One of the quieter storylines around Duke this offseason is how little Manny Diaz is expected to lean on transfers on defense. The Blue Devils are projected to start only two newcomers in that group: cornerback Ché Ojarikre and defensive tackle Owen Wafle.
That matters because Duke’s defense should still be a real strength, even with the offense taking a hit after quarterback Darian Mensah and receiver Cooper Barkate followed the transfer route to Miami this offseason. The Blue Devils brought back enough from last season’s ACC championship team to stay in the mix for a bowl run, but repeating as league champs - or making a College Football Playoff push - looks like a stretch without Mensah. San Jose State transfer Walker Eget steps in, and the source material makes clear he does not bring the same skill set.
Still, there’s a young defender drawing attention as a potential immediate contributor. Brad Crawford of CBS Sports identified edge rusher Obinna Umeh as a freshman to watch in the ACC this fall, and the case for him is pretty straightforward: Duke needs more juice off the edge.
"One of Duke's two four-star signees, Umeh could help address one of the defending ACC champions' biggest concerns on defense - generating more pressure on third down," Crawford wrote. "The Blue Devils need an infusion of athleticism and pass-rushing ability up front, and Umeh has the physical tools to earn rotational snaps immediately.
"His first-step explosiveness and closing speed make him an intriguing developmental edge rusher, though Duke won't ask him to shoulder a major workload right away. If one freshman is poised to make an impact during the second half of the season, Umeh is the obvious choice."
That second-half window is the part worth watching. If Duke’s early schedule leaves room for growth, the back end of the season could become a development stretch for Diaz and his staff, with Umeh positioned as one of the players who can benefit most. He may not be asked to carry a heavy load right away, but the path is there for him to earn more snaps in November.
For Duke, that fits the broader plan. This isn’t a team built to chase a national title, but Diaz is clearly trying to construct it the right way - through high school recruiting and player development.
In Other News...
ACC Coach Just Made A Serious Claim About Duke's QB Exit
Pat Narduzzis latest comments added another layer to a quarterback saga that already had plenty of intrigue for Duke. The Pitt coach said Miami first tried to lure his own quarterback, Mason Heintschel, before the portal closed, and then warned Manny Diaz that the Hurricanes were coming after Darian Mensah next. For Duke, the timing made the whole sequence hard to ignore, especially with Miami circling a player who had become central to the Blue Devils plans.
Mensah eventually moved on anyway, leaving Duke to sort through the fallout of a transfer that raised questions the program could not fully answer. Diaz has said proving tampering is difficult, so the focus shifted to the contract issue instead, with Mensah departing while under a two-year, $8 million deal. Duke also saw wide receiver Cooper Barkate head to Miami with him after helping fuel the Blue Devils ACC title run, another reminder that this was more than a one-player exit. [Read more 🡒]
Manny Diaz Just Gave Duke Fans A Huge Walker Eget Update
Walker Egets path back into Dukes quarterback mix is starting to come into focus after Manny Diaz offered a positive update at ACC Media Days. The San Jose State transfer is expected to be cleared for practice when fall camp opens in August, a welcome development for a Blue Devils offense that has been waiting to see what he can bring after his spring was wiped out.
The timing matters because Duke did not get a full look at Eget while rising quarterback Dan Mahan handled the reps in the spring. Now the competition for the starting job can finally take shape on the field, and for a team trying to sort out its quarterback picture, getting Eget back in the building is a significant first step. [Read more 🡒]