Duke Blue Devils 2024 Preview and Predictions

(RB Jaquez Moore – USA Today Sports)

Key Players Returning:

RB Jaquez Moore, WR/PR Sahmir Hagans, WR Jordan Moore, OG Justin Pickett, DE Wesley Williams, LB Tre Freeman, LB Nick Morris Jr., CB Joshua Pickett, CB Chandler Rivers, NB Jaylen Stinson, SS/KR Terry Moore, and PK Todd Pelino.

Key Players Departing:

QB Riley Leonard (Notre Dame transfer), RB Jaylen Coleman, RB Jordan Waters (NC State transfer), WR/PR Jalon Calhoun, OC Jacob Monk (Packers R5), OG Maurice McIntyre, OT Graham Barton (Buccaneers R1), OT Jake Hornibrook, DE Anthony Nelson Jr., DE RJ Oben (Notre Dame transfer), DT DeWayne Carter (Bills R3), DT Aeneas Peebles (Virginia Tech transfer), LB Cam Dillon, LB Dorian Mausi (Auburn transfer), CB Al Blades, NB Brandon Johnson (Oregon transfer), FS Jeremiah Lewis, and PT Porter Wilson.

(QB Maalik Murphy – USA Today Sports)

Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
QB Maalik Murphy (Texas transfer), and DT Kendy Charles (Liberty transfer).

3 Star Recruits:  EDGE Kobe Smith  (Chattanooga, Tennessee), WR Chase Tyler (Hiram, Georgia), LB Ozzie Nicholas (Princeton transfer), WR Javon Harvey (Old Dominion transfer), ATH Landan Callahan (Pfafftown, North Carolina), LB Alex Howard (Texas A&M transfer), OL Mike Barr (Lafayette transfer), and OT Micah Sahakian (Cornell transfer).

2023 Results:

G01  #9 CLEMSON  W  28-7
G02  LAFAYETTE  W  42-7
G03  NORTHWESTERN  W  38-14
G04  @ UCONN  W  41-7
G05  #11 NOTRE DAME  L  14-21
G06  NC STATE  W  24-3
G07  @ #4 FSU  L  20-38
G08  @ #18 Louisville  L  0-23
G09  WAKE FOREST  W  24-21
G10  @ #24 North Carolina  L (2OT)  45-47
G11  @ Virginia  L  27-30
G12  PITTSBURGH  W  30-19
BOWL  vs. Troy  W  17-10

Misc. Team Information:

2023 Record:  8-5 (8th in ACC)

Home:  6-1
Away:  1-4
Neutral:  1-0
ACC:  4-4
Non-AAC:  4-1

Head Coach:  Manny Diaz

Duke:  0-0
Career:  21-15
Bowls:  0-2

(WR Jordan Moore – USA Today Sports)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Grayson Loftis (91-163, 1006 yards, 55.8%, 6.2 avg., 8 TD, 4 INT)
Rushing:  Jaquez Moore (153 car., 819 yards, 5.4 avg., 12 TD)
Receiving:  Jordon Moore (62 rec., 835 yards, 13.5 avg., 8 TD)
TDs Scored:  Jordan Moore (8)
Sacks:  Trey Moore (2.5)
Tackles:  Tre Freeman (106)
Tackles For Loss:  Brandon Johnson (8.5)
Interceptions:  Tre Freeman/Joshua Pickett/Chandler Rivers (1)
Pass Deflections:  Chandler Rivers (7)
Forced Fumbles:  Tre Freeman/Aaron Hall/Ryan Smith (1)
Kick Returns:  Trey Moore (10 ret., 233 yards, 23.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Shamir Hagans (1 ret., 7 yards, 7.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Todd Pelino (18-23 fg/fga., 78%, 38-38 xp/xpa., 92 pts.)
Punting:  None

Projected Offensive Starters

QB:  6  Maalik Murphy  (RS SO/TR)
RB:  9  Jaquez Moore  (SR)
WR:  4 Eli Pancol (GR)
WR:  8  Jordan Moore  (SR)
WR:  2 Sahmir Hagans (RS JR)
TE:  81  Nicky Dalmolin  (SR)
LT:  76  Jack Purcell  (GR/TR)
LG:  64 Eric Shonn (GR/TR)
OC:  62 MIchael Barr (GR/TR)
RG:  77  Justin Pickett  (RS JR)
RT:  53  Brian Parker II  (RS SO)
KR:  1  Terry Moore  (JR)
PK:  29  Todd Pelino  (JR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  97  Wesley Williams  (RS SO)
DT:  91  Kendy Charles  (GR/TR)
DT:  99 Aaron Hall (RS JR)
DE:  14  Michael Reese  (GR)
LB:  12  Tre Freeman  (RS JR)
LB:  36  Nick Morris Jr (RS JR)
NB:  2  Jaylen Stinson  (RS SR)
CB:  24 Tre’Shon Devones (GR/TR)
CB:  0  Chandler Rivers  (JR)
FS:  15  Placide Djungu-Sungu  (RS JR)
SS:  1  Terry Moore  (JR)
PR:  2  Sahmir Hagans  (RS JR)
PT:  41  Kade Reynoldson  (FR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  B
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  A
Punters:  C

Schedule:

08/30 
ELON PHOENIX  |  Duke leads the series 7-0-1.  The Blue Devils won (52-13) the last meeting between schools in 2014, and they won (41-27) the prior meeting in 2010.

09/07  @ Northwestern Wildcats  |  Duke leads the series 13-10.  The Blue Devils are 5-2 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (13-24) was in 2016.

09/14  CONNECTICUT HUSKIES  |  Duke trails the series 1-2.  Last season’s 41-7 win was the first meeting between schools since 2007.

09/21  @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders  |  Duke won (41-18) the only prior meeting between schools in 2019.

09/28  NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS  |  Duke trails the series 41-64-4.  The Blue Devils are 3-7 since 2014, and their last series win (42-35) was in 2018.

10/05  @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets  |  Duke trails the series 35-54.  The Blue Devils lost (20-23) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

10/18  FSU SEMINOLES  |  Duke trails the series 0-20.  Last season’s 20-28 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2020.

10/26  SMU MUSTANGS  |  Duke leads the series 2-0.  The Blue Devils won (14-6) the last meeting between schools in 1956.

11/02  @ Miami (FL) Hurricanes  |  Duke trails the series 5-15.  The Blue Devils won (45-21) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

11/09  @ NC State Wolfpack  |  Duke leads the series 42-37-5.  Last season’s 24-3 win was the first meeting between schools since 2020.

11/23  VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES  |  Duke trails the series 13-19.  The Blue Devils won (24-7) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

11/30  @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons  |  Duke leads the series 60-41-2.  The Blue Devils are 5-4 since 2014, and their last series loss (745) was in 2021.

Predictions:

Home:  2-4
Road:  2-4
Neutral:  0-0
ACC:  0-8
Non-ACC:  4-0

Overall:  4-8 (10th in ACC)