Duke’s 2026 offense lost a lot of its shine, but the Blue Devils still have one proven piece who could end up carrying a huge load: tight end Jeremiah Hasley.
That matters even more now, because Duke is heading into the season with real uncertainty around the skill positions. Darian Mensah is gone to Miami, and so are the top three wideouts from last year - Cooper Barkate to Coral Gables with Mensah, Que'Sean Brown to Virginia Tech, and Sahmir Hagans, who exhausted his collegiate eligibility and is now with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Blue Devils’ 2026 offense was the most explosive in the ACC a year ago, finishing first in the league in points per game at 34.6 and total touchdowns with 63. The question now is not whether there will be a dip, but how steep it will be.
Walker Eget, the transfer from San Jose State, is expected to be the starting quarterback. Jared Richardson, who came over from Penn, and Javen Nicholas, the transfer from Charlotte, are projected to be the top two receivers. Duke also has younger pass-catchers like Jaivon Solomon and Jayden Moore waiting for bigger roles, but the room is still full of unknowns as fall camp approaches.
That’s why Hasley stands out. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound tight end is entering his final season in Durham, and he looks set to be one of the central figures in the offense, especially near the goal line. He was at the 2026 ACC Football Kickoff and addressed a comment from Mensah that appeared to take a subtle shot at Duke.
"At Duke there was kind of some friction when I first got there because my dollar amount was released," Mensah said. "Everybody sees that, and it was just hard for me to be the new guy, and everybody said, 'Oh you're getting paid more than me, and I've been here for X amount of years.' At Miami, the culture is different, and it just feels like family and actually feels like I'm at home."
"No, Darian's contract was no problem in the locker room. He was a great quarterback for us.
He earned everything he got. There was never a problem."
Hasley’s production didn’t really arrive until last season. He barely played as a freshman, appearing in four games, and over 2023 and 2024 combined he had just eight catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
Then came the breakout in 2025: 40 receptions, 454 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He finished second on the team in receiving touchdowns and fourth in catches and receiving yards.
Now he enters 2026 four touchdowns shy of Duke’s all-time tight end touchdown record, and he’s the only Blue Devil to earn preseason All-ACC recognition. With so much turnover at receiver, Hasley could be a major target early and often. His red-zone value is obvious, and his role should be as large as it has been since he arrived at Duke.
Along with running back Nate Sheppard, Hasley is one of the biggest returns for Manny Diaz and his staff, and both could wind up as the most important offensive players on the roster this season.
Duke’s top 30 countdown has now reached its final three. The remaining names are No.
3 Jeremiah Hasley, No. 2 Nate Sheppard and No. 1, which will be revealed the day before the Blue Devils begin fall camp.
Duke opens its 2026 regular season on September 5 against Tulane, and there has not yet been a formal announcement on when training camp will begin.
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