach had me ready to step right in and contribute. I'm grateful for his input into my game."
Diaz noted that Charles's athleticism and footwork were Charles's strong points.
"He came in with a big engine and our defense is always on the move," said Diaz. "Kendy fit right in with his stamina and ability to play at a high level all four quarters."
Charles noted that his soccer playing days at Orange Park also helped to prepare him for the college football game as a mobile, fast big man.
"We are always in attack mode on the field at Duke and soccer prepared me to keep moving and shifting from one side of the field, lots of side-to-side moves," said Charles, who mentioned his defensive wingman was Aaron Hall who lines up right next to Charles on the defensive line. "Though I was a goalie, my coach Wale Leyimu had us all on the field in different spots during practice. The footwork necessary for soccer helped a lot in college football."
Charles anticipates his mother, Marie Charles, to be very emotional as she watches her son play in his final college game.
"She has been the inspiration the whole way," said Charles. "My whole family will be at the Gator Bowl and that's special."
Charles also commented that he does have aspirations for the National Football League after his college is done.
"I'll take a few weeks off, get in really good shape, then hit some combines and pro days," said Charles. "At 6'-2", 285 pounds, I think my high-energy play is going to be the better part of my game because I might be a little small. I don't feel small when I'm out there."