Duke’s football program is coming off a season that ended with its first outright ACC Championship since John F. Kennedy was president, but Manny Diaz still has plenty of work ahead as he tries to get more out of less again this fall.
That’s where the transfer portal could change everything for the Blue Devils. If Duke hit on its summer additions, a few newcomers could go from useful pieces to instant difference-makers. Three names stand out: Nick Del Grande, Nicholas, and Kyon Loud.
Del Grande arrives with a reputation that should make Duke fans feel a lot better about the left side of the offensive line. There’s a real case that he was the Sun Belt Conference’s best offensive tackle last fall, even though he missed several games because of injury.
In 663 snaps for Coastal Carolina in 2025, he didn’t give up a sack and allowed only 11 pressures. Over three seasons with the Chanticleers, he has surrendered just four sacks total.
For a Duke offense that has been reshaped this offseason, Del Grande looks like one of the most important new faces. If he keeps the same kind of low-pressure, low-sack profile in Durham, he could put himself on the radar as one of the more intriguing offensive tackle prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Nicholas brings a different kind of juice. The former LSU and Charlotte standout was the best offensive player for the 49ers last fall, and there’s a strong argument that he can be just as dangerous at Duke. As the No. 1 target in a Power Four offense, his ceiling is high.
What makes him so appealing is the full package: speed, explosiveness after the catch, and the toughness to win at the catch point. Those traits give him a chance to be a true playmaker for the Blue Devils, and there’s even a case that he could be a better pass-catcher than Cooper Barkate, who posted just the third 1,100-plus-yard season in program history.
On the defensive side, Kyon Loud could end up forcing his way into the lineup sooner rather than later. Duke is bringing back Landon Callahan and Kimari Robinson, two cornerbacks who produced solidly last season, but the Blue Devils still had room to upgrade that group. Loud gives them that shot.
A top FCS cornerback and a redshirt sophomore, Loud checks in at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. That size, along with his physical style, fits what Jonathan Patke wants on the perimeter. He isn’t listed as a starter right now, but the tools are there for him to become an early impact player and, eventually, one of the better starters on the roster.
In Other News...
Isaiah Evans Just Took A Big Step In His NBA Path
Isaiah Evans has taken a meaningful next step in his NBA career, landing a four-year rookie contract after getting picked in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. For a former Duke wing who spent two seasons in Durham, the deal gives him a real foothold at the next level and reflects the kind of patience teams often show with players whose value can outgrow where they were drafted.
The contract comes with three fully guaranteed seasons and a team option for the fourth, a structure that gives Evans security while leaving room for him to keep proving himself. Some draft analysts had viewed him as a late first-round possibility before he slid into the early second, so the path to this point has already carried a little extra edge, and now the focus shifts to how he turns that opportunity into a lasting NBA role. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Evans Rough Debut Should Not Alarm Duke Fans Yet
Isaiah Evans finally got on the floor for Minnesotas Summer League team after sitting out the opener while the trade that brought him the draft pick was still being finalized. The debut was a rough one on offense, with Evans managing four points and struggling to find a rhythm, but there were still enough flashes to remind Duke fans why he remains an intriguing long-term prospect.
The bigger takeaway was the way he competed on the other end, where his defensive effort stood out even as the shot deserted him. Minnesota gets another look against Portland next, and with a little more practice time under his belt, Evans should have a better chance to settle in and show more of the game that made him worth watching in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Duke May Have The In-House Answer To Its Biggest Passing Question
Manny Diaz enters his third season at Duke with the program riding the momentum of last years ACC championship, but the Blue Devils still have some offensive reshuffling to sort through after losing key pieces and bringing in transfers to help replace them. Even with the roster turnover, Duke did a good job of keeping important talent on both sides of the ball, which gives the staff a chance to look inward for one of its more intriguing answers at receiver.
One of the names worth watching is Jayden Moore, a redshirt sophomore who is expected to take on a much bigger role this fall. Moore has the kind of profile that can quietly matter in a passing game, and Duke may be setting him up for a real opportunity on the outside as it tries to find the right mix around its returning pieces. [Read more 🡒]