There are only two regular-season games left on the Duke football schedule, and the end of November means most fans will start to keep an eye on the NFL draft.
Last year, former Blue Devils offensive lineman [autotag]Graham Barton[/autotag] became the school’s third first-round pick of the century when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took him 26th overall. While no current Duke stars seem to match Barton’s pre-draft hype, one member of the defense could play on Sundays in the near future.
As of November 22, cornerback Chandler Rivers sits 118th on the Pro Football Focus NFL Draft Big Board. That fits the junior firmly into the fourth round of any projected draft, and he’s slotted as the 14th-ranked player at his position.
Rivers intercepted a pass in three straight games from Weeks 8-10, including one he returned for a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles. In three seasons with the program, he’s intercepted five passes and broken up 22 more. His 12 passes defended so far in 2024 are tied for ninth among FBS defensive backs.