NIL has become impossible to ignore in college football, and Duke is living that reality as it tries to keep building under Manny Diaz.
The Blue Devils are no longer just trying to hang around. Diaz has pushed the program into a new lane with two strong seasons in Durham, capped by Duke’s first ACC Championship since 1989 in 2025.
That kind of jump takes talent, and it also takes money. Opendorse estimated ACC schools will spend around $29.4 million across all sports this year, a reminder of how much roster construction now depends on NIL.
For Duke, the formula this season includes key returners and portal additions, but a handful of familiar names stand out as the players most likely to shape what comes next.
Walker Eget is first on that list because the quarterback spot always sits at the center of everything. Duke lost Darian Mensah at the last second to the portal, leaving the Blue Devils to turn to the San Jose State transfer.
Eget arrives with real production behind him, having thrown for over 5,000 yards with 30 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in two seasons as a starter in California. The jump from the Mountain West to the ACC is a major one, and Duke will be asking him to handle it quickly.
At quarterback, and with NIL now part of the equation, the expectation is simple: produce.
The offense also needs Que’Sean Sheppard to keep carrying the load. Duke lost two-thirds of last season’s three-headed offensive threat when Mensah and wide receiver Cooper Barkate both headed to Miami, but Sheppard stayed put after arriving as a 3-star freshman.
By midseason, he had taken over the backfield. He finished his first year in Durham with more than 1,400 yards from scrimmage, 12 total touchdowns, and a 5.7-yard-per-carry average.
With so much turnover around him, there’s a strong chance the offense runs through Sheppard early and often.
On the other side of the ball, DaShawn Stone gives Duke a stabilizing presence in the secondary. The Blue Devils had to replace major departures such as cornerback Chandler Rivers and safety Caleb Weaver, but Stone was one of the key returns after finishing second on the team with 86 tackles.
He also added three pass deflections, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. Duke brought in North Texas transfer Patrick Smith-Young at safety, and sophomore Andrew Pellicciotta could also play a role, but Stone is the proven piece who should be counted on most as a redshirt junior.
Jeremiah Hasley rounds out the group, and he may be the most dangerous pass catcher on the roster. Duke’s wide receiver room took a hit with the departures of its top three receivers from last season, which makes Hasley’s return even more important.
In 2025, he finished fourth on the team with 40 catches and 454 receiving yards, and he was second with six touchdown receptions. Given the uncertainty at receiver, Hasley looks set to be a central part of the offense this fall.
In Other News...
Dan Hurley Just Gave Duke Fans Another Reason To Hate UConn
Dan Hurley has never seemed shy about leaning into the edge of a rivalry, and Duke fans have had plenty to notice lately. UConns mens basketball program has been in the Blue Devils orbit for months, with the two schools trading enough public noise to keep the matchup simmering well beyond the court. Hurley added to that at NBA Summer League, where he drew a clear contrast between UConns recent success in sending players to the draft and winning championships and what Duke has been able to say for itself.
The backdrop matters because this is already a rivalry with fresh scars and fresh resentment, not just old tournament history. Duke supporters have seen UConn punctuate the conversation with a not-so-subtle scheduling nod, and the irritation only deepened when a former Blue Devil made the move to Storrs. Hurley did not need to say much to remind both fan bases where this stands, but he managed to give Duke plenty more fuel anyway. [Read more 🡒]
Duke's First Depth Chart Already Flipped Several Expected Roles
Duke footballs first depth chart for the 2026 season arrived with a few familiar names in familiar places, but plenty of the early pecking order already looks different than many around the program probably expected. With Tulane looming in the opener, the Blue Devils showed they still have real competition spots to settle, especially at wide receiver and in the secondary, where the chart offered an early snapshot of how the staff is sorting through its options.
Jayden Moore and Kavon Simmons were tabbed as co-starters at receiver, while Jaivon Solomon slid behind them. On defense, Kyon Loud claimed the starting cornerback job over returning starter Kimari Robinson, and Andrew Pellicciotta won the free safety spot over Che Ojarikre. It was also a notable development for the defensive front, where transfer Owen Wafle did not land the backup role many would have assumed was there for the taking. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Opens With A Week 1 Test That Looks Tougher Than Expected
Duke opens its football season Saturday with a Week 1 assignment that has more bite than it might have when the schedule first came out. Tulane is coming off a College Football Playoff berth, and the Green Wave have already shown they can make life difficult for the Blue Devils, which gives this opener a very different feel than a typical early nonconference tune-up. Add in a 3:30 kickoff, the usual Labor Day weekend noise and weather that could make conditions tricky, and this is the kind of first game that can say plenty about where Duke stands right away.
The challenge is not just the opponent, but the uncertainty around what Tulane looks like now. The Green Wave have gone through major coaching turnover and have adjusted their staff accordingly, so Duke is preparing for a team with recent success but a slightly altered identity. For the Blue Devils, that makes the opener even more interesting because it is hard to know how much of last seasons version of Tulane still carries over, even though the programs standards and expectations remain as high as ever. [Read more 🡒]