Duke may already have its quarterback answer for the long haul.
That’s the big takeaway after a summer spent sorting through a 2026 roster full of questions on both sides of the ball. Manny Diaz and his staff did plenty of work to stabilize things, landing a strong batch of transfers and adding freshmen who could force their way onto the field quickly. But at quarterback, the picture may be getting clearer.
The battle in fall camp centered on San Jose State transfer Walker Eget and redshirt freshman Dan Mahan, and it was one of the most talked-about competitions around the program. Eget came out on top, which was the expected result. He arrives with real starting experience and a résumé that made him the logical choice from the start.
Eget threw for over 5,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons as the starter at San Jose State, and he was granted a waiver by the NCAA in February to play this season. This is his final year in college football, no matter how the season unfolds.
Mahan, though, made a strong impression. The fact that a redshirt freshman pushed a sixth-year player as far as he did says plenty about where his game is. Even so, the better part of this story may be what comes next for him.
Under the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model, Mahan will have three years of eligibility after the 2026 campaign. That gives him more time to develop in a system he already knows, even if he never sees the field this season. If he stays in Durham beyond this year, he figures to be right in the mix to open 2027 as Duke’s Week 1 starter.
And there’s still a path for him to factor in sooner. If Eget runs into early-season trouble, Mahan could get his chance to take over.
Duke has 19 commits in its 2027 recruiting class and owns the No. 44 overall class, per 247Sports. Even with that work still building, quarterback might not be a concern if Mahan keeps trending the way he has. The Blue Devils could already have a long-term solution in the building.
In Other News...
Duke Fans Have A New Reason For Confidence In 2025
Dukes season has already taken on a different feel with the unexpected absence of quarterback Darian Mensah, leaving Manny Diaz to sort through a new layer of uncertainty on offense. But if there is a place where the Blue Devils believe they can steady things, it is on the other side of the ball, where Diaz and defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke have been stressing a sharper edge and a higher standard as camp moves along.
Patkes message has centered on competition, with players having to earn their spots and the staff continuing to push that battle for roles throughout the roster. Diaz has been encouraged by the way the defense is carrying itself, and the tone around that unit suggests Duke thinks it can become a source of confidence even as the offense adjusts to a very different reality this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Duke's Push For Colton Hiller Just Hit One Early Complication
Dukes pursuit of Colton Hiller is moving into the next phase, with Jon Scheyer and his staff lining up an official visit for the five-star forward on Oct. 5. Hiller, the No. 1 overall player in the 2028 class, has quickly become one of the biggest names on Dukes early board, and the Blue Devils are also keeping their momentum going across multiple recruiting cycles with visits scheduled for 2027 targets Asa Montgomery and Deng Ngor, plus an offer out to five-star center Yann Kamagate, who could end up reclassifying.
The early wrinkle for Duke is that Hiller is also planning an official visit to Florida, which adds another heavyweight to a recruitment that already has a family connection elsewhere. Florida is where his older brother, Maxwell Hiller, is committed, so this one is not shaping up as a simple head-to-head pitch for the Blue Devils. For Scheyer, the visit still gives Duke a chance to make its case in person, but it also makes clear this recruitment may have more layers than the usual top-ranked prospect chase. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Opener Vs Tulane Comes Down To One Huge Offensive Test
Duke opens its 2026 season against Tulane at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium with a late afternoon kickoff on the ACC Network, and the matchup already has the feel of an early measuring stick. The Blue Devils are favored by 7.5 points, but the real focus is on how the offense comes together in its first live test, with Nate Sheppard expected to be part of the ground game plan and the new quarterback situation drawing plenty of attention.
Walker Eget will make his Duke debut under center, adding another layer of intrigue to a game that could be shaped as much by the conditions as by the matchup itself. Kickoff is expected to come with heat near 95 degrees and a chance of afternoon thunderstorms, which could make the opener feel even more like a stress test for Dukes rhythm, depth, and ability to finish drives against a Tulane team ready to spoil the start. [Read more 🡒]