Football Preview 2026

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2026 SCHEDULE

Letter from the editor

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Alex Min It's good to be back! The new school year is fully underway, and I hope you've all had an exciting, but not stressful, first two weeks of class. Even if a midterm or paper or problem set already has you worried, though, the return of Duke fall sports may be the remedy.

This is our fourth annual football preseason print edition, a collection of indepth features, graphics and predictions for Duke's campaign as reigning ACC champions. Just like the Blue Devils who will run out on Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium against Tulane Saturday, our football beats have been hard at work interviewing, writing and editing stories about the most interesting parts of Duke football. We had the special opportunity to sit down with coaches, players and staff and discuss the upcoming season, so make sure to read all the content in this preview before the Blue Devils take on the Green Wave!

If you are interested in joining The Chronicle, it is hosting an open house in Flowers 301 on Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a final info sessions at Social Scienes 103 on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.

Vol.122 Sports Masthead Editor: Alex Min Managing Editors: Colton Schwabe, Ryan Hamner Blog Editor: Ella Bilu Assistant Blog Editors: Brady Cross, Lucie Ansell, Spencer Oshins

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SOCIAL MEDIA STARS

The building of a brand: How Duke football and its players navigate social media in an NIL era

By Ella Bilu Blue Zone Editor

On the field, Landan Callahan is one of Duke’s most reliable defenders. Online, he’s one of the Blue Devils’ most prolific posters.

Callahan posts “Day in the Life as a D1 Football Player" videos and dances in his uniform to Nelly’s “Ride Wit Me” with Nate Sheppard on TikTok. He shows off his skill training and trips to New York City on Instagram. With more than 10,000 followers across both his platforms, the redshirt sophomore has created a social media brand that incorporates his football and personality into videos and images.

When Callahan, a projected starting cornerback, creates this content, his motivation is simple.

“Just being myself,” he said. “I post a lot of dances, so basically showing the part of me that's not all football and my personality side of it.”

While the Rural Hall, North Carolina, native is the driver of his online brand, Duke football was ready to help its player.

Enrolling in one of the university’s most recognized classes — Aaron Dinin’s Building Global Audiences course, better known as the “TikTok Class” — Callahan learned how posting consistently and intentionally could grow his online brand. At his side was Luka Galasso, the course’s teaching assistant and Duke football’s player brand coordinator.

Galasso joined the team after taking the very same class as a sophomore, becoming just

the second student creative media intern at the time.

“I was really interested in understanding why content creation was such a powerful form of media, and I applied to a football role,” Galasso said. “I had never really worked for a sports team or done anything in media professionally and just wanted to see if I could apply some of the principles I'd learned to the Duke football brand.”

She graduated from Duke’s Trinity College of Arts and Sciences this past summer and has since remained with the team and started a graduate program at the Fuqua School of Business.

With her new coordinator title, Galasso works for Brent Greenberg, the senior director of external strategy, and a group of several other media-focused individuals to maintain one of the university’s largest brands — all while building up individual player brands simultaneously.

To date, the Duke football brand boasts a wide presence across social media. The team has more than 230,000 followers on Instagram, 129,000 on X (formerly known as Twitter) and 61,000 on Facebook. The program also maintains accounts on TikTok, Threads and Bluesky.

The short-form content platform TikTok is where the team boasts 434,000 followers, its largest count.

Content there is often more personable — it’s also more popular. Sometimes, players are dancing to new trends (64,000 likes on a video from mid-August); other times, they are challenged with breaking eggshells with just their biceps (700,000 likes). No matter the content style, though, head coach Manny Diaz’s squad shows itself off in a new light.

For Galasso, generating fan excitement through a creative approach to team coverage is key.

"My goal has been to create sports content that wasn't just informational or promotional in the traditional sense, but actually entertaining for fans,” Galasso said. “And creating content that created opinions, created conversations and was a little bit outside the box from what college teams are typically creating.”

She is often the voice behind the challenges and pranks that grace the home page of the program’s TikTok. In February, she asked players how they could sit on the ground without bending their knees and got 1.5 million likes. In mid-August, Galasso pranked players about a missed fishing trip, recording their varying reactions, and earned 14,000 likes.

For this year’s media day, she even brought her puppy in to surprise players and take photos with them — behind-

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the-scenes content that garnered close to half a million likes.

Ultimately, though, Greenberg explained that Blue Devil social media is multi-faceted in its goals. In his eyes, recruiting is a priority.

“We want to show off what the team is about so that our recruits are interested and they know what Duke football is about, and we can help promote Duke football,” Greenberg said.

The media team also considers ticket sales, fan experiences and donors.

On Instagram, Duke fans have access to in-practice photos, informative news and a mix of video content. On X, Blue Devil followers can keep up with score and roster updates. And on YouTube, they can enjoy cinematic recaps of historic moments like capturing the 2024 Victory Bell, which won a Regional Emmy in February 2026. With each new online and offline development in the media world, Greenberg and his creative team have to respond to a shifting landscape.

In an era where Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) has tackled the game and its players head-on, helping players like Callahan cultivate their individual profiles is an increasingly relevant opportunity.

"Everything that we're doing is now shifting more towards player focus,” Greenberg said.

Just as Callahan pointed to Galasso as a social media mentor of sorts, Greenberg also noted how her individual-focused teaching

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | 5

LINEBACKERS

Left: Lena Nguyen | Staff Photographer Middle: Amy Zhang | Data Editor Right: Andy Jiang | Staff Photographer

Veterans Kendall Johnson (42), Luke Mergott (34) and Nick Morris Jr. (36) are poised to lead the Duke linebacker room.

'Changing the game': Duke's veteran linebackers lead with confidence, experience ByAbby DiSalvo Managing Editor

It reassured him to hear a press conference in which head coach Manny Diaz compared his story to that of Eli Pancol, a former Duke wide receiver who suffered Thirty snaps into his senior season, back-to-back season-ending injuries before linebacker Nick Morris Jr. broke his exploding for 798 yards and nine touchfibula. He spent the rest of 2024 on the downs in his final year. The two are close sidelines, watching his teammates sweep friends, and Morris often thought of Panstate rivals and play their way to a nine- col’s positive attitude while he weathered win campaign. his own injuries.

Morris bounced back to start the next The linebacker’s persistence was obvious year, collecting an impressive 17 tackles, to his teammates, especially Luke Mergott, 3.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries in who stepped up to fill the mike linebacker his first three games. High hopes for his role as a redshirt sophomore when Morris 2025 season came crashing down in Week suffered his second shortened season.

4, when he attempted a first-quarter tackle “We do everything we do to play footagainst N.C. State’s Justin Joly and ended ball, so it's very hard when that's taken up at the bottom of a dogpile. away, and he was very optimistic throughHe didn’t get up for several minutes, out both injuries,” Mergott said. “I think swallowing the pain of a shattered tibia there's something to be said for that, and alongside a bitter dose of deja vu.

I think it's really impressive how he at“A bonafide season-ending injury,” tacked every day and kept optimism and Morris remembered thinking as he was believed that he was going to be back. Obcarted off the field. “It was almost like, viously, he is now.”

‘Wow, I can't believe that happened again.’”

Morris turned to religion in some of his He mustered a meek thumbs-up for toughest moments. When he sat on the cart the crowd of fans before he disappeared in the middle of Wallace Wade Stadium, into the tunnel, even though he knew his leg wrapped in a thick bandage and eye they wouldn’t see him on the field again black smeared across his face, he decided he that season. Then, he decided to devote wanted to become a confirmed Catholic. his recovery time to studying the game “I remember it clear as day in my head. of football.

I'm looking at the stands, everyone’s lookMorris began charting opponent’s of- ing at me getting carted off the field,” Morfenses at every game, delivering notes to ris said. “I'd expect myself to be suffering defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke be- traumatically in that moment, emotionally tween drives. He answered teammates' and physically. But I felt very at peace in questions and came to see himself as a that moment, knowing that I'd have more coach-like figure time to devote myself in the linebacker to Christianity.”

"I was able to look at the defensive room. During the He worked through scheme and the game of football from the process and was team’s second bye a different perspective, almost like a confirmed at the week, Morris even 30,000-foot view.” took advantage of 2026 Easter Vigil. his one-week masHe also worked his NICK MORRIS JR. ter’s program term way through recovLINEBACKER break to sit in on a ery, ready to play by coaches-only gamethe time spring camp planning meeting. rolled around.

“When you're playing linebacker or “In some ways, I'm actually grateful that you're playing football, it's very easy to I went through the past two years,” Morris get stuck and lost in the minutia of your said. “I think I'm a much more mature, reresponsibility. You can very easily become silient, mentally tough, emotionally strong, myopic and near-sighted, insofar as you are spiritually strong person.” thinking only about what you have to do on that play,” Morris said. “Being taken out 'Supreme confidence' of that responsibility of actually playing, I Morris brings a depth of experience to felt like I was able to look at the defensive the linebacker room, with his six years as scheme and the game of football from a a Blue Devil spanning the David Cutcliffe, different perspective, almost like a 30,000- Mike Elko and Diaz eras. His injuries, howfoot view.” ever, also deepened the experience of the Between all the studying, Morris recov- rest of the squad. ered from the surgery that replaced his broMergott was not in line to take many ken leg bone with a titanium rod. snaps as a redshirt freshman in 2024. After

Morris went down, he saw the field every even going so far as to discuss his intengame, if only for a few plays. In 2025, he tions with strength coach David Feeley stepped up in Morris’ place again — this in their January one-on-one meeting. He time as a 10-game starter with the green has grown close with Gompers — having dot, a direct, albeit trained with him at one-way, line of an NFL Combine facommunication to cility in Tampa this "An opportunity's ready, and it's May — and shares a the sideline.

“I had no one high school alma manot going to wait for you." behind me, so it ter with Schaper. was my turn to play The connections LUKE MERGOTT 900 snaps,” Mergott he formed with the LINEBACKER said. “I think it's Blue Devils’ next just a mentality that generation of lineeveryone's got to backers, as well as the be ready and you never know when your longstanding friendships that continue to number's going to be called on. An oppor- bloom inside the position room, pay off tunity's ready, and it's not going to wait in an infallible sense of community. They for you.” have fun, too: Mergott and Johnson spend Mergott’s self-assurance grew on the plenty of time playing ping-pong on the field throughout both seasons, and he third floor of the football center. stopped second-guessing himself as often But when the linebackers take the on runs. He capped the Blue Devils’ 2025 field this season, Morris will get his longseason with two highlight-reel worthy in- awaited third go-around at a final seaterceptions: the first in overtime against son. Mergott will look to dominate in his Virginia to clinch the ACC Championship, rightfully-earned starting spot. The sophand the second against Arizona State to omores will continue to put their stamp win the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. on Duke’s defense, as will the other veterHe called his mentality “supreme confi- ans in the room. dence” — an overwhelming belief in his “The [2025] season ended on a lineown ability, which he picked up from for- backer making an excellent play, changing mer Duke linebacker Dorian Mausi. When the game and winning the game for the Mergott got back to Durham at the end of team,” Morris said. “I think that level of exthe season, the team honored him and four cellence and that caliber of play will pick up other players with its annual Tough Award right where it left off.” at the final banquet.

'The model for our entire program' Then-freshmen Elliott Schaper and Bradley Gompers also saw extended game action as the Blue Devils weathered their 2025 storm of injuries, which took veterans Tre Freeman and Kendall Johnson out for a few weeks.

Though Duke had one of the poorest defenses in the ACC that season — largely due to a thin linebacker room and a weak secondary — the younger players’ highpressure snaps retained their value. Coaches had such confidence in the room’s proficiency that they only brought one transfer into the fold this offseason: Morris’ younger brother Jon, a redshirt sophomore from Connecticut. Two freshmen linebackers also joined the team, but the remainder of the room has at least one year of practice within Duke’s system.

“That breeds familiarity,” Diaz said.

“Ideally, that's the model for our entire program, where you see guys come through the development arc.”

Morris made it an explicit goal to mentor his younger teammates last season,

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6 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

STRENGTH

‘Pour into each other’: How Duke football builds trust in the weight room

By Lucie Ansell Assistant Blue Zone Editor

With the clock ticking closer and closer to 4:30 p.m., a flurry of black t-shirts runs through the halls in the bottom floor of the Harold Yoh Football Center. Shouts of “Time to go!” ring loud as athletes take their places.

Director of Football Sports Performance David Feeley stands at the front of the room, and with little more than his presence, he commands the start of the final weight lifting session of fall camp.

Not a single expression of doubt, annoyance or despair is evident among the dozens of players who are at the mercy of Feeley’s perfectly calculated plan for the afternoon. Instead, they seem excited and energized, ready to take on whatever is thrown at them. After all, the athletes whole-heartily subscribe to the wellknown coach’s ways — fondly referred to as “the church of Feeley” by Duke football head coach Manny Diaz.

‘Nothing is by accident’ The workout doesn't start with weights.

Instead, players must complete a warm up that fills two-thirds of a sheet of instructions in machine-like fashion. Coaches prowl the room, correcting posture and holding the athletes accountable for every movement.

With two players to a rack, they trade off performing exercises, each pair moving perfectly in sync with the duo beside them.

“I don't know if it's militaristic. I just think it's a standard of excellence. I really do,” Feeley

said. “[The team doesn’t] deserve anything less than that. They don't like it when they don't have that structure, they don't want any part of it, because it keeps everybody accountable.”

A brief silence falls over the room before redshirt sophomore Jon Morris’ voice booms loud, guiding the team through a cadence of resistance band work. With seemingly little instruction, the leading role passes to various corners of the room.

After four athletes take their turns, the symphony of “left” and “right” calls come to its finale, signaling the end of the warmup and the beginning of the lift.

Players approach the tablets that are mounted to every rack, inputting the weight they've loaded on the barbells. The sensors then collect data on bar speed (in meters per second), which allows coaches to measure athletes’ power and increase workout efficiency.

“The lifting is very scientifically based as far as certain data points are concerned,” Feeley said. “Nothing is by accident in [the weight room].”

Learning to dance Notably missing from the session are the team’s rookies. They — being unfamiliar with the specificity of the team’s lift — spend the majority of their time attending development sessions, where they learn how to master the choreographed dance that takes place in the weight room.

“It is such a difficult environment not only physically, but mentally,” graduate linebacker

Courtesy of Duke Athletics Lifting weights is as much a team activity as it is an individual one for the Blue Devils.

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Nick Morris Jr. said. “Every single person that plays on a Duke football field will have gone through at least a summer [with Feeley], if not a winter and summer, and in my case, like five winters and summers.”

The first-timers learn the steps and tempo expected of them. Littering the racks that they — and the rest of the team — use are photos of professional weightlifters, a scheme designed to show athletes the form they should aim for every single time they train.

“Those people [in the photos] are the best, and the expectation is that all of these guys work to be as close as possible to the best,” Feeley said.

The halls of the training room are also decked out in inspiration in the form of all kinds of records. Some concern speed, some are recent

Courtesy of Duke Athletics David Feeley has helped transform Duke football.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | 7

and some are names few players remember.

Each number serves as a not-so-gentle reminder of the expectations that athletes are held to from day one in the program.

‘I bet Tulane can do it’ That same, not-so-gentle approach is how Feeley has built the culture of Blue Devil football into what it is today. Everything from matching tee shirts with “this is the way” across the chest to the rotating racks players train at is deliberate.

“I think it's very difficult to have a program where players are going to accept the level of difficulty that is required to have a team be bonded, which our program continues to demand from [us],” Morris said.

As the lift progresses, players get put on the spot, expected to show their teammates what they can do. Often, it's Feeley’s voice that is first — and loudest — egging on whoever has the spotlight on them. He’s quickly followed by the rest of the team, who circles around their teammates, chanting, shouting and cheering them on.

“When you treat everybody equally accountable, there's an enormous amount of trust that goes on in the world,” Feeley said. “We start that day one in January.”

Over the blaring, carefully chosen music, shouts of “I bet Tulane can do it” can be heard — referencing the looming start of the fall season — giving each athlete the last bit of energy needed to complete the workout.

The hour-long session wraps up with final stretches, where Feeley reminds the team of how long they have been working to build a foundation for the season ahead. He tells them that the moment has come to focus and lean into the team.

“Pour into each other,” Feeley says. “Now’s the time.”

Courtesy of Duke Athletics Running back Nate Sheppard is primed to build on his breakout freshman year.

BRAVING UNCERTAINTY

After an unpredictable 2 seasons, head coach Manny Diaz’s program is used to preseason uncertainty

By Myles Powicki Associate Editor

So much of the offseason conversation surrounding Duke football has been about the changes in player personnel. It’s pretty normal for head coach Manny Diaz.

It was a time of dramatic turnover when Diaz first took the reins in Durham, as he entered after Mike Elko’s midnight flight to Texas A&M and to Riley Leonard sitting in the transfer portal, ready to leave for Notre Dame.

It was a time of dramatic turnover in Duke’s roster beyond Leonard, as well. Jalon Calhoun, Jordan Waters, R.J. Oben, DeWayne Carter, Aeneas Peebles, Dorian Mausi, Al Blades Jr., Jeremiah Lewis and the entire starting offensive line departed Durham as well. Diaz, offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer and defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke didn’t blink in the face of such losses. They brought in talent from the transfer portal, counted on their returners to take steps into significant roles, revamped their playbooks and went 9-4.

In his only season at Duke, Maalik Murphy set the school’s single-season passing touchdown record and was the driving factor behind the 9-3 regular season record. He decided to leave on Dec. 9, the same day backup signal-caller Grayson Loftis entered the portal. Once again, Diaz and co. didn’t blink. They brought in Darian Mensah two days later.

Despite Mensah’s obvious talent, it’s often overlooked that Duke wasn’t a sure thing heading into last season. Once again, the Blue Devils lost

Thomas Han | Staff Photographer Manny Diaz now enters his third season as Duke football head coach. crucial starters in Eli Pancol, Jordan Moore, Caleb Krings, Kendy Charles, Star Thomas, Ozzie Nicholas, Jaylen Stinson and Joshua Pickett. There were questions surrounding how well Cooper Barkate would adjust to playing in a power conference, and there were numerous question marks on the defensive side of the ball.

Once again, Diaz, Brewer and Patke trusted the talent they brought in, trusted the leaps their returners would make and altered playbooks to fit their personnel. Even then, it took a tiebreaker that has since been altered to give Duke a chance to redeem what felt like a fumbled season.

Coming into this season, there are more changes that spawn concerns. Just to name a few: How will Walker Eget adjust to ACC

football? Who will step up among the wide receiver corps to lead the pass-catching front?

How will the secondary adjust to life postChandler Rivers?

However, if there’s anything the Diaz-led program has been accustomed to in the past few seasons, it’s change.

“We showed our team a graphic last night: In this offensive system, which has been two years at Duke, two years at SMU when Coach Brewer was there and two years at Miami when we were together with Brett Lashley. We've had six different quarterbacks play for us in six years, and all of those quarterbacks averaged over two touchdown passes per game,” Diaz said in his first media availability of the new

season. “We showed them our defensive ends in this system for the last 20 years. It's been over a decade since a starting defensive end in this system is not on an NFL team. The ‘whos’ in college football always change. The ‘what’ and the ‘how’ ideally do not change.”

Looking at it from Diaz’s perspective, concerns about players moving around seem less significant. If a college football coaching staff ever expects to not have to deal with fluid rosters, it doesn't understand a core principle of the sport. Instead, Diaz and co. opt for trust in the culture, institutions and plans they’ve built.

“There's guys getting added to rosters right now, if you think that you're safe or you've got this plan, you better have backup plans and be ready to go — that's just what this day and age is,” Brewer said.

On the other side of the ball, Patke feels the same. As the defense lost key playmakers in Rivers, Jaiden Francois, Vincent Anthony Jr., Aaron Hall and Josiah Green, opportunities for playing time ramped up. Alongside opportunities for depth to step up on the line and in the secondary, the linebacker room was packed full of starting-caliber players, with no one’s starting job guaranteed as the Blue Devils started camp.

“What I'm most looking forward to with our team this year is that we have a lot of new guys and a lot of people that don't have the most experience,” punter Kade Reynoldson said. “I

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NEW YEAR, NEW QB

Walker Eget is ready to be Duke football's next leader

By Alex Min Sports Editor

Walker Eget wasn’t sure if he’d play another down of college football ever again.

Five years at San Jose State had seen Eget build an injury history that would make hardnosed veterans of the sport flinch. A twice-torn ACL, severe trauma to his meniscus and MCL, another surgery to add a lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) to his knee for ACL support — he had every reason to say his athlete days were behind him, especially with a coveted sixth year of eligibility not certain.

But to understand Duke’s newest starting quarterback is to realize that an unceremonious retirement was never in the cards. That’s simply not how he operates.

'Made up with hard work' Walker Eget is far from the first in his family to gravitate toward the gridiron.

His older brothers Weston and Wyatt both played football, both started at quarterback for their respective high schools and both ultimately reached the collegiate level. The bar was set high, but Eget had plenty of opportunity to spend time around the game, serving as a water boy in eighth grade while Weston started for West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch, California.

Chris Varner, who spent eight years as West Ranch’s football head coach, remembered a young Walker Eget as “a very short, not quite mature-looking boy.” He didn’t look the part of a future high school starting quarterback, much less one college, although the intangibles — attitude, work ethic, leadership — seemed to already be in place.

“What he lacked genetically early on, he made up with hard work,” Varner said. “And by the time his genetics caught up, he was just ready to shine, and that's what he did.”

By his junior year of high school, Eget, growth spurt completed, sat atop the quarterback depth chart without much competition. His talent was evident — he had already broken school records that season — but gaudy numbers or blowout wins aren’t what remain ingrained in Varner’s memory.

A shooting at a local school in Eget’s hometown Santa Clarita, California, had devastated the community — football was the furthest thing from people’s minds. Even still, West Ranch’s playoff quarterfinal game the next day was approved

to go ahead as scheduled after deliberation. ian Mensah. In his redshirt sophomore year freshman Dan Mahan saw significant firstThe Wildcats were playing Woodrow Wil- in Durham, Mensah delivered on the hype, team action and showcased his talent in the son High School from Long Beach, Califor- breaking program records en route to Duke’s annual Blue & White scrimmage. nia, “a team by far betfirst ACC ChampiBy the time Eget was ready to join his new ter than us in any way onship since the title teammates on the field, a full-blown posiyou want to measure game’s introduction in tional battle was seemingly underway — and "He's just got winning in him." 2005. An offseason of Mahan held the early advantage thanks to it,” said Varner.

No matter the lofty expectations and both health and familiarity. As the sixth-year long odds, 8,000 fans supercharged enthu- gunslinger started to shake off the rust, howCHRIS VARNER showed up for the siasm was smothered, ever, his wealth of experience shone through, FORMER HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH postseason clash, an however, when Men- and on Aug. 25, Diaz named him the starting attendance record at sah made a last-second quarterback. the time. And the West Ranch faithful were decision to swap Durham for Miami.

Varner had little doubt Eget would emerge treated to a roller-coaster game that saw its But the modern college football land- on top, emphasizing that his former player team face 21-point deficits twice, but each scape requires programs to be as adept at belonged in the upper echelons of the sport. time, the Wildcats clawed their way back into fixing hemorrhaging rosters as orchestrat- In the coach’s eyes, if the COVID-19 pandemthe contest. Then with the game hanging in ing 80-yard drives or landing five-star re- ic had not “robbed [Eget] of what would have the balance at the end of the fourth quarter, cruits. And so, the Blue Devils were back in been an excellent senior year,” his former Eget’s squad converted a two-point conver- familiar territory. water boy’s recruitment out of high school sion to take the lead, stunning the visitors.

For Eget, on the other hand, everything may have involved a few more names, some “He certainly could have bowed out when was brand new. perhaps bigger than San Jose State. it wasn't looking good, which it was not for “Being at one school for five years, I was As exciting as Eget’s physical talents are, most of the game,” Varner said about comfortable with everything, but I think though, his intangibles have again stolen the the quarterback. “But Walker, I got I just wanted a new chapter in my life,” the spotlight ahead of the new campaign. Teamto tell you, there's something about Santa Clarita, California, native said. “I felt mates and coaches alike have lauded the him. He's just got winning in him like it was the end of my time [at San Jose transfer for his seamless integration into the — and a fight and just a desire to State].” locker room and the immediate steady leadbring the best not only in himself, Luckily, “a lot of schools reach[ed] out” ership he has provided. but those around him, and to to Eget once he put his name in the transfer “I really like what I've seen from Walker,” rally the team and quite frank- portal — even without another year of eligi- graduate linebacker Nick Morris Jr. said. ly, the town around himself.” bility secured. Yet, most seemed to be doing “He's stepped up in leadership this fall camp.

Eget’s resilience car- only their due diligence, not taking “the time Guys have bought into his leadership, and I ried him through college, to get to know [him] as a player.” Duke and think he's going to have an incredible year.” too. After learning that head coach Manny Diaz immediately stood “He's been one of the quarterbacks that he had torn his ACL out from the lackluster crowd. we brought in that have been very ‘adapt in October 2024, the “There's a difference between being to the culture fast,’” offensive coordinasignal-caller played the wanted and going sometor Jonathan Brewer entire 2025 season without where that you want to said. "He's got a lot of the ligament entirely. Even be, and this is a place "This was a place where I really savvy, football-wise, more remarkably, Eget still where I really wanted but his locker room wanted to be." produced for the Spartans, re- to be,” Eget said. “Being culture — the guys recording 3,051 yards, 17 touch- able to talk to the playally bought into him…

WALKER EGET downs and nine interceptions ers and the coaching I think that's the bigQUARTERBACK through the air along with staff beforehand — they gest thing when you completing 59.0% of his passes wanted me to come out come in, especially — all career highs, one knee here, and that was something that really as a transfer quarterback, is can you get the and all. catches your attention right away.” people to rally behind you?”

The future of his college caDespite living in California his entire life, In leader-like fashion, Eget has given all reer remained murky and out of the graduate transfer has had little difficulty the credit to his teammates, noting the prohis hands, yet it remained clear adapting to life on the opposite side of the gram has a “family culture.” that the quarterback still had country — with one exception.

“It makes being a player here and the adplenty left in the tank.

“It's a lot more humid — that is for sure. justment very, very easy,” he said.

I'm not really used to that,” Eget cracked. “It's The most pressing questions now sur‘A new chapter’ been a really fun time. Definitely enjoying round what the quarterback and the Blue It’s safe to say that neither Duke the area of Durham and happy to live some- Devils will look like on the field, and the nor its fans thought the Blue Devils where new.” season opener against Tulane should provide would be looking for a prospective an immediate test. But Eget won’t be fazed: starting quarterback in the transFinding QB1 He knows what it feels like when to have a fer portal again. The departure of Unlike the Blue Devil quarterbacks be- team — a community — rally behind you.

Riley Leonard in 2023 had fore him, Eget’s “QB1” status — even as the He’s more than prepared for this challenge. led to former Texas gun- big-name acquisition — was far from guarLet the next chapter begin slinger Maalik Murphy, anteed throughout the offseason. Recovery who was then succeeded by from knee surgery kept the former Spartan high-ranked Tulane transfer Dar- sidelined during spring practices, as redshirt Courtesy of Duke Athletics

dukechronicle.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | 9

VETERAN TIGHT END

In final Duke season, tight end Jeremiah Hasley looks to 'leave behind a legacy'

By Elle Chavis

again, his prediction proved to be correct.

But, when it came time for schools to come knocking with offers to play at the college It was Nov. 27, 2020. The Pine-Richland level, the offers did not come rolling in as Rams looked to earn the high school’s second Hasley or the coach had predicted. state championship and complete their unde“I would say I was underrecruited in high feated season. school. I think COVID had a big impact on Pine-Richland already held a sturdy 28-7 that,” Hasley said. “But I told my parents lead in the third quarter of the contest, but when I was going through the process, I its opponent, Cathedral Prep, looked poised wanted to go to a school that was very exto score in a last-ditch attempt and turn the cellent in both football and academics, and momentum of the game in its favor. fortunately enough, Duke was actually my The Ramblers had already made it to the first Power Four offer late in my junior goal line, but they were subsequently stopped summer going into my senior year … I told three times. On the last-chance fourth down, my parents to be honest, there's not many junior linebacker Jeremiah Hasley sacked the other schools that would be very similar in opposing quarterback for a 7-yard loss, re- what Duke has to offer.” sulting in a turnover on downs.

All roads lead to Durham, and so after Pine-Richland went on to win the state graduating from Pine-Richland, Hasley bechampionship in absolutely dominant fash- came a Blue Devil under then-head coach ion, with the scoreboard reading 48-7 when Mike Elko. And Duke did seem to get it all the clocks hit triple zero, thanks in no small with the Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, native: a part to Hasley’s fourth-down stop. fast, tough player with a high football IQ, eaThat’s just one of the earliest exam- ger to make a difference and carve out a role ples of Jeremiah Hasley stepping up to for himself wherever he was placed. make a difference.

Hasley played in four games in his freshNearly six years after that high school man year and headed into his sophomore state championship, Hasley has weathered a season expecting to be competing for a startposition change, a season-ending lower leg ing linebacker job. Then, Elko suggested that injury and a head coaching change that made Hasley make a position change. national news.

“Coach Elko pulled me aside and was like, “He's a kid [that] you could put 100% faith ‘Hey, like it doesn't look like you're going to in,” his high school coach, Eric Kasperowicz, be one of our main contributors on defense, said. “Whatever you ask him to do, he's going but we do really believe you're talented and to get it done to the best of his ability.” can play on this team this year. And how we Kasperowicz remembers Hasley growing see it is if you move to tight end, that would up when he first started playing football in be a place where we think you would excel.” the Pittsburgh area. Kasperowicz’s own son “It's always hard to go through a transiwas just a few years younger than Hasley. tion like that,” Hasley said. “But I was excited “He just always stood out down there as a to play. That's what I told him: ‘Hey, anything bigger, faster, stronger kid,” Kasperowicz said. that I can do to play, I'll do it.’”

Along with his staff, Kasperowicz watched Hasley had some previous experience Hasley come up through the middle school playing tight end. In high school, he had takranks, eager for the day he would join the en reps on both sides of the ball, functioning Rams in high school. By the time Hasley was as a “Swiss Army knife,” as Kasperowicz put a sophomore in high school, he had already it. Still, making that change late in the offearned a starting poseason gave Hasley limsition on the team, a "He just always stood out down ited time to adapt to the rarity in the competi- there as a bigger, faster, stronger offense and still earn a tive Pittsburgh high place in the rotation. kid." school football scene.

The high football “That's the thing IQ and mental toughERIC KASPEROWICZ with football players, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH ness from his high right? A lot of them school days would end have a couple of the pieces,” Kasperowicz up paying off. Hasley learned the offense said. “Some might be really fast, but maybe and met his personal goal: making an apnot that tough. Some might be really tough, pearance in Duke’s season-opening game but maybe not that smart. Some might be, against Clemson, an all-time Blue Devil you know, really, really smart, but not that classic that ended in a rare field-storming athletic. And with Jeremiah, you kind of get at Wallace Wade Stadium. The start boded the trifecta.” well for the trajectory of Hasley’s career. He From those early days, Kasperowicz pre- continued to work hard, playing in all but dicted that Hasley would be one of those one game that season and starting five of the players who simply had it all. Time and time games he appeared in.

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SOPHOMORE

Going into the 2024 season, Hasley was score in overtime. Once again, he stepped primed to be a key contributor in new head up to make a difference. coach Manny Diaz’s offense. But hopes for a Now, Hasley enters his last season as a strong junior campaign were almost immedi- Blue Devils with the prospect of a careerately dashed: in the second game of the cam- defining season waiting for him. In a world paign against Northof college football filled western, the tight end with change, Hasley suffered a lower leg in- "I would say you have to earn the has been one of Duke’s jury that forced him to primary stayers, a vocal trust of your teammates." sit out the remainder leader not just on ofof the schedule. fense but in the locker JEREMIAH HASLEY Coming back from room. He enters 2026 TIGHT END the injury in 2025 four touchdowns shy with the departure of of the all-time program other key offensive weapons, Hasley finally record for his position. Other accolades have had the chance to make his breakout perfor- already started to pour in. Even before Duke mance, a chance he readily took. Not only has taken its first snap, the 6-foot-3 tight end did Hasley now have the starting role at tight has been named No. 55 on Bruce Feldman’s end, he also had a larger voice in the locker Freaks Lists. room as a leader on the team.

But the attention doesn't take up too Kasperowicz says that Hasley has always much space in Hasley’s head as the Blue Devbeen a natural leader, dating back to his high ils prepare for their 2026 season opener. Neischool days as someone “that people natural- ther does the expectations placed on Duke in ly gravitate towards.” Hasley maintains that the wake of the 2025 ACC Championship while he’s never been afraid to speak up, at followed by quarterback Darian’s Mensah the college level, leadership takes more than last-minute departure for ACC foe Miami. talking or simple charisma.

“You're not trying to achieve an acco“You always have to work at it,” Hasley lade when we're working in the off seasaid. “It takes credibility, it takes experi- son. It's how our program is built through ence. I would say you have to earn the trust [Director of Footof your teammates. Coach Diaz always talks ball Sports Perforabout our ending formula in this program mance] [David] is trust, and when you go out there on the Feeley,” Hasley field and there's 11 players and you don't said. “It's not in trust one of them and there's only ten our heads that you do, then your team's never going we're trying to to win. You're never going to be sucachieve somecessful on the field.” thing from In his redshirt junior caman accolade paign, Hasley showcased the standpoint. trust the 2025 Blue Devils It's more of a had built with one another. bonding thing, Though the team faced its but obviously ups and downs, the nowthat's a nice cherchanged ACC tiebreaker ry on top.” rules landed Duke an For Hasley, sucimprobable spot in cess, whatever comes Charlotte for the of Duke’s 2026 cam2025 ACC Champipaign, will come first onship game. from the locker room.

Even more im“I told myself when I left probable, the team this program, left this school, that I won the game, wanted to leave behind a legacy, and capturing its first not that it’s about the stats or the acACC Championcolades that I achieved or what the team ship, in large part achieved,” Hasley said. “I hope I’m one of due to Hasley haulthe guys that they talk about in the years to ing in a fourthcome of what it meant to be a Duke football down touchdown player.”

— his second of the game — for Left: Anabel Howery | Audience Engagement Director what was ulMiddle: Amy Zhang | Data Editor timately the Right: Tiffany Chen | Staff Photographer winning

JUNIOR

SENIOR

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10 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

FROM DOWN UNDER

‘The road less traveled’: Punter Kade Reynoldson’s unique journey from Australia to Duke football

By Ryan Hamner Sports Managing Editor

Kade Reynoldson knew it was going to take a while to get to Durham.

Getting from Gold Coast, Queensland — an eastern Australian coastal surfing city just south of Brisbane — to Durham takes at least 20 hours of air time on three flights. That’s if everything goes smoothly, which wasn’t the case for Reynoldson as he made the long journey in January 2024. Delays nearly doubled the trip for the incoming freshman, who was forced to sleep in the Denver airport before moving into his Trinity dorm room on two hours of sleep.

“I was like, ‘this is the worst thing I’ve ever done,’” Reynoldson told The Chronicle.

“But then as soon as I got here, I just felt like I was getting looked after and in a place that I really belonged to and wanted to be at.”

Two-and-a-half years after that odyssey, Duke football’s starting punter now stands tall as a leader, with his belonging fully realized as one of two internationally-born players on the university’s biggest team.

Flipping the script Technically speaking, Reynoldson’s journey to the Bull City began long before he boarded any flight out of the land down under. He grew up playing Australian Rules Football (ARF) — a sort of cross between soccer and rugby — bouncing and kicking an egg-shaped ball up and down the field before booting it between posts at each end. By the time Reynoldson graduated high school, he had most of the tools of an American football punter witho u t even

realizing it.

He knew about college and NFL football, and had fallen in love with the

game while on vacation in the United States in 2016. Reynoldson recalls seeing the Arizona Cardinals hosting the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs, where legendary Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed two hail marys on the final drive to send the game to overtime.

“The Packers ended up losing, but I thought it was like the coolest thing ever,” Reynoldson said. “So I became an Aaron Rodgers fan first, and then just sort of followed the Packers and developed an affinity for them.”

Reynoldson also was attracted to the American college scene, citing the common coming-of-age movie trope as he fantasized about life across the Pacific ocean. Will Lynch, one of his good friends growing up in Gold Coast, made the big move and began punting at FCS program Long Island. Reynoldson was enamored and wanted to be next, but things weren’t so simple.

“It was scary,” Reynoldson said. “I had just graduated high school, and I was going to go into law and commerce at university. I was in the ARF Gold Coast Suns Academy, and my draft year was going to be the year after that, which I was hoping to get drafted for.”

With so much seemingly in place, he initially couldn’t see the logic of risking two positive opportunities — higher education and the Australian Football League — to attempt to play football in the United States.

“I figured I sort of owed it to myself to kind of do something a little bit out of the box and really just sort of jump all in and give it a real big crack,” Reynoldson said.

“I had to drop university, [and] had to drop AFL, to really bet on myself for it.”

So a month after graduating high school in November 2022, Reynoldson tried out with Prokick Australia, an academy dedicated to transforming AFLtrained players into professional soccer, rugby or American football players. Nine former Prokick athletes went on to win the Ray Guy award for best collegiate punter, four have made Super Bowl appearances and four have won a National Championship.

Reynoldson became the newest addition to the program in January 2023, and moved down south to Victoria for nearly a year to train. Midway through the year, then-head coach Mike Elko dialed up the Prokick staff

looking for a punter. Reynoldson, with a strong academic record and new promise as a collegiate punter, got the nod and found himself packing up to take that fateful flight to Durham in January 2024.

It was a pivot most 19 or 20 year-olds probably wouldn’t attempt.

“I think a lot of how I go about things is kind of trying to do the thing that people don't want to do, or that, you know, take the road less traveled a little bit,” Reynoldson said.

“I think that's such a big thing [for me]. Trying to be uncomfortable more than you would like. I feel like that's when you grow, so I love doing that.”

He certainly was uncomfortable upon arrival to the east coast, but it was the welcoming arms of fellow mid-year move-in Jayden Moore that eased the qualms. Jayden’s parents — experienced after helping their older son Jordan three years before — were happy to take Kade under their wing.

Of course, it’s not like he needed much help. With an authentic Australian accent and a laid-back attitude he naturally developed while spending much of his youth surfing, Reynoldson quickly found his footing on campus. But despite the cheeky demeanor and pearly full-toothed smile he often lets out, the punter is a hard-nosed competitor.

Finding the footing In his true freshman season in 2024, Reynoldson burst on to the scene. Starting all 13 games, he finished second in program history for average punting yardage by a rookie (43.8), good for an honorable mention AllACC selection. He improved that average last season, bumping it up to 44.6 yards per game in Duke’s ACC Championship campaign, winning special teams MVP of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl and finishing the year as one of the best punters in the country. His success is certainly skill-related, but like most special teams positions, it’s a mental game.

“The position I play, it can be very stressful, and you can get in your head a lot of the time,” Reynoldson said. “So it's good to sort of have a bit of lightheartedness about yourself and not take yourself too seriously. [You can’t] let yourself get too high, but definitely don't let yourself get too low either.”

That lightheartedness is evident; Reynoldson is quick to jump around on the sideline and celebrate with his teammates, and he’s visibly well-liked by players and fans alike. It helps that he’s incredibly good at “flipping the field,” pinning opposing offenses back deep.

“I think the big thing is that [the punter is] sort of the connector between offense and defense, and [you’re] trying to set up a good field position for the defense, so that can be pretty stressful,” he said. “I try and tell myself

Alex Long | Lena Nguyen

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before every kick a ‘no mind’, kind of thing, and just sort of clear everything out of my brain … I like to just be super calm and relaxed out there, and I find myself not getting too nervous.”

That is, of course, until it's time to hold for a place kick. The last two seasons, Reynoldson developed a close rapport with placekicker Todd Pelino — as the duo admittedly ran the gamut for outcomes on field goal attempts.

Against Georgia Tech, the holder was unable to corral a high snap, muffing the hold before being forced to scamper 15 yards behind him for a loss. Four weeks later, the two flipped the script: Reynoldson connected with Pelino last season at North Carolina, flipping the kicker the ball to convert a fake field goal that set up the go-ahead score late in the game.

“I find myself getting a little bit more nervous for holds actually, because you're impacting someone else a bit more than you are with punting,” he said. “If you stuff up a punt, it can still sort of end up being a good thing. I think some of my best punts actually are shanks that have just kind of rolled down the field … But with holding, you have to be perfect, and if you're not, then you're directly impacting someone else.”

Three weeks after the cinematic fake kick, the punter got all the spotlight. With the Blue Devils up 42-32 over Wake Forest in the final week of the regular season, Reynoldson took advantage of a retreating Demon Deacon secondary to scamper 26 yards for a first down. Was that the play call on the field? Not in the slightest.

“That was Kade being a baller,” head coach Manny Diaz said at the time. “He came over and apologized afterward, and I said ‘You don’t have to apologize for that one, big guy.’”

Reynoldson says he just “went off on his own.”

Taking the road less traveled made all the difference.

Connecting the dots Taking it all in as the Duke punter pranced around, celebrating his successful fake punt,

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | 11

Lena Nguyen | Staff Photographer Reynoldson and former Duke kicker Todd Pelino celebrate a successful kick. was his mother, Nicole, who was celebrating make connections among those around him her birthday; she got more than she asked for — including authoring a newfound connecthat Saturday night. tion between his older sister Casey and Duke “I'd seen a couple punters do it in the past, football strength coach David Feeley. and I've always thought in a few games like, Casey, an exercise physiologist, made the ‘Oh, I could've ran that one,’" Reynoldson long trip to watch her younger brother play said. “The Wake game, they weren't rushing last season, and Kade put her in touch with at all, and I was like, ‘I can definitely make this Feeley to set up a shadowing opportunity. here.’ It ended up working out for me, so I'm “Coach was awesome with it. He basically super thankful for that, so it was nice to fi- took her under his wing for two weeks, so he nally pull it off. I went over to the sideline and was awesome, super invaluable for her. Like wished Mum a happy birthday. That was kind she learned so much through him while shadof a gift to her, which was cool.” owing at basically every practice we had durThe family ties are important for Reyn- ing the week.” oldson. Living over 9,300 miles away means After she returned home, Casey made sure to working extra hard to keep up relationships, keep the Gold Coast-Durham connection strong. but it comes naturally for him. Just like he “As a thank you gift, she gave [Feeley] a connects the offense and defense on the field, bunch of goodies from back home, and it was Reynoldson’s outgoing personality helps him wrapped in an Australian flag,” Reynoldson

said. “So he hung that up in the weight room, which is pretty special.

Now, for the foreseeable future, operations in ‘the sewer’ will be supervised by the Southern Cross as the flag sits above a row of mirrors in the back corner of the weight room — a lasting mark of the connection Reynoldson made. It also serves as a reminder for the junior of where he’s been and who he represents as he continues to compete.

As he enters his third season, Reynoldson is primed for another strong year that will likely see him become the program’s 12th 7,000-yard punter in near-record time.

Though there’s a strong chance his name will soon litter Duke’s record book, he’ll have plenty of time to continue raising the bar. The NCAA’s recent ‘5-in-5’ rule augments his eligibility, allowing him up to two more years to keep booting the ball in the Bull City. From there, Reynoldson isn’t sure what will happen, but the world will be his oyster.

“I feel like the NFL is kind of like a backup plan for me in a lot of ways,” he said. “I don't want to put all my eggs in that basket. If it doesn't work out, I'm falling back on a Duke degree and everything's going to be okay; but if it does work out, I'm going to give it everything I've got and see how far I can take it.”

Whatever the plan is, it will likely be anything but traditional. But just as Australian stargazers trace the outline of the Southern Cross in the night sky, Kade Reynoldson will surely connect the dots.

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12 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

What will Duke’s record be?

9-3: I’m usually not the resident optimist, but despite the tumultuous offseason, I am still up on the Blue Devils. Head coach Manny Diaz has instilled a culture of toughness into his team.

Even though it’s become one of the most ofttalked about things in relation to Duke teams of late, I believe that toughness has given the Blue Devils the ability to bounce back from anything, to roll with the punches and not let anything stop them. I predict that Duke will falter in its early season trip to face off against Illinois, lose to Virginia on the road and take its final loss against Clemson as the Tigers get revenge for the 2023 season-opener upset. -Elle Chavis 5-7: After the unfortunate series of events that came at the end of the Blue Devils’ 2025 season, I have a hard time believing that the defending ACC champs will have an effective offense. Even with Nate Sheppard set to have an explosive season in the Duke backfield, I think Diaz’s team will struggle in the air, particularly early on in the season. With my prediction that the Blue Devils drop their season opener to Tulane before getting blown out in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, I think Duke will be a bit behind in the win column after the first two weeks, and it doesn’t help that many of the opponents that the Blue Devils are projected to be weaker than face Duke with home-field advantage. All things considered, I am not high on Diaz’s third campaign in Durham. -Colton Schwabe

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Who will be Duke’s offensive MVP?

Who will be Duke’s defensive MVP?

Nate Sheppard: Duke’s star running back had a breakout freshman campaign, and I have no doubt he will continue to shine as a sophomore. Sheppard has been nominated for a laundry list of preseason accolades, and his tried-and-true abilities should offer offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer some familiarity on a roster full of new faces. With questions still surrounding quarterback and wide receiver production, I think Sheppard will become a de facto spark for the Blue Devil offense. He will also start from Week 1, giving him even more opportunities to surpass last season’s 1,132-yard, 11-touchdown statline, in which he didn’t start until Week 5. -Abby DiSalvo

Nick Morris Jr.: I’m optimistic about the impact of the linebacker room, which is deep with experience. The leader of that squad is graduate Nick Morris Jr., who will be ready to leave his stamp on the Blue Devil defense after suffering back-to-back season ending injuries in 2024 and 2025. He appeared poised for a promising season in each of the past two years, collecting a total of 19 tackles, four tackles for loss and one fumble recovery in five total game appearances. Now that he’s back, Morris will surely be ready to make his final season one to remember. -DiSalvo

Jeremiah Hasley: Sheppard is clearly amazing at what he does, but in my eyes, a good tight end can unlock so much more in every aspect of the game. Hasley isn’t just a good tight end, either. The Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, native is the top dog in the conference, and he’ll be top of mind for any defensive coordinator worth their salt. The Pine-Richland product is able to block with the best of them — which will undoubtedly have a part in Sheppard’s success this season — and is a legitimate pass catching threat who can shed tackles from elite defenders once the ball is in his hands. Hasley has the chance to shine like the star he is this season in an offense looking for production, and he’ll take home team offensive MVP honors for the second year in a row. -Myles Powicki

Preston Watson: The linebackers are certainly the strongest group on paper coming into this season, but football teams succeed on the backs of their linemen. Watson is the biggest man the Blue Devils have on the defensive side of the ball, and the pocket-pusher offensive coordinators will be scheming around. Despite not putting up gaudy numbers last season — he spent most of his time behind Aaron Hall and Josiah Green on the depth chart — Watson made his presence felt every time he put his hand in the dirt.

There will be more responsibility on Watson’s shoulders as a new leader in the trenches, but he’ll help anchor the defense through a successful campaign -Powicki What will be Duke’s best win?

Miami: Most of my fellow beats have picked Miami to be the 2026 ACC Champions, and

while I agree with them, I still think the Blue Devils will pull out the major upset in Coral Gables, Florida, on Nov. 14. Duke has a strange tendency of losing games it should not lose and winning games it should not win. I think that tendency will continue when the Blue Devils face off against the Hurricanes. Think of this as a revenge game, seeing as Duke will face off against former star quarterback Darian Mensah, whose last minute departure from Durham for Miami left his former team scrambling to find a new starting quarterback. Mensah also brought with him his favored receiver, another former Blue Devil, Cooper Barkate. Alhough all parties have denied any tension remaining from the moment, I still expect emotions to run high, and for Diaz’s team to pull off a victory that shocks the world. -Chavis N.C. State: I have to admit I don’t necessarily share Elle’s optimism, as my record prediction for these Blue Devils probably shows. That being said, I expect Duke to sweep the state for the third time in as many years under Diaz.

North Carolina should be a fun rivalry matchup like always, but I don’t believe the Tar Heels will make much noise in the ACC, leading me to N.C. State. While Hollywood Smother’s transfer to Texas stings, the Wolfpack are one of a shrinking number of programs to return their starting quarterback in CJ Bailey. A furtherdeveloped Bailey will present a tough test for a Blue Devil defense with new starters in droves — and that’s without mentioning that the game will be in Raleigh, not Durham. But with Diaz at the helm, Duke has always met the moment

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against its in-state rivals, and that shouldn’t change this year. -Alex Min What will be Duke’s worst loss?

Miami: By no means will it be a surprise if Duke falls to its former quarterback and the Hurricanes, but I have a bad feeling that it is awaiting a truly depressing fate in the 305. After advancing to the national championship game without Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate last year, this Miami squad remains poised to continue its dominance — this time with two of the Blue Devils’ most crucial former assets.

While some of my peers like Elle feel that the prospect of revenge could propel Duke to an unexpected win, I can’t help but feel that Mensah will also be seeking vengeance against a program that filed an aggressive lawsuit to protest his departure and broken contract. With the home team advantage and, quite frankly, a superior roster to work with, I see Mensah sending Diaz’s squad back to Durham beaten and demoralized. When a Mensah-led drive eventually sees Barkate racing to the end zone, the only thing Blue Devil fans will be feeling is devastation. “What could have been?” will be the lurking thought that makes a loss against Miami particularly bad. -Ella Bilu Virginia: There is no doubt that Virginia is going to be a difficult opponent for the Blue Devils. Last year’s ACC Championship victory over the Cavaliers came in overtime at a neutral location. This fall, Duke will make the trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, without key leadership from last year’s squad there to help them navigate the emotion-heavy game. And as Ella pointed out, the loss of Mensah and Barkate is

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | 13

going to have major effects on the strength of Can the pass defense step up enough to keep Duke the Blue Devil offense this year. While a loss to in games?

Virginia will be heartbreaking for those of us I agree with Alex that the offense’s ability in Durham, I doubt the mid-season contest will to find rhythm under center and generate end another way. -Lucie Ansell success on the ground and through the air will be an issue — but I’ll go a different direction.

The Blue Devil defense is bigger, stronger and What are Duke’s biggest questions faster than it was a year ago, and the unit is heading into the season? poised to return to the top-end form it had in 2024. However, I’m curious to see who in the Will Duke have more than one starting secondary steps up and makes plays to fill the quarterback? shoes of first-year pro cornerback Chandler All off season, I didn't have much doubt Rivers, and who on the edge is able to get to that Walker Eget would eventually be named the quarterback to pressure the pocket. With Duke's starting quarterback. The unexpected Duke facing several top-end quarterbacks this departure of Mensah following the transfer season (I think of Beau Pribula, CJ Bailey, of backup signal-caller Henry Belin IV meant Darian Mensah and Christopher Vizzina all that the Blue Devils were essentially starting in successive weeks,) the defense will be relied from scratch — and like many other programs, upon heavily to keep games close and return they would be looking for "QB1" in the transfer the ball to the hands of a weaker Blue Devil portal. Eget isn't as splashy a pickup as Mensah offense to win games. -Ryan Hamner was, but the former Spartan comes with five seasons of college experience under his belt.

How will the ACC shake out?

Compared to the rest of the Duke quarterback room, Eget seems like the most sure thing — I echo Ella and Lucie when it comes to hence Diaz naming him as the starter in August. the talents of Miami and Virginia — but the But the California native's path to getting that conference is plenty deep this season, and it’s job wasn't as smooth as expected, as he faced hard to envision another year without a little bit stiff competition from redshirt sophomore Dan of chaos. I’m predicting as many as 12 teams to Mahan, who impressed in the annual Blue & make a bowl this year, largely by nature of beating White spring scrimmage. Mahan offers more each other up. The Hurricanes, Mustangs, the raw upside than the veteran — and thus may Cavaliers and Louisville will likely be the teams be the more exciting pick to the Blue Devil to beat, but strong cases could be made for a faithful — but I'm not sure if Diaz and offensive rebound season for Clemson and improvement coordinator Jonathan Brewer are ready to hand by Cal and potential Heisman Trophy winner him the keys. If I had to guess now, Mahan Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Georgia Tech and receives snaps in only special scenarios with Pittsburgh lead the next pack in my eyes, with unique playcalls, while Eget remains at the helm the Panthers having some of the best chances for the entire campaign. -Min to escape a complicated central pack of teams behind true sophomore quarterback Mason

Heintshel. I expect Duke to hover around this tier as well, alongside N.C. State and just above Wake Forest, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

Florida State, Syracuse, Stanford and Boston College will likely round out the bunch and outside of the bowl picture. While it would be nice if I end up being right, if last season is any indication, the true shake-out won’t be finalized until the very end. -Hamner

Alex Long | Photo Editor Dan Mahan (top) and Nate Sheppard (bottom) partipcate at the Blue & White scrimmage.

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14 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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allows the rest of the creative department to focus on team content.

When leading players through representing themselves online, Galasso wants to emphasize the use of individual branding both in the moment and down the line. She doesn’t see her work as done until the entire team is on the same page.

The goal is to ultimately raise the bar for our whole team. It's a collective,” Galasso said.

“Because life is going to continue after football, and it might be next year, it might be 10 years from now… But figuring out how all of them can collectively inspire each other, how we can inspire them to start thinking about what their lives are going to look like.”

This year’s emphasis on developing individual brands is new to the team, Galasso explained. Both the players and the student interns will enter a balancing act of finding the time to prioritize their jobs — playing or creating — while continuing to develop players’ online personas.

For now, though, players like Brody Keefe, Jamien Little and Callahan can keep making names for themselves by dancing on TikTok and showing up on the field.

Meanwhile, the team behind Duke football hopes to continue riding its own wave.

"My goal is that we continue to surprise our followers,” Galasso said. “That we are not just you know chasing numbers or recreating things that have worked last season or the season before, but continuing to kind of pave a way in the field that we're in.”

don't think that's a bad thing, I just think they haven't been given the chance to do so. It's going to be a very exciting year to watch because we have a bunch of guys that are really eager to prove themselves … I feel like this year we've kind of stepped it up in the weight room and how we're practicing. Like we really are working really hard this year. So, it'll be very rewarding to see the fruits of the labor come to fruition.

The team's just been working their ass off.”

It’s easy for players to be hungry for playing time — it’s only natural for athletes to want to prove themselves in competition. Having an ethos where players are working hard for their playing time and not taking it for granted is the first step towards a truly great culture, but it’s not particularly difficult to foster.

Truly elite culture grows when athletes are excited to watch each other's hard work pay off, even at the expense of their own playing time. It’s one thing for coaches to preach the importance of a competitive mentality, but it’s ultimately worthless if players don’t buy into the importance of the team first. That’s where veteran leaders like graduate linebacker Nick Morris Jr. come into the picture, a leader on the team who makes an exerted effort to keep the standard of excellence.

“That's a responsibility I've cognizantly attempted to fulfill since January. It was an explicit goal for me,” Morris said. “I remember meeting with Coach Feeley every January oneon-one, and that was something I told him.

I want to be a great leader for younger guys, and make sure the culture of Duke football that people have painstakingly established over the last four years is not lost with this new block of young guys.”

Anyone familiar with coverage of a sports team is used to the typical preseason platitudes of hard practices building culture and the whole team working harder than ever. Many sports fans have become inoculated against this type of speech, but Duke has backed it up on the field in the past two seasons.

Leonard, Calhoun, Waters, Oben, Carter, Peebles, Mausi, Lewis, Blades and one of the best offensive lines in the country all walked out the door before 2024. Duke went 9-4.

Murphy, Pancol, Moore, Krings, Charles, Thomas, Nicholas, Stinson and Pickett walked out the door before 2025. Duke went 9-5.

Mensah, Barkate, Francois, Rivers, Que’Sean Brown, Sahmir Hagans, Anderson Castle, Bruno Fina, Justin Pickett, Brian Parker II, Vincent Anthony Jr., Wesley Williams, Josiah Green, Aaron Hall and Todd Pelino walked out the door before this season. What will Duke do?

Linebacker Luke Mergott said it best: “An opportunity's ready, and it's not going to wait.”

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