Duke’s Week 1 depth chart brought a couple of clear letdowns, even as the Blue Devils get ready to open the regular season this weekend against Tulane in a matchup of reigning conference champions.
The quarterback situation was one of the biggest pressure points coming out of fall camp. Manny Diaz had to rebuild around major roster turnover, and that included the controversial exit of Darian Mensah, which was later settled. Mensah’s transfer to Miami left Duke scrambling for a new answer under center, and the Blue Devils went to the portal late to land San Jose State transfer Walker Eget as their 2026 starter.
That move ended up costing redshirt freshman Dan Mahan the top spot, at least for now. Mahan pushed Eget hard in camp and even gave Duke a real look at a longer-term future with him leading the offense.
Last week, though, Eget was announced as the Week 1 starter. For Mahan, it’s a disappointment, but not a closed door.
He still has a chance to factor into the offense this season, especially with Duke expected to lean on the run and Nate Sheppard set for workhorse duty.
The other notable setback came on defense, where redshirt sophomore transfer Owen Wafle was listed as the co-backup at nose tackle behind David Anderson alongside redshirt freshman Julius Columbus. That’s not the kind of immediate payoff Duke was hoping for when Wafle arrived.
A former 4-star recruit who started at Michigan and spent last fall at Penn State, he came to Durham looking for a clearer path to playing time. Instead, the depth chart says he still has work to do before he’s in position to start for Jonathan Patke’s defense.
Still, neither situation looks like a dead end. Mahan and Wafle are both young, both have plenty of eligibility left, and both can still grow into bigger roles. For now, though, the first depth chart of the season made it clear that neither player is quite where Duke hoped they’d be.
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 🡒]