Duke’s defense enters fall camp with more questions than answers, and the biggest one is simple: can this group take a real step forward after a rough season?
The Blue Devils need it badly. Under Jonathan Patke, Duke gave up 424.2 yards per game last year, which ranked 121st in the FBS.
The pass defense was even shakier, finishing third from the bottom in yards allowed. If Duke wants to climb closer to College Football Playoff contention, that side of the ball has to look a lot different.
The challenge starts up front. Aaron Hall and Vincent Anthony Jr. are gone to the NFL, taking with them a combined 24 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
Duke will need new production from the defensive line, and sophomore Bryce Davis looks like a strong candidate to become a full-time presence after getting some work last season. Owen Wafle, who played last year at Penn State, could also become an important piece.
Preston Watson and Tyshon Reed, both juniors, are expected to round out the front.
The secondary is just as unsettled. No one has locked down a job back there yet, and that makes sense after the way Duke struggled against the pass. There’s optimism around DaShawn Stone and Andrew Pelicciotta at safety, but the Blue Devils also added Patrick Smith-Young from Old Dominion to push for playing time.
Then there’s the biggest vacancy of all: Chandler Rivers. The Baltimore Ravens made him a fifth-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, and he leaves behind one of the few reliable bright spots from last season’s defense. Rivers picked off two passes, broke up eight more, and finished with 59 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
For now, Che Ojarikre, a transfer from Stanford, appears to be the leading candidate to replace him. But Kaleb Lanier is in the mix too after appearing in five games as a freshman last season.
In Other News...
Duke May Be Catching A Crucial Break Before Its First Test
Dukes first real test of the season may have gotten a little easier before kickoff. Tulane could be without running back Jamauri McClure for the opener because of a left foot injury, a notable twist for a Green Wave offense that was already leaning on a rebuilt backfield after bringing in several veteran runners through the transfer portal.
For Duke, any edge matters in a debut that will say plenty about where Manny Diazs team stands right away. The Blue Devils are sorting through new starting quarterback options and some defensive questions, so the matchup was going to demand a clean start even before Tulanes injury situation entered the picture. Losing a proven runner from the other side would not settle anything on its own, but it could change the shape of a game that already feels revealing for both programs. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Secondary Battle Could Define Manny Diaz's Defensive Rebuild
Dukes pass defense was a problem area last season, finishing near the bottom of the FBS and giving up nearly 277 passing yards per game, so Manny Diaz went into the offseason treating the secondary like an open competition instead of a unit with any established order. He has brought in several transfer players to push for cornerback and safety roles, giving the Blue Devils a chance to reshape a group that needs a cleaner start if the defense is going to take a step forward.
The bigger picture is that the rebuild will not be instant, and Diaz has already acknowledged there will be growing pains as the staff sorts through the mix before the opener against Tulane. For Duke, the question is not simply who plays, but how quickly the secondary can settle enough to look dependable in a league where pass defense can turn a season fast. [Read more 🡒]