(Photo Credit: The News & Observer)
Key Players Returning:
RB/KR Peyton Jones, WR/PR Sahmir Hagans, OC Matt Craycraft, OG Justin Pickett, OT Bruno Fina, OT Brian Parker II, DE Vincent Anthony Jr., DE Wesley Williams, NT Aaron Hall, LB Tre Freeman, LB Nick Morris Jr., CB Chandler Rivers, CB Kimari Robinson, FS Terry Moore, SS DaShawn Stone, PR Sean Brown, PK Todd Pelino, and PT Kade Reynoldson.
Key Players Departing:
QB Maalik Murphy, RB Star Thomas, WR Jordan Moore, WR Eli Pancol, OG Caleb Krings, DE Michael Reese, DE Ryan Smith, DT Kendy Charles, LB Alex Howard, LB Ozzie Nicholas, CB Joshua Pickett, NB Cameron Bergeron, and SS Jaylen Stinson.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: EDGE Bryce Davis (Greensboro, North Carolina), TE Bradley Gompers (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), EDGE Bariate Kara (Loganville, Georgia), and QB Darian Mensah (Tulane transfer),
3 Star Recruits: RB Nate Sheppard (Mandeville, Louisiana), WR Jamien Little (Hickory, North Carolina), EDGE Sampson Onuoha (Belmont, Massachusetts), OT Roman Fina (Tucson, Arizona), OL Jamin Brown (Gadsden, Alabama) and CB Kaleb Lanier (Decatur, Georgia).
2024 Results:
G01 ELON W 26-3
G02 @ Northwestern W/2OT 26-20
G03 UCONN W 26-21
G04 @ Middle Tennessee W 45-17
G05 NORTH CAROLINA W 21-20
G06 @ Georgia Tech L 14-24
G07 FLORIDA STATE W 23-16
G08 #22 SMU L/OT 27-28
G09 @ #5 Miami (FL) L 31-53
G10 @ NC State W 29-19
G11 VIRGINIA TECH W 31-28
G12 @ Wake Forest W 23-17
BOWL vs. #14 Ole Miss L 20-52
Misc. Team Information:
2024 Record: 9-4 (6th in ACC)
Home: 5-1
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 5-3
Non-AAC: 4-1
Head Coach: Manny Diaz
Duke: 9-4
Bowls: 0-3
Career: 30-19
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Henry Belin IV (26-45, 243 yards, 57.8%, 5.4 avg., 2 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Peyton Jones (82 car., 317 yards, 3.9 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Sahmir Hagans (47 rec., 413 yards, 8.8 avg., 3 TD)
TDs Scored: Sahmir Hagans/Peyton Jones (4)
Sacks: Wesley Williams (7.5)
Tackles: Terry Moore (71)
Tackles For Loss: Wesley Williams (14)
Interceptions: Terry Moore (4)
Pass Deflections: Chandler Rivers (9)
Forced Fumbles: T. Moore/C. Rivers/D. Stone (2)
Kick Returns: Peyton Jones (18 ret., 382 yards, 21.2 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Sean Brown (24 ret., 233 yards, 9.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Todd Pelino (15-20 fg/fga., 75%, 35-37 xp/xpa., 80 pts.)
Punting: Kade Reynoldson (75 punts, 3285 yards, 43.8 avg., 27 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 10 Darian Mensah (RS SO/TR)
RB: 9 Jaquez Moore (RS SR)
WR: 00 Andrel Anthony (RS SR/TR)
WR: 00 Cooper Barkate (RS JR/TR)
WR: 14 Sean Brown (RS SO)
TE: 85 Jeremiah Hasley (RS JR)
LT: 75 Bruno Fina (GR/TR)
LG: 52 Micah Sahakian (GR/TR)
OC: 72 Matt Craycraft (RS JR)
RG: 77 Justin Pickett (RS SR)
RT: 53 Brian Parker II (RS JR)
KR: 5 Peyton Jones (JR)
PK: 29 Todd Pelino (SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 7 Vincent Anthony Jr. (SR)
DT: 00 Josiah Green (RS SR/TR)
DT: 96 Aaron Hall (RS SR)
DE: 97 Wesley Williams (RS JR)
LB: 12 Tre Freeman (RS SR)
LB: 36 Nick Morris Jr. (RS SR)
NB: 00 Jaiden Francois (GR/TR)
CB: 5 Kimari Robinson (RS SO)
CB: 0 Chandler Rivers (SR)
FS: 1 Terry Moore (SR)
SS: 8 DaShawn Stone (RS SO)
PR: 14 Sean Brown (RS SO)
PT: 41 Kade Reynoldson (SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/28 ELON PHOENIX | Duke leads the series 8-0-1. The Blue Devils won (26-3) last season’s meeting, and they won (52-13) the prior meeting in 2014.
09/06 ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI | Duke leads the series 4-1. The Blue Devils won (38-24) the last meeting in 2020, and their only series loss (6-49) was at the prior meeting in 2019.
09/13 @ Tulane Green Wave | Duke leads the series 3-2. The Blue Devils won (37-7) the last meeting in 2015, and leir last series loss (17-24) was in 1973.
09/20 NC STATE WOLFPACK | Duke leads the series 43-37-5. The Blue Devils won (29-19) last season’s meeting, and their last series loss (20-31) was in 2020.
09/27 @ Syracuse Orange | Duke leads the series 4-1. The Blue Devils won (38-24) the last meeting in 2020, and their last series loss (6-49) was in 2019.
10/04 @ California Golden Bears | Duke leads the series 1-0-1. The Blue Devils played to a 20-20 tie during the last meeting in 1963, and they won (21-7) the inaugural meeting in 1962.
10/18 GEROGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS | Duke trails the series 35-55-1. The Blue Devils are 4-5 since 2015, and their last series win (41-23) was in 2019.
11/01 @ Clemson Tigers | Duke trails the series 17-37-1. The Blue Devils won (28-7) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (6-35) the prior meeting in 2018.
11/08 @ UCONN Huskies | The series is tied 2-2. The Blue Devils won (226-21) last season’s meeting, and their last series loss (14-45) was in 2007.
11/15 VIRGINIA CAVALIERS | Duke trails the series 34-41. The Blue Devils are 1-8 since 2015, and their last series win (38-17) was in 2022.
11/22 @ North Carolina Tar Heels | Duke trails the series 42-64-4. The Blue Devils are 4-6 since 2015, and their last series loss (45-47) was at the prior meeting in 2023.
11/29 WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS | Duke leads the series 61-41-2. The Blue Devils are 5-4 since 2015, and their last series loss (7-45) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Road: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 6-2
Non-ACC: 2-2
Overall: 8-4 (7th in ACC – Bowl Eligible)
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