Duke football’s rise under Manny Diaz has plenty of moving parts, but the steady hand in the middle of it all is Matt Craycraft.
The Blue Devils are 22-9 under Diaz, and while part of that success traces back to classes brought in by former coach Mike Elko, Diaz has already pushed Duke into a position to contend at the top of the ACC. Last year, that momentum turned into a retooling season that ended with Duke’s first ACC Championship since sharing the gold 30 years ago and its first outright title in six decades.
Craycraft has been a central figure in that climb. The veteran center is four games into the season and playing his best football. The son of former Vanderbilt standout offensive lineman and captain Bob Craycraft, he has built his reputation as a three-time All-Academic player and is likely to become a four-time recipient while also earning All-ACC recognition this fall.
With more than 2,200 snaps and counting, Craycraft has become Duke’s most dependable and consistent offensive lineman since Diaz took over. He leads by example, but his influence goes beyond quiet professionalism. He is the kind of player who pushes for the hard conversations captains have to have when things go sideways in the locker room.
On the field, he brings a physical edge that stands out. Craycraft has been especially sharp as a run blocker this season, a major factor as Duke sorted through its passing game with new faces and leaned harder on star running back Nate Sheppard through four games. He’s created space for Sheppard with power and drive at the point of attack.
He’s been just as solid in pass protection, using sound technique and not allowing a sack. Duke’s offense looks disciplined when he’s out there, and when the Blue Devils need someone to steady the group, Craycraft has become the voice and the force they lean on.
A lot of attention has gone to the flashier parts of Duke’s start, but Craycraft has earned his share of the spotlight. His leadership, his production, and his talent have put him on track to be one of the more underrated linemen in the ACC and the NFL Draft next spring.
In Other News...
Dukes Preseason Debut Hinted At A Team Fans Will Love
Dukes preseason debut offered an early look at a roster that already seems to fit the way Jon Scheyer wants to play. In a 102-62 scrimmage win over Belmont, the Blue Devils leaned on a 10-player rotation, pushed the pace and controlled the glass, with the kind of energy and depth that can make a long season feel a lot more manageable.
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Dame Sarr each scored 19 points, giving Duke multiple ways to create offense and a balanced feel throughout the lineup. The rebounding edge and the overall versatility were just as encouraging as the scoring, and while it was only a preseason outing, it was the sort of performance that can leave fans imagining a team with plenty of options once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Duke May Have Found An Early Frontcourt Answer Under Scheyer
Dukes preseason scrimmage against Belmont offered an encouraging first look at how Jon Scheyers group might start to take shape in the frontcourt. At Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Blue Devils mixed returning pieces with new transfers and still looked comfortable from the opening stretch, building a 49-25 halftime lead behind active defense and steady free throw shooting.
The most eye-catching development came from Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, who looked like an immediate interior factor with 14 points and five rebounds in the first half. For a team trying to sort out its early rotation and find reliable size inside, that kind of production in a live setting is exactly the sort of sign Scheyer can build on, even if there is still plenty left to learn before the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Blowout Win Hintes At A New Scoring Option
Dukes preseason tune-up at Cameron Indoor Stadium offered a first real look at how this group might score when the lights come on for good. In a 102-62 exhibition win over Belmont, the Blue Devils got 19 points apiece from sophomore Dame Sarr and freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, and five different players finished in double figures as the offense kept finding new sources of production.
The more encouraging sign for Duke may have been the way that scoring came without Caleb Foster and Drew Scharnowski on the floor. The Blue Devils still controlled the game with balanced offense and the sort of defense that can travel once the season starts, leaving the sense that this roster may have more than one pathway to points if the primary options are accounted for. [Read more 🡒]