Duke has wrapped up its 2026 fall camp, and the picture for Sept. 5 against Tulane at Wallace Wade Stadium is a lot clearer than it was a few weeks ago. The Blue Devils still have a few spots that could shift, but the framework for Week 1 is taking shape.
The biggest headline is under center. San Jose State transfer Walker Eget was officially tabbed as Duke’s starting quarterback on Friday, bringing more than 5,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns from his two seasons as a starter. He arrives with big shoes to fill, though, after Darian Mensah’s 2025 run, which had him in the conversation as arguably the best quarterback in the ACC.
At running back, there doesn’t seem to be much debate. Sheppard seized the job by the middle of last season and now heads into his true sophomore year as the clear lead back. He looks like the kind of runner who can make a real leap.
The receiving group has a different kind of uncertainty, but Duke should still have some real playmaking on the outside. Nicholas may not see a massive volume of targets, yet his speed and Eget’s arm strength could make him a dangerous downfield option. He was Charlotte’s top receiver in 2025, finishing with 60 catches for 740 yards and five touchdowns on a 1-11 team.
Jared Richardson is also expected to be a major part of the passing game. The Penn transfer has long been projected as Duke’s WR1 for 2026, and camp apparently only strengthened that view. Across his career with the Quakers, he piled up nearly 200 receptions, more than 2,500 yards, and almost 30 touchdowns.
The third receiver job remains open, but redshirt freshman Jaivon Solomon gets the nod in this projection after flashing in camp. He put up three catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns in Duke’s first scrimmage. Jamien Little, Jayden Moore, and possibly Kavon Simmons are still in the conversation.
Tight end looks like a strength. Jeremiah Hasley could be the best at his position in the ACC, and his 2025 production backs that up: 40 catches, 454 yards, and six touchdowns. He also sits just four touchdowns shy of Duke’s all-time tight end touchdown record.
Up front, the line is being reshaped by transfers and returning experience. Coastal Carolina transfer Nick Del Grande should step into one of the tackle spots vacated by Brian Parker II and Bruno Fina. The two-time All-Sun Belt selection was one of the program’s top portal pickups this offseason.
Braden Miller, who came to Duke after stops at California and Michigan State, is projected to take the other tackle job. Larsen, who started all 14 games last season after transferring from South Dakota and logged 773 total snaps, remains a fixture on the line.
Matt Craycraft is locked in at center after starting all 14 games last year and playing 975 total snaps. Bradley Smith, a redshirt sophomore, is in line for his first full season as a starter after appearing in 15 games and making one start in his Duke career.
Defensively, Duke has some intriguing building blocks. Bryce Davis looks ready for a breakout sophomore year after arriving as the highest-rated recruit in program history in 2025, according to 247Sports. He finished his first season with 10 tackles and a pass deflection.
Owen Wafle is another name to watch. The former four-star recruit comes to Durham after one season at Michigan and one at Penn State, where he had trouble getting on the field. Duke is hoping this move gives his college career a fresh start.
Preston Watson has been around the program long enough to be a known quantity, and he’s projected to keep a role in the rotation. He has played in every game over his two seasons in Durham and posted 14 tackles and a pass breakup in 2025. Tyshon Reed should also remain a steady presence after logging 22 tackles and a sack last season.
At linebacker, Duke may have its best pairing with Mergott and Morris Jr. Morris is trying to bounce back after injuries limited him for most of 2025, while Mergott tied for the team lead with 90 tackles last season. North Texas transfer Patrick Smith-Young is another candidate to step right in, after finishing 2025 with 73 tackles and three pass deflections and ranking fourth on the Mean Green in stops.
In the secondary, DaShawn Stone brings the most proven production back. He was second on the Blue Devils last season with 86 tackles and added three pass deflections, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.
Cornerback still has some competition, even though Kimari Robinson and Landan Callahan are projected as the starters for now. Montana transfer Kyon Loud, Western Kentucky transfer Dylan Flowers, and Northwestern transfer Evan Smith could all push for time as the season goes on.
Stanford transfer Che Ojarikre is another addition who could factor into the back end of the defense. He finished last season with 30 tackles and two pass deflections for the Cardinal.
In Other News...
Dukes Week 1 Receiver Battle Is Creating A Tough Reality For One Recruit
With fall camp winding down and Duke preparing for its opener against Tulane, Manny Diaz has already settled one big question by naming Walker Eget the starting quarterback. The next decision, though, is still hanging over the offense, and it centers on the Z-wide receiver spot, where Jaivon Solomon, Jamien Little and Jayden Moore have been competing for a role that could shape how the Blue Devils begin the season.
Solomon appears to be the front-runner heading into Week 1, which makes the path a little more complicated for Moore, one of the more highly regarded names in the room. Rather than locking into an immediate every-down role on offense, Moore may be more valuable early as a return specialist and a rotational receiver, a reminder that even talented newcomers sometimes have to carve out production in layers before the bigger opportunities arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Has Two Sophomores Who Could Change This Rotation Fast
Duke enters the season with the kind of roster balance that gives Jon Scheyer real options, and the Blue Devils also have a couple of sophomores who could quickly force their way into the conversation. Patrick Ngongba II and Cameron Williams are part of the long-term talent base, but Caleb Boozer and Italian wing Sarr are the names worth watching if youre tracking how the rotation might shift over the course of the year.
Both sophomores turned in solid freshman seasons and are expected to be in line for bigger roles, which matters at a program where minutes and draft stock are always intertwined. If Boozer and Sarr take the next step, Duke could go from deep to even more flexible in a hurry, and the ripple effects could shape the Blue Devils well beyond this season, especially with 2026-27 already looming as a potential springboard for both. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes ACC Title Defense Rests On A Few New Faces
Duke heads into 2026 in a familiar place and a very different one, trying to defend an ACC title while replacing a good chunk of the roster that got it there. Manny Diaz has already settled on San Jose State transfer Walker Eget as the starting quarterback, a move that gives the Blue Devils an experienced hand to organize the offense as the season approaches.
The bigger test may be how quickly the new pieces around him settle in. The receiver group has been reshaped by transfers Jared Richardson and Javen Nicholas, and on the other side of the ball linebacker Tyshon Reed is expected to be a key figure alongside Bryce Davis as Duke looks to get more out of its pass rush. For a team that just climbed to the top of the league, the margin for error is going to come down to how fast those fresh faces become reliable ones. [Read more 🡒]