Duke’s newest players are lighting up the field.
The Blue Devils have clung to success this season, tallying three victories with two uncomfortably close fourth-quarter comebacks. Much of the credit goes to the team’s most recent roster additions, who have taken this year’s campaign by storm. New faces, like Maalik Murphy, Kendy Charles and Alex Howard, quickly made themselves known with standout performances in the season’s first two games.
But in the 26-21 victory against UConn, it was graduate running back Star Thomas who shone brightest in Duke blue.
The transfer from New Mexico State dominated Duke’s ground attack with 122 yards on 22 carries, accounting for 85.9% of the team’s rushing yards. After averaging 2.7 yards per tote in Duke’s previous two games, he bumped up his number to 5.5 against the Huskies.
The breakaway moment couldn’t have come at a better time. With starting running back Jaquez Moore still out with an ankle injury, the Blue Devil depth chart was under full scrutiny. Thomas and sophomore Peyton Jones were left to pick up the carries. He rose to the challenge, leaving the team to watch as yet another new Blue Devil left it all on the field.
“We see him put the work in,” said safety Jaylen Stinson, who is also Thomas’s roommate. “We knew he had it in him, and we trusted him all week when it came to it.”
Thomas became Duke’s first 100-yard rusher this season, overcoming the ground game struggles that plagued the Blue Devils in their previous two matchups. The performance capped off a great week for Homer, La., native, who became a father on Monday after welcoming a daughter into the world.
In the postgame press conference, Diaz pointed to Thomas’ success as a testament to the team’s depth and versatility.
“These are the guys that shined today,” he said. “What you like to know as a team is that you have multiple guys that can step up. You're not just a one-man show.”
On the other side of the experience spectrum, wide receiver Que’Sean Brown found a rhythm of his own. The redshirt freshman from Winston-Salem, N.C., caught 11 passes for 87 yards to lead the Blue Devils in every receiving category. He also added his first touchdown of the season with a clutch 20-yard score in the fourth quarter.
“I just had the mindset every time I get the ball that I'm trying to score a touchdown,” Brown said. “I'm not gonna let this first guy tackle me... maybe the other guys can try to do that.”
The speedy receiver’s breakthrough, which comes after collecting only two receptions combined against Elon and Northwestern, speaks to a team culture of growth and support. With several veteran powerhouses balancing out the team’s fresh blood, there’s a lot for rookies to learn.
“I put a tremendous amount of work in, going into practice every day with the next-man-up mindset,” Brown said. "The older guys… they teach you something new every day.”
Thomas’ and Brown’s production throws a wrench — albeit a positive one — in Duke’s burgeoning sense of offensive identity. When the Blue Devils entered the matchup against the Huskies, successful schemes seemed to involve deep throws from Murphy to Jordan Moore or Eli Pancol. The team’s running game left much to be desired. Brown connected with Murphy on several screens and provided another dimension to the offense in the short passing game.
Thomas and Brown used their time on the field to hint at more depth in Blue Devil waters, both on the turf and through the air.
As Jaquez Moore recovers from injury and the offensive chemistry between Murphy and his receivers continues to deepen, Duke fans will wait to see which newcomers entrench themselves in the Blue Devil’s signature lineup.
After all, they’ve only just gotten started.
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Abby DiSalvo is a Trinity sophomore and assistant Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.