After one of the most eventful offseasons in recent history, it’s time for Duke football to take to the gridiron again.
Last year, the Blue Devils started the year off with a bang, knocking off then-No. 9 Clemson 28-7 in a Labor Day tilt to propel Duke to national prominence early. Following three more victories against inferior opponents, Durham hosted one of the most high-profile matchups in recent school history.
For the first time ever, College GameDay came to town, turning Duke’s campus into a rowdy environment before a night clash with then-No. 11 Notre Dame. The Blue Devils seemed to have control of the game down the stretch, but a 4th-and-16 pickup by the Fighting Irish on their final drive ended up crushing Duke’s momentum.
After a tumultuous remainder of the regular season, including a double-overtime loss to rival North Carolina and a domination of N.C. State, the Blue Devils finished the regular season 7-5 right before then-head coach Mike Elko departed the program for Texas A&M. In the aftermath, several star players entered the transfer portal, including quarterback Riley Leonard and running back Jordan Waters.
However, the season ended on a high note, as the Blue Devils took down Troy in the Birmingham Bowl to cap off the 2023-24 campaign and provide a solid foundation to carry into a new year. Add in a new coaching staff and some high-profile personnel additions, and Duke should still be expected to put up another solid season. The Blue Devils kick off against Elon, who brings experience and a culture of winning. With new gameday enhancements also on the way to Wallace Wade Stadium, the buzz from the Blue Devil faithful should also be steady.
Duke football enters its 2024 season markedly changed from last year. Defensive-minded head coach Manny Diaz looks to put his experience from Miami and Penn State into practice, and former SMU offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer hopes to give the Duke offense a new dimension with his fast-paced scheme. Diaz and Brewer aren’t the only additions; an influx of talent from the transfer portal, headlined by former Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy, could make up for the contribution lost to the portal.
However, important components of the Blue Devils remain. Three players, headlined by star running back Jaquez Moore, elected to stay at Duke instead of transferring. The groundskeeping crew of Brooks Field will maintain their standard of excellence after winning a national award in 2023. Director of football performance David Feeley continues to build his “church” as the rock of Duke football. And, as always, Duke’s Blue Devil mascot will rally the Duke faithful.
To learn more about the characters who will make or break and the rest of Duke’s season — check out the Blue Zone’s positional previews for the specialists, defensive line, offensive line, secondary, linebackers, receivers and tight ends, running backs and quarterbacks.
In addition, check out The Chronicle’s football podcast, the Blue Devil Blitz, for more insights on the season.
No matter how the first year of Diaz’s tenure shakes out, it is sure to be an intriguing season. Make sure to follow us @chroniclesports on X, Duke Chronicle on Facebook and @thedukechronicle on Instagram for video coverage of press conferences, fan engagement and all of our featured content. Finally, our print edition is on shelves across campus, so make sure to pick up a copy.
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