Duke got the kind of quarterback update that can settle a lot of nerves.
At ACC Media Days on Friday, Manny Diaz addressed the status of San Jose State transfer Walker Eget, and the news was as encouraging as the Blue Devils could have hoped. Diaz said Eget is already throwing again and added, "He will be cleared for practice when we start in August.”
That matters because Duke went into the Transfer Portal needing a quick answer after the late loss of star QB Darian Mensah. By the time Diaz and Duke knew they had a hole to fill, many of the top quarterbacks were already off the board. Still, the Blue Devils landed an experienced option in Eget, who threw for over 3000 yares for the Spartans last season and had a huge 473-yard passing day against Stanford, an ACC opponent that is on Duke’s schedule this season.
The concern around Eget has never been about talent. It’s been about health.
He tore his ACL in 2024 at San Jose State but kept playing through it, then added an MCL injury last season before eventually needing surgery. That kept him out of spring practice completely and opened the door for rising second-year QB Dan Mahan to get valuable reps.
Now the competition is about to tilt back toward the portal addition. Eget is the clear favorite because of his starting experience, but Mahan at least got a head start by handling all the spring work.
Even so, Duke doesn’t need Eget to be a one-man show. Matching Mensah’s numbers from last season may not be realistic, and it doesn’t have to be. The Blue Devils should have a strong offensive line again, helped by several portal additions that can protect Eget and create room in the run game.
That ground game should run through rising sophomore Nate Sheppard, who is expected to be one of the ACC’s best running backs and the centerpiece of Duke’s offense in 2026.
There’s also reason for optimism at receiver. Duke added Jared Richardson from Penn and Javen Nicholas from Charlotte, and they join a group that includes freshman Brody Keefe, who has already turned heads in practice.
Put that together, and the job for Eget is pretty straightforward: manage the offense, stay healthy, and let the pieces around him do their part. His return to throwing and expected clearance for August camp is a major step in that direction.
In Other News...
ACC Coach Just Made A Serious Claim About Duke's QB Exit
Pat Narduzzis latest comments added another layer to the offseason scramble around Dukes quarterback room, with the Pitt coach saying Miami first tried to pry away Panthers quarterback Mason Heintschel before the portal closed and then shifted its attention elsewhere. In that telling, Manny Diaz was warned that the Hurricanes were coming after Darian Mensah next, a development that fits the broader churn around a Duke offense that had already been trying to hold on to key pieces.
Mensah ultimately left anyway, and Diaz has made clear how hard it is to turn those kinds of accusations into something actionable. Duke could point to the contract side of the situation, but proving tampering is another matter entirely, which leaves the Blue Devils in the familiar spot of trying to move forward while the circumstances of the exit continue to hang over the program. [Read more 🡒]
Jimbo Fisher Just Framed Nate Sheppard As Dukes Next Centerpiece
At ACC Media Days, Jimbo Fisher made it clear Duke has a back worth building around in Nate Sheppard. The freshman flashed all season with more than 1,100 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, and his best moments showed up when the Blue Devils needed them most, including a big outing in the Sun Bowl win over Arizona State. With Darian Mensah gone, the path is opening for Sheppard to become a much larger part of the offense in 2026.
The expectation now is not just that Duke will lean on him more, but that the workload could jump sharply as the Blue Devils sort out the rest of the attack. Sheppard already proved he can handle the physical side of the job, and Fishers praise only adds to the sense that this is a player who can shape games rather than simply finish drives. The only real question is how quickly Duke turns that promise into the centerpiece role it seems to be preparing for. [Read more 🡒]