DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - This Duke walk-on will try to help the Blue Devils R-O-C-K in the ACC.

Duke began practice Monday with freshman Hud Mellencamp - the son of rocker John Mellencamp - on its roster.

Mellencamp was home-schooled and did not play high school football, but was an accomplished boxer in Indiana. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound defensive back was issued jersey No. 17.

Coach David Cutcliffe calls him ``a pretty courageous young man'' who is ``trying to do something he's never done before.''

Cutcliffe said Mellencamp had already been accepted to Duke and said ``this was something the youngster wanted to try.'' He says the plan is to shield Mellencamp from the media and ``try to keep him back behind the scenes'' while taking things slowly because of his lack of football experience.