BOONE, N.C. — Defensive backs Clifton Duck (Matthews, N.C./Butler) and Aris Duffey (St. Augustine, Fla./Nease) began classes at Appalachian State University on Monday, making them the first official members of Appalachian State football's 2016 recruiting class.

Both Duck and Duffey arrive at Appalachian State as true freshmen after graduating from high school a semester early. In addition to getting a jump on their academic careers, both can begin football activities with the Mountaineers immediately. Both will participate in spring practice, which is slated to begin on Friday, Feb. 5.

“We're excited to welcome Clifton and Aris to the Appalachian family,” Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield said. “First and foremost, they are excellent young men that will be great additions the Appalachian State community. They're also very talented players that will have the opportunity to contribute to our program right away. It's a huge benefit to have them on campus already so they can immerse themselves right away in the classroom and with our football team.”

CLIFTON DUCK (DB, 5-10, 175, Fr., Matthews, N.C./Butler)
Rated as a two-star prospect by 247Sports and Scout ... four-year starter at North Carolina 4-AA powerhouse Butler H.S. ... helped lead Butler to double-digit wins during each of his four high-school seasons, including a perfect 15-0 campaign that was capped by a state championship and No. 3 national ranking as a freshman in 2012 ... intercepted a pass in 2012 N.C. 4-A state title game ... versatile athlete recorded five interceptions to go along with 10.3 yards per rush, 15.0 yards per reception and 23.7 yards per punt return as a senior in 2015 ... scored five touchdowns as a senior in '15 — two receiving, one rushing, one punt return and one interception return ... turned in the best performance of his senior season in the opening round of the 4-AA state playoffs versus Providence when he set up three touchdowns with long punt returns, including a 61-yarder that he took back for a score, and an interception in a 52-3 win ... named second-team all-state as a junior in 2014  ... three-time all-conference selection ... honored as Butler's best DB three-straight seasons ... coached by Brian Hales ... chose Appalachian State over Toledo.

ARIS DUFFEY (DB, 6-0, 185, St. Augustine, Fla./Nease)
Rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and a two-star prospect by Rivals and Scout ... four-year letterwinner ... recorded 58 tackles, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a blocked punt from his safety position as a senior in 2015, en route to being named St. Johns County Defensive Player of the Year by St. Augustine Record ... first-team all-county selection ... named honorable-mention all-First Coast by Jacksonville Times-Union ... helped lead Nease to a 7-4 record as a senior in 2015, including a 4-0 record in district play and the school's first district championship in eight years ... headlined Nease's district-championship squad by anchoring a defense that surrendered just 211.2 yards per game in '15 ... turned in one of the finest performances of his prep career with eight tackles and one tackle for loss in a 23-20 overtime win over rival St. Augustine during his senior campaign, a victory that snapped St. Augustine's 50-game district winning streak ... coached by Tim Krause ... was also a part of River City Kings 7-vs.-7 team that qualified for IMG National Championship ... versatile athlete also lettered in track and field and lacrosse ... chose Appalachian State over Florida Atlantic, Cincinnati, Troy, South Alabama, Old Dominion and Bowling Green ... intends to major in biomedical engineering ... father, Anthony, was a track all-American at the University of Arkansas.