Duke football opens up its 2023 campaign at Wallace Wade Stadium in a highly-anticipated matchup against ninth-ranked Clemson. The Blue Zone is here to give you a look at the Tigers as Labor Day comes closer:
Unlike Mike Elko’s first season as head coach of the Blue Devils, his squad enters this fall with real expectations. Duke is returning 17 starters, namely quarterback Riley Leonard, offensive tackle Graham Barton, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter and wide receivers Jalon Calhoun and Jordan Moore. However, expectations only take you so far, especially when ACC-favorite Clemson comes to town.
On the offensive side of the ball, head coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers have undergone significant change. With former starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei transferring to Oregon State, Cade Klubnik, who started one game as a freshman, will take the role as signal caller. Coming in as the second-ranked quarterback in his class, Klubnik’s arm talent and composure is undisputed. Watch below as the Austin, Texas takes his time against a three-man rush and delivers a perfectly placed deep ball for a large gain in the ACC title game against North Carolina.
Now, Klubnik is also a threat with his legs. In that same game, the sophomore added 30 yards on the ground. One impressive scramble can be seen below. Notice how Klubnik is able to shrug off a defender and take contact to gain extra yards when the play breaks down.
The true strength for this Clemson team? Its defense. The Tigers return eight starters, including multiple preseason all-ACC selections. Tyler Davis is on track to be a four-time all-ACC defensive tackle, a first in Clemson football history. The super senior totaled 32 tackles and 5.5 sacks per game in last year’s campaign, enough to earn NFL draft buzz.
Without significant attention to Davis, including double teams, Leonard will be in for a rough night. Early last year against an undefeated Wake Forest, watch how Davis is able to win his matchup and come up with a huge sack late in the contest.
The Blue Devils’ Barton will be a key aspect in dealing with the Tigers’ tenacious defensive line. A potential first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, watch how the Brentwood, Tenn., is able to clear out space for Jaquez Moore to rush for the touchdown.
Going up against a team with very few flaws, Duke will need to top even its best performance of an exciting 2022 campaign to pull off an improbable upset. One key for the Blue Devils will be Leonard. There’s no doubt that Clemson will score – it's just too talented. To keep up, the Fairhope, Ala., will need to prove that he can keep up his dual-threat production. In last year’s season, the junior totaled 20 passing and 13 rushing touchdowns. He will need to continue on his offensive production to keep this game close.
For the Tigers, the key to the game is twofold – limit Duke’s big play threat and establish the running game. If Clemson can play at its own pace, they are too talented for the Blue Devils’ roster. However, if Leonard can stretch out the Tigers’ defense with consistent chunk plays, Duke will stay in striking distance. Further, if running back Will Shipley, a 1,000-yard rusher, can get going, the Blue Devils will surely lose the time-of-possession game, which could be the nail in the coffin.
All in all, Clemson’s talent is unquestioned, but coming in with loads of excitement from a successful last season, Duke has the pieces to compete.
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