It took quite a while for the Blue Devils to decide on their starting quarterback for 2024. In fact, Texas transfer Maalik Murphy wasn’t given the starting job until last week despite committing in December.
Murphy and returning sophomore Grayson Loftis shared time with the first team during the spring scrimmage, and it would be natural to question if Loftis earned some time with the starters during game action. During his first Monday press conference of the year, head coach Manny Diaz dismissed that notion.
“We want to have a QB1 and wanted that the whole way,” Diaz said. “It’s important that we have a quarterback and that Maalik is our quarterback.”
The team doesn’t seem torn on the decision, either. Murphy was named one of Duke’s four captains for the season.
“I thought that was a great endorsement,” Diaz continued. “I think it means that he has the guys’ respect.”
Murphy gets his first chance to be a team’s starting quarterback against Elon on Friday.