11 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
DUKE
2022 RECORD: 9-4 (5-3) FOUNDED: 1838 STADIUM: Wallace Wade (40,004)
HEAD COACH: Mike Elko OC: Kevin Johns DC: Tyler Santucci
Durham, NC
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Duke hired defensive-minded Mike Elko last season, and suddenly the offense was markedly better. Ball security was the prevailing message and the players received it wholeheartedly, giving up just 10 turnovers. The offensive line allowed just 17 sacks, which led the ACC. Quarterback Riley Leonard was asked to eliminate mistakes and manage the offense. Leonard did all that and then some, leading the team in rushing with 699 yards and 13 touchdowns on a team-high 124 carries. He threw for 2,967 yards and expects to improve all facets of his game this season. The offensive line should be as solid this season with a few key additions through the portal. Jordan Waters returns and will likely surpass Leonard’s rushing total this season. The two leading receivers from 2022 return. Jalon Calhoun and Jordan Moore combined to catch 122 passes for 1,529 yards and nine TDs.
The Duke defense was absolutely horrendous in 2020 and 2021. But 2022 was a new dawning for the defense and teams had trouble running and throwing against this unit. The Blue Devils also forced mistakes, recovering 16 fumbles and snagging 10 interceptions. Tackle DeWayne Carter is a stud in the middle. He’s as good as any in the conference and dominates even though he commands double-team blocks on almost every snap. He made 11 stops behind the line and forced three fumbles. The secondary is the strength of the unit and improved with the addition of corners Al Blades Jr. and Myles Jones through the portal. Brandon Johnson will line up all over the field and safety Jaylen Stinson is superb. Chandler Rivers is an outstanding cover corner. Linebackers Cam Dillon and Dorian Mausi seem to improve every game.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO 13 7 8 5 6 81 62 71 63 77 73
PLAYER Riley Leonard Jordan Waters Jordan Moore Jalon Calhoun Eli Pancol Nicky Dalmolin Graham Barton Maurice McIntyre Jacob Monk Justin Pickett Jake Hornibrook
POS QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
HT 6-4 6-0 6-0 5-11 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-7 6-5
WT 212 219 195 190 200 239 315 319 320 316 304
CLASS JR SR JR SR SR SR SR SR SR SO SR
NO 19 5 90 94 35 8 26 0 23 2 3
PLAYER POS Vincent Anthony Jr. DE Ja’Mion Franklin DT DeWayne Carter DT R.J. Oben DE Cam Dillon LB Dorian Mausi LB Joshua Pickett CB Chandler Rivers CB Terry Moore S Jaylen Stinson S Brandon Johnson NB
HT 6-6 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-2 6-0 5-10 6-1 5-8 5-10
WT 246 311 300 255 234 233 195 175 192 173 180
CLASS SO SR SR SR SR SR JR SO SO SR JR
3 9 1 18 2 82 53 72 70 69 76
Henry Belin IV Jaquez Moore Jontavis Robertson Malik Bowen-Sims Sahmir Hagans Cole Finney Brian Parker II Matt Craycraft Scott Elliott Ben Hoitink Jake Long
QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
6-3 5-10 5-11 6-2 5-10 6-7 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-3
210 201 195 198 185 260 300 307 295 301 329
FR JR SR SR SO JR FR FR SR SR SR
93 96 16 59 12 36 7 1 11 10 4
Anthony Nelson DE Aaron Hall DT Aeneas Peebles DT Michael Reese DE Tre Freeman LB Nick Morris Jr. LB Al Blades Jr. CB Myles Jones CB Isaiah Fisher-Smith S James Hopson II S Cameron Bergeron NB
6-2 6-4 6-1 6-3 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-4 5-11 6-0 6-0
258 277 288 262 231 231 195 194 207 188 189
SR SO SR JR SO SO SR SR SR SR JR
29 98
Todd Pelino Porter Wilson
190 233
SO SR
2 5
Jaylen Stinson Jalon Calhoun
173 190
SR SR
SPECIAL TEAMS K P
6-2 6-5
2023 SCHEDULE S.4 .............................Clemson
O.21 ............ at Florida State
S.9 ............................Lafayette
O.28 ...................at Louisville
S.16 ............... Northwestern
N.2 ..................... Wake Forest
S.23 .........................at UConn
N.11 ........at North Carolina
S.30 ...................Notre Dame
N.18 ...................... at Virginia
O.14 ......................... NC State
N.25 ..................... Pittsburgh
SPECIAL TEAMS KR PR
5-8 5-11
NEWCOMERS Payton Jones, RB — Jones may have trouble getting reps behind Jordan Waters and Jacquez Moore, but the freshman showed off his skills with 17 carries for 61 yards in the spring game. Myles Jones, CB — The veteran corner enrolled at Texas A&M in 2017 (29 starts) and has played in four bowl games. Al Blades Jr., CB — Transfer from Miami will see the field early. Jake Hornibrook, T — The experienced tackle from NC State will solidify the offensive line.
