Duke football names DeWayne Carter, Shaka Heyward and Jacob Monk 2022 captains

Ahead of its first season under new leadership, the Blue Devils have elected and announced their captains.

Defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, linebacker Shaka Heyward and offensive lineman Jacob Monk will serve as team captains in 2022, per a team release Wednesday afternoon. The three upperclassmen, elected by their teammates, are set to lead the Blue Devils alongside new head coach Mike Elko.

Among the trio, Carter is the only returning captain after holding the position as a redshirt sophomore in 2021. Amid a dark season in which the Blue Devils went winless in conference play, Carter provided a bright spot by becoming an integral component of the defense. 

Heyward, now entering his fifth year with the program, has long anchored Duke's defense since stepping into a full-time starting role in 2020. The redshirt senior from Dacula, Ga., is a two-time recipient of the Vincent Rey Award, awarded to the team's top linebacker, and has led the Blue Devils in tackles in both of the last two seasons.

Monk has similarly been a mainstay on his side of the ball for years at Duke, holding down the interior at right guard. The 6-foot-3 senior figures to play a large role in the Blue Devils' offensive success, regardless of who ends up under center between starting quarterback prospects Jordan Moore and Riley Leonard.

Wednesday's announcement comes one day after the team's first practice of preseason camp Tuesday, after which Carter and junior tight end Nicky Dalmolin spoke to the media. Prior to that, the three captains joined Elko in July at ACC Football Kickoff to preview the upcoming fall season, set to begin Sept. 2 at home against Temple.

For the rest of our Duke football preseason coverage, click here.