The Duke Blue Devils may already have a starter lined up at quarterback for 2026, but the position still feels very much up for grabs.
At the moment, Walker Eget is projected to open the year for Manny Diaz and Duke. The Blue Devils landed Eget through the NCAA transfer portal after he spent the previous four seasons at San Jose State.
Last season with the Spartans, he completed 59 percent of his passes for 3,051 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while adding 96 rushing yards. Across four college seasons, the senior has thrown for 5,563 yards, 30 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, and he has completed 57.7 percent of his attempts.
Even with Eget in the mix, Duke has been floated as a possible landing spot for another quarterback with a more explosive résumé: former Florida State signal-caller Thomas Castellanos.
Castellanos looked like he might be finished with college football once his eligibility expired, but that changed Friday when he was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, opening the door for him to play another season.
The Big Lead’s Trent Koop made the case that Duke should be in the conversation if Castellanos is available.
"Darien Mensah left Duke at the 11th hour to go play for Miami and it left the Blue Devils scrambling. Duke opted to sign San Jose State transfer Walker Eget. He might be serviceable this season, but the ACC is fairly open after Miami, and it’s possible two teams get into the playoff," Koop wrote.
"If Duke could make a run at Castellanos, the Blue Devils could make a run at the ACC themselves. Manny Diaz is going to have a good defense in 2026 - he’s just missing a quarterback."
Castellanos produced solid numbers in 2025 at Florida State, throwing for 2,760 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while also running for 557 yards and nine scores.
Whether Duke actually pursues him is another matter. The Blue Devils may be content to roll with Eget. But if Diaz and company decide they want a different answer under center, Castellanos would fit as a compelling fallback option.
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Duke Could Still Find A Higher-Upside Answer At Quarterback
Thomas Castellanos has quickly become a name to watch in a quarterback market that is still taking shape, and Duke is one of the schools being mentioned as a possible landing spot. The recent eligibility wrinkle that gave him a fifth year has only added to the intrigue, and the Blue Devils have reason to keep an eye on a player who could still bring a different kind of upside to the room if the fit makes sense.
Texas Tech is also in the mix and is reportedly evaluating the situation carefully after its own recent quarterback issues, which is part of why this is still developing rather than settled. For Duke, the appeal is obvious: a chance to consider another veteran option at a spot where the right addition can change the ceiling of the offense, even if there is no confirmed interest yet and the final decision remains somewhere ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Is Leaning On One Veteran As Its New Offense Takes Shape
After an ACC Championship run, Duke heads into the 2026 season with a lot of fresh faces and plenty of questions on offense. The departures from last years team have opened the door for new transfers and younger receivers to sort out roles, and that has made tight end Jeremiah Hasley one of the more important returners in camp. Coming off a productive 2025 season, he has been part of the early structure as the Blue Devils work to settle on who can help carry a revamped passing game.
Hasleys value goes beyond what he does as a target. With so many unproven options around him, the veteran tight end is also being counted on to help set the tone as Duke pieces together its next offense. If the new group is going to come together quickly, it will likely need steady players like Hasley to give the staff a reliable starting point while the rest of the depth chart sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Biggest Camp Question Still Has No Clear Answer
Dukes 2026 training camp has already offered a few encouraging signs, especially on a roster that looks like it may lean on depth at running back and a defense that has flashed plenty of disruption. Nate Sheppard continues to head that backfield group, while Jayvian Tanelus and CJ Campbell have also turned in promising showings, giving the Blue Devils a clearer sense of where some of their weekly production might come from as the season approaches.
The one major question still hanging over camp is the one that usually matters most. Walker Eget and Dan Mahan remain locked in a battle for the starting quarterback job, and for now the staff does not appear in any hurry to settle it publicly. With the defense making an early case to be the identity of the team, the eventual answer under center will go a long way toward shaping how far Duke can push that approach in the fall. [Read more 🡒]