The Duke wide receiver room came out of Week 1 with more questions than answers, even after the Blue Devils opened the season with a 17-3 win over Tulane at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Duke moved to 1-0, but the passing game never really got off the ground. Walker Eget’s debut was uneven, and the offense finished with just 13 catches for 131 yards. That left the receiver group - already one of the biggest unknowns entering the season - under the microscope.
If there was one name that stood out, it was Idaho State transfer Jonah Burton. Eget seemed to lean his way more than anyone else, and Burton finished with three receptions for 38 yards, the best receiving line on the team.
He also had a missed opportunity in the first half when Eget failed to connect with him on what looked like it could have been a touchdown. Even so, Burton’s night suggested he may be more than just a depth piece.
He wasn’t a major summer talking point, but he looks like someone who could settle into a steady role.
Charlotte transfer Javen Nicholas never got the chance to make his case. He was ruled out shortly before kickoff with an undisclosed issue, so there’s no stock movement there so much as a waiting game.
Nicholas was expected to be one of Duke’s top options in the passing game, and for now, his return timeline is still unclear. The Blue Devils would certainly like to have him back sooner rather than later.
Jeremiah Hasley’s stat line was modest - two catches for 36 yards - but the numbers don’t tell the full story. Eget missed him on back-to-back red-zone throws late in the first half, with Hasley finding space on both plays.
He entered the season as arguably the best tight end in the ACC, and that kind of role doesn’t disappear after one quiet night. He’s still going to be a central part of what Duke does.
Redshirt freshman Jaivon Solomon, meanwhile, didn’t get much of a chance to build momentum. He finished without a catch, which wasn’t the kind of opening showing many expected after a strong offseason push.
The overall passing struggles certainly affected him, but with Jayden Moore, Jamien Little, and Kavon Simmons also in the mix for snaps, Solomon will have to carve out his place. Duke may need a true rotation at receiver, and Solomon still has a path to meaningful minutes.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irving Just Put More Heat On A Huge Cooper Flagg Debate
Kyrie Irvings return to the floor is already shaping the conversation around Dallas next chapter, and it is doing so before he even plays a meaningful game for the Mavericks again. After missing last season because of injury, Irving is expected to open the upcoming year back in the lineup, with new coach Dusty May praising both his work ethic and his talent after offseason workouts. For Duke fans following Cooper Flaggs transition into the NBA, the setup matters because Dallas is clearly trying to build its early-season identity around star power.
The larger question is how long that picture stays intact. Dallas plans to begin the season with Irving and Flagg together, but Irvings name has also come up in trade chatter around the league, which adds another layer to a decision the Mavericks appear ready to make. For now, the team seems committed to seeing what the pairing looks like, and that keeps the Cooper Flagg debate very much alive as camp approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Opened With A Win But One Problem Stood Out
A long weather delay made the opener feel even more like a season reset, but Duke handled the night well enough to leave with a 17-3 win over Tulane and a few encouraging signs on both sides of the ball. Nate Sheppard set the tone on the ground, the defense kept Tulane from finding much rhythm, and the Blue Devils looked comfortable leaning on multiple tight ends while getting steady help from punter Kate Reynoldson in the special-teams game.
Still, the kind of opener that reveals a teams identity also tends to expose the loose ends. Even with Duke in control for much of the game, the passing attack never fully matched the rest of the operation, and that stood out in a way the final score couldnt quite hide. For a team that wanted to start clean and leave with answers, the next step may be figuring out how to make the downfield game fit the rest of what looked so solid. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Opening Win Brought One Early Offensive Concern Into Focus
The Duke Blue Devils opened the season with a 17-3 win over Tulane, and the result came with the kind of early-season balance coaches usually welcome. The defense set a hard tone, with Bryce Davis finishing with two sacks and three tackles for loss, while the ground game gave Duke a reliable way to control the night and keep the Green Wave from settling in.
Even so, the opener also put one offensive issue in plain view. The passing game never really found its rhythm, and Duke will spend the next stretch trying to make sure the offense is not too dependent on one side of the ledger. The Blue Devils have the win they wanted, but they also have a clear area to clean up before the schedule gets more demanding. [Read more 🡒]