Atlantic · 2026

Duke

2025 record 9–5 6–2 conference
Postseason ACC champs W 27–20 OT vs Virginia; Sun Bowl W 42–39 vs Arizona State
Head coach Manny Diaz
Scheme Spread / Multiple 4-2-5
Conference
B−

Championship culture + Eget/Sheppard/Richardson keep a bowl-to-upper-half path, but Mensah/WR attrition and bottom-two overall recruiting board cap repeat-title confidence

Portal
C−

Portal #14; the class is ranked low, but QB1 + WR1 + OL/DL starters are high-leverage fits

Depth
C

Enough two-deep names to survive normal injuries, yet many are young or new and the title-year star power is gone

Market odds

To Win ACC
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
To Make Conf. Championship
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
Over 5.5 wins
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%

Recruiting ranks

Overall #16 34 commits · 203.36 pts
Portal #14 19 commits· avg 85.58

Roster notes

Leading story

ACC-title shell with a new offensive spine after Mensah’s exit

QB / RB

Walker Eget (San Jose State) over Dan Mahan and Terry Walker III. Nate Sheppard leads the backfield with CJ Campbell Jr. and Wilhelm Daal II

WR / OL

Jared Richardson (Penn), Jaivon Solomon, Javen Nicholas (Charlotte). OL: Nick Del Grande, Jordan Larsen, Matt Craycraft, Bradley Smith, Braden Miller

Defense

Bryce Davis / Owen Wafle / Preston Watson / Tyshon Reed; Nick Morris Jr. / Luke Mergott; Kimari Robinson / Landan Callahan; DaShawn Stone / Andrew Pellicciotta; Ché Ojarikre

Key offense

  1. 01
    Walker Eget QB
    Portal
    • San Jose State → Duke
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 232/393, 3,051 yds, 17 TD, 9 INT plus 96 rush yds
    • Duke release notes 11 starts and top-5 Mountain West marks in passing yards / YPC / total offense per game
  2. 02
    Nate Sheppard RB
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 200 carries, 1,132 yds, 11 rushing TD plus 37 receptions, 286 yds, 1 TD
    • the best returning proof point on the roster
  3. 03
    Jared Richardson WR
    Portal
    • Penn → Duke
    • 2025 (regular season) ESPN/Penn: 80 receptions, 1,033 yds, 12 TD, first-team All-Ivy and FCS All-America
    • career 193 receptions, 2,505 yds, 27 TD

Key defense

  1. 01
    Kimari Robinson CB
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 34 tackles
    • listed LCB1. Coverage splits still light beyond the tackle total
  2. 02
    Bryce Davis DE
    Returning
    • 2025 (regular season) ESPN: 10 tackles, 1 PD
    • Duke bio/search notes 2.0 TFL and two QB pressures. Low-volume freshman, but The depth chart has him LDE1
  3. 03
    Owen Wafle DT
    Portal
    • Penn State / Michigan → Duke
    • Production was limited: Duke bio says four tackles
    • ESPN lists 5 tackles in 2025 (incl. bowl)
    • Former blue-chip profile and listed LDT1 matter more than the stat line