Duke’s 2026 roster is going to look a lot different, and a handful of transfer additions are in line to be part of the solution right away.
That matters because Manny Diaz and his staff are replacing a lot of production from last year’s ACC Championship team. The Blue Devils brought in several newcomers who are stepping into the Power Four for the first time, and plenty of them will be asked to contribute immediately on both sides of the ball.
At quarterback, Walker Eget is the name to watch first. He is expected to open the 2026 season as Duke’s starter in Week 1 after spending his entire college career at San Jose State.
Eget started for two seasons and threw for 5,555 yards with 30 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. The arm talent is there, but those interceptions leave room for questions, and it will be worth watching how long Diaz sticks with him before potentially turning to Dan Mahan.
The top receiving option should be Jared Richardson, who has been productive everywhere he’s lined up. The 6-foot-2 wideout spent his career with the Quakers and piled up 193 catches for 2,505 yards and 27 touchdowns.
In 2025, he led the Ivy League in receptions with 80 and touchdowns with 12, while finishing second in receiving yards at 1,033. He also earned First Team FCS Football Central All-American honors.
Another receiver who could make noise is Nicholas, who finally got a real chance in the passing game in 2025 at Charlotte after beginning his career as a walk-on at LSU. The 5-foot-9 target led the 49ers with 60 catches, 740 receiving yards and five touchdowns. In Jonathan Brewer’s air-raid offense, he has a real shot to become a dangerous deep threat in the ACC.
Up front, Duke needs help after losing several starters on the offensive line, and Nick Del Grande is one of the transfers expected to step in. He was a steady starter for three seasons on the Chanticleers’ line and earned All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention recognition in 2023 and 2024 before landing All-Sun Belt First Team honors in 2025. At 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, he gives the Blue Devils another experienced body in the trenches.
Braden Miller is in the same category. Duke lost tackles Brian Parker II and Bruno Fina after the 2025 season, and Miller is one of the players brought in to help fill those openings. At 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, he brings size that should be hard to miss.
The secondary took some major hits too, with Caleb Weaver, Chandler Rivers and Terry Moore all gone. Flowers is one of the new corners who could push for a starting job quickly. He spent two years at Southern Utah, one at BYU, one at College of the Canyons and one with the Hilltoppers in 2025, where he posted 33 tackles, four pass deflections and a forced fumble.
Patrick Smith-Young also arrives with a strong résumé. He spent two years at North Texas, one at Old Dominion, then returned to UNT in 2025. Last season, he led the Mean Green secondary with 73 tackles and added three pass deflections.
Owen Wafle is another transfer worth tracking. A former 4-star recruit, he committed to Michigan out of high school, spent one season in Ann Arbor, then transferred to Penn State for another year. Playing time was hard to come by at both stops, but he now has a chance to start right away next to former 4-star recruit Bryce Davis.
Loud is also in the mix for immediate snaps in the secondary. Through two years with the Grizzlies, he totaled 43 tackles and six pass deflections.
And then there’s Ojarikre, who could earn a starting role if he puts together a strong training camp. The former Cardinal had 30 tackles and two pass deflections in 2025.
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Duke May Have Found The Answer To Its Biggest Defensive Concern
Dukes defensive line got a notable boost through the transfer portal with the addition of defensive tackle Owen Wafle, a former highly regarded recruit who is now looking for a fresh start in Durham. Wafle arrives with a pedigree that once made him one of the more intriguing young linemen in the country, and he gives the Blue Devils another body with the size and upside to compete for a major role up front.
The fit is especially interesting because Duke is still sorting out its interior defense for next season, and Wafle is expected to be in the mix for a starting job. He has yet to carve out consistent playing time in college, so the question now is whether a change of scenery and a new scheme can help him turn promise into production when the Blue Devils line up again. [Read more 🡒]
Former Duke Standout Devin Lynch Earns Major Pro Extension
Devin Lynchs first pro season has gone well enough that Denver Summit FC moved quickly to keep her around. The former Duke womens soccer standout, who joined the club on a one-year deal in January, has turned into a reliable presence in the lineup and earned a contract extension that keeps her in Denver for the next several seasons.
For Duke fans, the appeal is familiar: Lynch has carried the same steady, high-end work rate that made her such a valuable part of the Blue Devils program. She has been a key contributor as a rookie, and Denver clearly sees her as more than just a short-term addition, even if the full shape of her future with the club still leaves one important piece to watch. [Read more 🡒]
The Hidden Duke X Factors Who Could Define Scheyers Title Chase
Dukes 2026-27 roster already looks loaded on paper under Jon Scheyer, but the real separator in another title chase may come from the pieces that are easy to overlook at first glance. Sebastian Wilkins, Bryson Howard and Drew Scharnowski do not have to carry the spotlight to matter, yet each could end up filling a meaningful lane on a team built with depth, talent and multiple ways to win.
Wilkins stayed at Duke after redshirting and could grow into a valuable bench wing if the expected leap arrives. Scharnowski, the Belmont transfer, is projected to slide into the kind of frontcourt support role that can steady a rotation behind Patrick Ngongba II, while Howard adds another layer to a signing class already drawing plenty of attention. For a program trying to turn roster richness into March payoff, those quieter names may end up shaping the season as much as the headliners. [Read more 🡒]