The Duke Blue Devils football program is staring down a tough season, with their regular season opener set for September 5 against Tulane. Head coach Manny Diaz and his staff have been hustling in the offseason, working the transfer portal to bring in some big-name talent.
These new guys have a lot to prove in camp, especially since they’re stepping in for some major departures. Duke, last year’s ACC champs, wants to defend that title, but honestly, it’s all going to come down to how fast these additions can click.
So, who needs to step up? Let’s take a look at the key players who’ll have to make their mark.
Quarterback Transition: Eget Steps In
The biggest shakeup for Duke is at quarterback. Eget is taking over for Darian Mensah, who—let’s be real—was probably the best QB in the ACC last year.
Eget’s NIL valuation is a wild $2,052,000, making him the highest-valued player on the roster. But he hasn’t proven himself at the Power Conference level yet, so there’s a lot riding on him.
Eget’s Background and Potential
Eget played his whole career at San Jose State, starting for two seasons. He put up 5,555 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions while he was there.
Mensah’s last-minute transfer left Duke scrambling, so the hope is Eget’s big arm will translate quickly to the ACC. The pressure’s on—he’s got to adapt fast and show he can handle the jump in competition.
Wide Receiver Overhaul
The Blue Devils took some real hits at wide receiver, too. Their top three guys from 2025—Cooper Barkate, Que’Sean Brown, and Sahmir Hagans—are all gone.
That leaves a pretty big hole in the offense.
Richardson: The New WR1
Richardson looks like the guy to step up as WR1. He’s 6’2″ and had a breakout year at Penn in 2025, snagging 80 receptions for 1,033 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
He made First Team FCS Football Central All-American, which is no small thing. His NIL valuation is $877,800, so Duke’s betting big on him making an impact.
Can he bring that Ivy League magic to the ACC? That’s the question, and it’s a huge one for Duke’s offense.
Defensive Reinforcements
Duke’s defense lost some key pieces, especially at safety. Caleb Weaver and Terry Moore, both standouts, are gone.
Now, new faces have a shot to step up and fill those shoes.
Smith-Young: A Promising Safety
Smith-Young comes over from North Texas and should compete for a starting spot right away. In 2025, he led the Mean Green’s secondary with 73 tackles and three pass deflections.
With an NIL valuation of $491,624, he brings a solid mix of experience and talent. If he can adjust to the ACC’s level of play, he could be a real stabilizer for Duke’s secondary.
Defensive Line Additions: Wafle and Davis
The defensive line’s getting a facelift, too, with Owen Wafle and Bryce Davis likely to start. Wafle, a former 4-star recruit, barely saw the field at Michigan and Penn State.
Now, he gets a fresh start at Duke. The Hun School product has a NIL valuation of $374,818, which says a lot about his upside.
Next to him, Bryce Davis—also a former 4-star—will try to boost the line. If these two can live up to their recruiting hype, Duke’s defense could stay tough.
Challenges and Expectations
This season’s got a lot of unknowns for Duke. There are big changes on both sides of the ball, and it’s going to take some quick chemistry for things to work.
Key Factors for Success
- Quarterback Performance: Eget’s got to step up and lead the offense, plain and simple.
- Receiver Integration: Richardson’s adjustment to the ACC—and his connection with Eget—will make or break the passing game.
- Defensive Stability: The new faces on defense need to come together fast if Duke wants to keep things tight.
Conclusion
The Duke Blue Devils are gearing up for their season opener against Tulane. All eyes are on how these high-profile NIL additions will fit in and actually perform.
There’s a lot riding on whether these new faces can step up and fill the gaps left by players who’ve moved on. If you’re curious about the details on Duke’s NIL additions, take a look at the source article over at Sports Illustrated.
The journey to defend the ACC title is just getting started. Honestly, it’s shaping up to be a pretty exciting season for the Blue Devils.
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