With Duke shifting its focus to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, head coach Manny Diaz gave a clear, no-frills update on the state of the Blue Devils as they navigate a busy December - one that now includes NFL draft decisions, transfer portal movement, and the extended demands of postseason prep.
The key takeaway? Most of the squad that celebrated an ACC Championship in Charlotte is still locked in and fully engaged on the practice field.
"Of the team that celebrated in Charlotte, we've had everybody participating fully through this entire week, except for Parker, Rivers, and VJ Anthony," Diaz said Thursday.
That’s it - just three players not fully involved in practice. And for a program juggling the modern postseason juggling act - managing players eyeing the NFL, monitoring the ever-active transfer portal, and keeping a roster sharp for a bowl game nearly a month after its last contest - that’s a strong sign of stability.
Diaz also added that the rest of the ACC title-winning roster is trending toward being available for the Sun Bowl on December 31. That’s especially notable given the current college football landscape, where bowl season often becomes a game of subtraction - players opting out, transferring, or simply shutting it down.
Instead, Duke appears to be leaning into the opportunity. With most of its core intact and practicing, the Blue Devils are treating this bowl game not just as a reward, but as a continuation of a breakthrough season - one that’s already cemented its place in program history with a conference title.
Now, with a few weeks to sharpen up and get healthy, Duke has a chance to close the year with a statement - and based on Diaz’s update, they’ll be doing it with nearly their full deck.