Will Manny Diaz Lead the Duke Blue Devils to Continued Success?
Durham - As the 2024 season unfolds, the Duke Blue Devils football team, under the leadership of new head coach Manny Diaz, is ready to build on the momentum from their recent successes. Diaz has plenty of coaching experience to maintain the recent success this program has had. As new faces are added to the squad, the Blue Devils are an intriguing team to keep your eyes on. With a challenging ACC schedule ahead, the Blue Devils aim to continue their upward trajectory and secure a bowl game berth. Duke fans are eagerly anticipating a season filled with potential breakthroughs and competitive matchups, as the team strives to establish itself as a formidable force in the conference.
Offense Preview:
The offense is going to look almost brand-new. No Riley Leonard, Jordan Waters, or Kevin Johns calling the plays. Insert Jonathan Brewer as the new OC and they should pick up where they left off. Brewer previously served as a senior offensive quality control coach under Diaz at Miami. If Maalik Murphy can play to his potential, the offense should be better than last season. All but Graham Barton return on the offensive line so the ground game should still be there. Jaquez Moore and Jordan Moore are going to be the focal points of the offense so opposing defenses need to be aware of their athletic talent.
Defense Preview:
With Manny Diaz taking the reins of the Duke football program, the defense should be one of the best in the ACC. Diaz is coming off a ton of success calling the defense for Penn State, hopefully, he can produce better numbers than his last stint as a head coach. There are a lot of upperclassmen in the secondary which will help make up for the lack of consistency in the pass rush. Chandler Rivers will captain the defense and will lead the cornerback room.
Top Returning Players:
Jordan Moore WR - Jordan Moore will step into the number-one receiver role this season. He will be the newcomer, Maalik Murphy's go-to guy. He certainly has the talent to go over the 1,000-yard mark this season.
Chandler Rivers CB - Manny Diaz is going to love coaching this guy. Despite being slightly undersized, Rivers plays with aggression and makes big-time performance after big-time performance. He will be the lockdown corner that NFL scouts are going to be all over.
Jaquez Moore RB - Moore will be the sole running back since Jordan Waters has left for NC State. He put up 674 yards, six touchdowns, and averaged 5.8 yards per carry. Expect Moore to be the featured back of the Blue Devils ground game.
Top Incoming Transfers:
Maalik Murphy QB - Murphy has transferred to Duke after sitting behind Quinn Ewers at Texas. He has a very similar body frame to Joe Milton, now on the Patriots, and an absolute cannon of an arm. He should be a good replacement for Riley Leonard.
Top Incoming Freshman:
Kobe Smith DE - The edge rusher from Chattanooga, TN is ranked #32 in his position group. The three-star prospect needs to spend some time in the weight room in order for him to see the field.
Top Departures:
Riley Leonard QB - Leonard was a true leader for the Blue Devils. He is one tough dude. Notre Dame is his new home after spending three seasons with Duke.
Jalon Calhoun WR - Calhoun was the go-to guy when the offense wasn’t in a flow. He was ole reliable for the Blue Devils. He is now on the Detroit Lions and Duke will miss their safety valve.
Mike Elko HC - Coach Elko has been hired by Texas A&M as its new head coach. His 16-9 record at Duke was enough for him to sign a six-year, seven million-per-year contract with incentives built in as well.
Under-the-Radar Players:
Tre Freeman LB - I would guess that Freeman is going to be the signal caller and the center of this defense. He posted 106 tackles last season and seems to save his best performances against the best teams. He earned second-team All-ACC honors and could be in store for more awards.
Win Total Prediction:
The Blue Devils’ win total is listed as 6.5. My prediction is to take the under 6.5 wins on the season. Their most likely wins will be Elon, at Northwestern, UConn, and Middle Tennessee. A strong start to the season will be key as their in-conference games start. Without a doubt, it’s going to be a different team under Manny Diaz. ESPN analytics only give the Blue Devils a 60.3% chance to win six games this season. I don’t see them being as successful as last season which leads me to take their under on the win total.
