Duke’s offense took a real hit when its star quarterback and wide receiver left for the national runners-up, but the Blue Devils may have found a way to soften that blow with a player who has been waiting for his turn.
That player is redshirt sophomore Jayden Moore, a former three-star recruit who is finally positioned to matter in a bigger way for Manny Diaz’s team. Duke has spent the offseason piecing together a new look on offense, bringing in transfer starters at quarterback and wide receiver after losing key pieces late. The wideout room in particular is getting a reset with Jared Richardson and Javen Nicholas joining the mix, and Moore could be the piece that makes it all fit.
Moore earned a fourth-team preseason All-ACC nod from Athlon Sports and was also recognized as an all-conference academic. He showed what he could do early last season, catching five passes for 47 yards in the first two games against Elon and Illinois. After that, though, he mostly watched the offense from the sideline as Duke leaned on its veterans, with only a few kick returns mixed in.
What makes Moore so intriguing is the full package he brings. He has reliable hands, runs routes with polish and can create after the catch.
He also has the burst and skill set to line up outside and handle press coverage, which gives Duke flexibility in how it deploys him. The expectation is that he’ll work as the Z-receiver opposite Richardson, while Nicholas operates from the slot.
That matters because replacing a 1,100-yard receiver is no small task. Duke is trying to do it by combining a top Patriot League receiver, the best offensive player from a one-win program and a player who has been patiently waiting for his chance. Moore is the one who ties that group together.
The Blue Devils have built their recent success by finding answers where others might not expect them, and Diaz has already shown he can get more out of his players than most people anticipate. If that trend holds, Moore could end up being Duke’s most overlooked offensive weapon.
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