Duke Blue Devils 2026 Season Preview

The answer to Mensah's exit is Walker Eget, a San Jose State transfer who threw for 3,051 yards last season while completing 59 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Those figures do not match what Mensah delivered, but given the circumstances the Blue Devils landed in reasonable shape. Eget was limited this spring by an ACL injury and should be full go for the fall. Behind him, redshirt freshman Dan Mahan owns a strong arm and took plenty of reps this offseason, while Ari Patu (a former Stanford signee who started six games at Alabama in 2025) and ex-Princeton starter Blaine Hipa add veteran insurance ahead of touted freshman Terry Walker.

Duke lost its top three targets, including Cooper Barkate and Que'Sean Brown, so the passing game leans on newcomers. The centerpiece is Jared Richardson, an FCS All-American at Penn who piled up more than 1,000 yards last fall and was a three-time all-conference pick. Charlotte transfer Javen Nicholas (740 yards) brings another proven hand, and sophomore Jayden Moore returns after a smaller role. Baylor transfer Jonah Burton is in the mix as well. Tight end Jeremiah Hasley is a genuine security blanket, coming off a 40-catch, 454-yard, six-touchdown campaign, with Louisville transfer Nate Kurisky adding depth. The room is close to matching last year's experience, though the new pieces need time to mesh with an unsettled quarterback picture.

The one constant is a star. Nate Sheppard set a Duke freshman record with 1,132 rushing yards at 5.7 per carry, added 11 touchdowns, and chipped in 37 receptions for 286 yards. Whoever wins the quarterback job leans heavily on the Nate Train, one of the ACC's premier ball carriers. FAU transfer CJ Campbell Jr. (844 yards, 5.1 average) and Yale transfer Wilhelm Daal give the backfield real depth after the offense lost complementary power back Anderson Castle.

The front returns a pair of proven starters in center Matt Craycraft, a three-year fixture and the group's leader, and left guard Jordan Larsen. Right tackle Micah Sahakian is back after missing last season with an injury, and Coastal Carolina transfer Nick Del Grande, a two-time all-league pick, slots in at left tackle. Cal transfer Braden Miller and sophomore Bradley Smith round out a veteran-heavy unit that skews senior. The line jelled a year ago, pushing the ground game to 4.3 yards a carry, but it must replace an All-America-caliber tackle and prove it can protect a new signal caller.

Here is the biggest question. For a defensive-minded coach, Diaz oversaw a unit that ranked in the bottom half of the ACC in scoring (29.4 points allowed) and total defense a year ago, and the front lost all of its starters, returning barely a single combined career start. There is optimism the group can produce despite the inexperience, much as a rebuilt front did two seasons ago. Sophomore Bryce Davis profiles as a powerful edge rusher poised to break out, and interior man Preston Watson can finish plays. David Anderson, Tyshon Reed and Kevin O'Connor will all be counted on for snaps as Duke tries to generate more pressure after managing just 26 sacks.

This is the strength of the defense. Luke Mergott, who was not even a starter a month into last season, blossomed into a playmaker with 90 tackles, six tackles for loss and two interceptions, including game-clinching picks in both the ACC Championship Game and the Sun Bowl. His run stopping adds to the value. Senior Nick Morris Jr. is back after a torn ACL cut short his 2025, and depth pieces such as Kendall Johnson and rangy sophomore Bradley Gompers give the corps quality bodies. Last season's injuries actually stocked the position with battle-tested reserves.

The secondary blends veteran returners with an infusion of transfers. Rover DaShawn Stone anchors it after an 86-tackle, two-interception season, and cornerbacks Landan Callahan and Kimari Robinson each enter their second year as starters. North Texas transfer Patrick Smith-Young, a high-volume tackler closing in on 200 for his career, should boost the physicality alongside fellow newcomers Dylan Flowers (Western Kentucky) and Evan Smith (Northwestern). Stanford transfer Ché Ojarikre adds another experienced option. The group's veteran presence could make the linebackers behind them even more dynamic, provided the new faces jell quickly.

Duke has been a consistently strong special-teams outfit, and the punting is a clear plus. Kade Reynoldson averaged 44.6 yards per attempt with a 40.3-yard net and returns as one of the ACC's better legs. The kicking is less settled: sophomore Cosme Salas, the kickoff specialist as a freshman, takes over placekicking duties and must prove his accuracy matches his strong leg. In the return game, Sheppard can be explosive fielding punts, and Moore brings juice on kickoffs.