With Duke football closing in on its Sept. 5 season opener against Tulane at Wallace Wade Stadium, the picture around this team still isn’t fully sharp. That’s no surprise. Manny Diaz and his staff are sorting through a roster that lost a pile of key contributors after the 2025 season, and there are plenty of young players who still need to prove they can handle real roles.
The biggest reason Duke is tough to peg right now is simple: there are a lot of unknowns. The defense has its own turnover, but the offense has felt especially unsettled because several skill spots remain up for grabs. Still, fall camp has offered a few clues about how the Blue Devils might choose to use what they have.
One of the clearest takeaways is in the backfield. Sophomore Nate Sheppard is locked in as Duke’s workhorse back in 2026, and after breaking out as a 3-star rookie in 2025, he heads into this season as one of the most productive running backs in the ACC. He might also be the best running back in college football that almost nobody is talking about.
Even so, the rest of the room has shown more depth than expected across Duke’s two scrimmages. Rutgers transfer CJ Campbell has looked like a dependable change-of-pace option with pass-catching value, while freshmen CJ Givers and Jayvian Tanelus have both flashed. Tanelus posted eight carries for 38 yards in this past weekend’s scrimmage after going for eight carries and 48 yards in the first one.
Sheppard is still clearly RB1, but Duke may have a rotation that stretches beyond just one or two names. There’s a real chance three or four backs see steady snaps.
The wide receiver picture looks just as fluid. After losing its top three receivers from last season, Duke entered camp with the room’s biggest question mark hanging over it. Penn transfer Jared Richardson and Charlotte transfer Javen Nicholas appear to be the top two options heading into 2026, but the WR3 job has been wide open.
Young returners Jaivon Solomon, Jamien Little, and Jayden Moore were the main contenders for that spot, though none has separated in a way that makes the race feel settled. That might end up being fine for Duke. The Blue Devils could simply lean on all three.
Solomon made the loudest early statement in the first scrimmage, finishing with three catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Little answered in the second scrimmage with four receptions for 22 yards. Moore remains in the mix as well.
One of them could still push ahead, but the more realistic outcome may be a shared role. For Duke, that kind of flexibility might be the best way to handle a receiver group that is still coming together.
In Other News...
Dukes Receiver Battle Could Force A Tough Roster Decision
Fall camp has given Duke plenty to sort through as it builds toward the 2026 season, and the wide receiver room may be one of the trickiest puzzles on the board. The Blue Devils are replacing key production there, and transfers Jared Richardson and Javen Nicholas have emerged as the leading options while the staff tries to settle the depth chart.
The real squeeze comes behind those two, where returners Jayden Moore, Jaivon Solomon and Jamien Little are all vying for what looks like one remaining meaningful role. With competition this tight, Duke may not be able to keep everyone happy, and the possibility that one of those receivers looks elsewhere if the snaps do not come is hanging over the position battle. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Offense May Depend On More Than Nate Sheppard
Dukes offensive blueprint this fall sounds built around a familiar idea: lean on the run, stay on schedule and let the game come to the Blue Devils. Sophomore back Nate Sheppard is expected to be the primary ball carrier, and the recent scrimmage work backed that up, with Sheppard leading the ground game while CJ Campbell Jr., Wilhelm Daal II and freshman CJ Givers also got involved.
But the bigger question for Duke may be whether that backfield can do enough on its own to make the plan work. The staff wants ball control and fewer turnovers, which puts added pressure on the quarterback race, where the deciding factor is less about flash than who can best protect the football and keep the offense moving. [Read more 🡒]
Former Duke Five Star Just Added A Twist To Kentucky Move
Mark Mitchells move to Kentucky has taken on a legal wrinkle, even as his basketball future looks pointed toward Lexington. The former Duke and Missouri forward entered the transfer portal, committed to the Wildcats and was expected to suit up for Kentucky next season, which would make the upcoming year his third stop in college basketball.
A Kentucky court has now granted Mitchell a temporary restraining order that lets him pursue a fifth season, adding another layer to an already unusual path. For Kentucky, it keeps the door open on an experienced frontcourt addition, but the situation is still unsettled enough that the final resolution will matter well beyond a routine transfer announcement. [Read more 🡒]