Duke football is heading into 2026 with a very different look, and that reality hangs over every projected spot on the depth chart. Coming off an ACC title, the Blue Devils have plenty of new pieces to sort through, and Manny Diaz is staring at what could be the toughest challenge of his two-year run in Durham.
With training camp about to open, the early guess here is what Duke’s Week 1 lineup could look like.
At quarterback, the edge goes to San Jose State transfer Eget, though the leash may not be especially long if Diaz decides a change is needed. Eget brings a big arm and has flashed plenty, but he has yet to prove himself at the Power Conference level.
Over four seasons with the Spartans, the California native threw for 5,563 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions while completing 57.7% of his passes. He started for two seasons.
The backfield, though, is the easiest place to start. This offense is going to revolve around Sheppard, and there’s no mystery about that.
The true sophomore was one of the breakout players in the ACC last season after taking over Duke’s backfield by midyear. A former 3-star recruit, he finished second in the conference in rushing yards with 1,132, fourth in rushing yards per game at 80.9, fifth in rushing touchdowns with 11, and fifth in yards per carry at 5.7.
The bigger puzzle is at receiver, where Duke has to replace its top three wideouts from last season: Cooper Barkate, Que'Sean Brown, and Sahmir Hagans. That opens the door for a new group to step in and carry the load.
Richardson looks like one of the safest bets. He spent his entire college career at Penn and piled up 193 catches for 2,505 yards and 27 touchdowns. In 2025, he was named a First Team FCS Football Central All-American after posting 80 receptions, 1,033 yards, and 12 scores.
Nicholas should also be in the mix right away. He finally got a real chance at Charlotte last season after starting his career as a walk-on at LSU, and he made the most of it by leading the 49ers in receptions with 60, receiving yards with 740, and receiving touchdowns with five.
Solomon is another name to watch as Duke sorts out the WR3 spot. He’s entering his redshirt freshman season and is among the players competing for that role.
At tight end, Hasley gives Duke a proven option and a major return for the program. Last season, he ranked fourth on the team with 40 catches and 454 receiving yards while adding six touchdowns.
Over his career, the 6'3", 245-pound tight end has totaled 48 receptions, 517 yards, and eight touchdowns. He is four touchdowns away from breaking Duke’s tight end touchdown record.
Up front, the tackle spots should belong to Miller and Del Grande. Miller arrived from Cal, while Del Grande came over from Coastal Carolina, and both were among Duke’s biggest transfer portal additions. They’re stepping in for Brian Parker II and Bruno Fina.
Craycraft is another important return for the Blue Devils, and this group will need to settle in quickly if the offense is going to find any rhythm early.
On the defensive side, Davis stands out as the highest-rated recruit in Duke history and could be set up for a real breakout in 2026. He’s one of just two former 4-star recruits on the roster, along with Penn State transfer Owen Wafle.
At linebacker, O'Connor, Watson, and Reed all come back as veterans who will have to take major steps forward if Duke wants to get back to its 2024 defensive standard.
The most productive pairing on the roster may be Morris Jr. and Mergott. Morris was lost to a season-ending injury four games into the 2025 season, but he looks ready for a strong bounce-back year. Mergott led the team with 90 tackles last season and also added a sack, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions.
The secondary is where camp should get especially interesting. Duke has a lot of options there, but it also has a lot of production to replace. The Blue Devils lost cornerback Chandler Rivers and safeties Terry Moore and Caleb Weaver this offseason, leaving plenty of competition for those spots.
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