Duke’s new season is getting close fast, and with the Blue Devils set to open against Tulane in less than three weeks, the pressure is already building around a handful of incoming transfers who are expected to fill major roles.
Manny Diaz made a series of roster moves to patch holes on both sides of the ball, but those additions come with real scrutiny. As Duke works toward finalizing its starting 22 for Week 1, three transfers stand out as the ones with the most to prove in 2026.
At quarterback, the spotlight is unavoidable. Eget arrived in Durham as the projected starter after Duke lost Darian Mensah to the Miami Hurricanes in the portal, but that plan has already been complicated by a battle with redshirt freshman Dan Mahan. That alone says plenty about how much is riding on this position.
Even if Eget comes out of camp as the starter, nothing about his job feels settled. A rough stretch could quickly open the door to a change, and the pressure on him through the summer and into the season is massive. He’ll have to show he can deliver right away.
The offensive line brings another transfer under a microscope. Braden Miller, who comes over from Cal, is stepping into the role left behind by Brian Parker II, with fellow transfer Nick Del Grande lined up at left tackle. Miller’s experience at multiple spots up front gives Duke some flexibility, but there are questions about how he’ll hold up when the pass rush gets serious.
That issue matters because Duke’s schedule includes defenses like Illinois, North Carolina, Miami, and Clemson, all of which feature edge players capable of making life miserable for tackles. Miller has experience, but the tape raised concerns about how he handled Louisville’s pass rush. In Durham, the graduate transfer has to prove he can bring steadier play to the Blue Devils’ front.
Then there’s Wafle, a former 4-star recruit who spent time at Michigan and Penn State without producing much at either stop. Duke is hoping the change of scenery unlocks something, but there’s still understandable concern that the same quiet production could follow him into this season and leave the middle of the defense vulnerable.
Wafle has to show he can be the blue-chip defensive tackle he was expected to become at Michigan. If he does, it would be a major lift for Duke’s defensive front.
If he doesn’t, the floor is a real concern. Either way, his play will go a long way toward shaping how successful that unit can be.
In Other News...
Duke Defense Opens Camp With Starting Jobs Still Up For Grabs
Fall camp has only just begun for Duke football, but the defense already has a fresh layer of intrigue heading toward the season opener against Tulane. The offseason departures left several openings across the unit, and the mix of returning players and transfers is battling for roles as the Blue Devils start sorting out who fits where. Manny Diaz has sounded upbeat about what this group can become, pointing to the chance for improvement after last season and stressing that the defense has to be built on a collective effort rather than any one name.
The most interesting part of the competition is that the evaluation is still very much underway, especially on the back end, where the picture remains unsettled as camp unfolds. Duke has time to sort through the options before Week 1, but the early practices already show how much is still on the table for players trying to earn trust and lock down starting jobs. For a defense looking to take a step forward, the next few weeks should reveal just how much of that promise turns into something concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Freshmen Are Already Forcing A Tough Rotation Conversation
Dukes first fall scrimmage offered an early look at why the defending ACC champions may have a harder time than expected sorting through their depth chart this month. As the Blue Devils continue prep for the 2026 season opener against Tulane, several freshmen made enough noise to get noticed, including linebacker Colsen Gatten and running backs Jayvian Tanelus and CJ Givers, giving the staff a clearer sense that this rookie class may be ready to push for roles sooner rather than later.
Head coach Manny Diaz has already made it clear that talent alone will not guarantee snaps, especially for true freshmen in a program trying to protect its place atop the league. Still, the scrimmage suggested there is real competition brewing behind the veterans, and the challenge now is figuring out which young players can crack the rotation without upsetting the balance that helped carry Duke to an ACC title. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Brewer Faces Dukes Biggest ACC Title Defense Test Yet
Manny Diaz is heading into his third season at Duke with the kind of target every program wants and every contender eventually has to absorb. After winning the ACC Championship in 2025, the Blue Devils are now trying to defend it with offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer back in place after directing the conferences top offense last fall, giving Duke at least some continuity in a year when the rest of the roster looks very different.
The challenge begins under center, where a quarterback competition is unfolding as the Blue Devils sort through their next starter. Duke has to replace Darian Mensah, the top three wide receivers and both starting tackles from last season, so Brewers offense will be tested immediately by a turnover rate that goes far beyond one position battle. For a team trying to stay on top of the league, the title defense may be decided as much by how quickly the new pieces settle in as by anything Duke already knows about itself. [Read more 🡒]