Duke Blue Devils lead college football in tackles for loss after Week 8

After Week 8 wrapped up, Duke once again led the entire country in tackles for loss.

Football fans questioned whether the Blue Devils could sustain their success from the past two seasons without former head coach Mike Elko and former quarterback Riley Leonard, but 2024 looks every bit as impressive.

Duke has won six of its first seven games, including a 20-point comeback over the North Carolina Tar Heels and the first win over the Florida State Seminoles in school history. A big reason why has been their defense, which leads the entire country in tackles for loss following Week 8.

With seven games in the books, the Blue Devils have recorded 69 tackles for loss on the season, three more than the next-highest FBS team (Ole Miss) and 16 more than any other ACC team (Miami). Additionally, Duke leads the country in tackles for loss per game, averaging 9.9 per game. The Rebels are the only other team averaging more than nine (9.4).

A likely reason for Duke’s uptick in defense? First-year head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag], who previously worked as the defensive coordinator for the Penn State Nittany Lions the past two seasons.

In terms of who exactly has been recording the tackles for loss, linebacker Alex Howard leads the way with 11.0 of them for the season. EDGE Vincent Anthony Jr. follows him with 7.5 after he tallied two against FSU, and three more players (Cameron Bergeron, Wesley Williams, and Aaron Hall) are tied for third with 6.5 each.

In their most recent victory over the Seminoles, Duke recorded 11 tackles for loss, their third-most in a game this season. Three different players recorded two or more tackles for loss with Williams recording 2.5. The Blue Devils also had 16 against Elon in the season-opener and 12 against Middle Tennessee in Week 4.

With six games left, either the Duke offense or defense will buck its trends

With six games left in the 2024 Duke football season, one of two things will probably happen over the rest of the year.

First-year Duke football coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] won his first five games as the Blue Devils head coach, the first time in three decades that the program started 5-0, and his team now stands just one win from the postseason.

With fourth-quarter comebacks over Northwestern, Connecticut, and the North Carolina Tar Heels, Duke looked like a team with no quit. The three second-half touchdowns against UNC created the second-biggest comeback in Blue Devils history, and as there always is around novel teams with a good story, there was an air of destiny around Diaz’s fit with the program.

However, the first loss of the season to Georgia Tech highlighted a key problem around the current Duke formula. Duke fell behind by 10 points in the first half, their second straight game trailing by double-digits to open conference play, and allowed two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lose 24-14.

Those two late scores, believe it or not, were the first fourth-quarter touchdowns the Duke defense had allowed in Week 6. On one hand, that sounds like a statement about the Blue Devils. Diaz has talked about how his team feels prepared for those final 15 minutes thanks to their conditioning, and that’s an asset to the program.

On the other hand, Duke didn’t allow a fourth-quarter touchdown in a 5-0 start that included three one-score victories. And now the problem arises.

Over the final six games of the season, with talented teams like the Miami Hurricanes and SMU Mustangs left on the schedule, one of two things will likely happen to the Blue Devils: the offense will thrive or the defense will regress.

The Duke pass defense doesn’t just look like the best in the ACC through six games. It might be one of the best in the country. The Blue Devils have allowed 4.9 yards per attempt through the air, third among FBS defenses, with only six passing touchdowns allowed.

The veteran secondary, featuring longtime starters like Chandler Rivers and Jaylen Stinson, compliment a destructive defensive line. Duke’s 18 sacks and 58 tackles for loss rank 16th and second among FBS defenses, a testament to talented pass rushers like Vincent Anthony Jr. (3.5 sacks) and the discipline of linebackers like Alex Howard (47 total tackles and 9.0 TFLs).

It all adds up to a unit allowing 309.3 yards and 17.5 points per game, both the second-fewest among ACC teams.

The Duke offense, however, has been a little more inconsistent. Transfer quarterback [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] threw for 1,017 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first four games, but he’s thrown five interceptions already and completed just 50.8% of his passes against the Tar Heels and Yellow Jackets.

Running back [autotag]Star Thomas[/autotag] looked like he could buoy the offense after his performance against UNC, scoring two touchdowns and gaining 211 yards from scrimmage, but he managed just 48 yards on 14 carries against Georgia Tech.

That was the third time the Blue Devils failed to reach 100 team rushing yards despite running the ball at least 27 times in five of the six games. Among 17 ACC teams, Duke sits 14th in yards per rush (3.53) and 15th in yards per pass attempt (6.9). The Blue Devils’ 26.3 points per game are tied for the fourth-fewest in the conference.

The dichotomy between those two units creates the issue laid out above. Outside of the Middle Tennessee game, boosted by three forced fumbles in opposing territory, the offense has scored 8.2 points per game before halftime. Even with a great defense, Duke consistently finds itself in holes because of the slow starts.

The Florida State Seminoles, the next team on the schedule, have been the worst offense in the conference this season, so the issue should be fine for another week. But the two following opponents, SMU and Miami, both score more than 40 points per game.

There’s a chance that Duke can keep winning games in this fashion, especially with how FSU, Wake Forest, and NC State look. However, the current system leaves a minuscule margin of error for the defense against Power Four talent, and that will almost assuredly come back to bite the Blue Devils over a 12-game sample size. Unless, of course, the offense finds its first-half footing after the bye.

Three Duke football players named to Week 4 ACC Team of the Week by Pro Football Focus

Three Duke football players made the Pro Football Focus ACC Team of the Week after the Blue Devils’ blowout win over 45-17.

After the Duke Blue Devils dominated Middle Tennessee for a 45-17 victory last weekend, three different players made the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week for the ACC.

Tight end Nicky Dalmolin, who caught a 71-yard touchdown on the opening possession en route to a 100-yard, two-score game, ended up on the offensive team. The fifth-year senior had previously never with more than 40 yards in a single day, but he caught all four of his passes in the first half against the Blue Raiders.

Linebacker Alex Howard and safety Terry Moore made the defensive team. Howard led the Blue Devils with eight tackles, 3.5 of which went for a loss. Among ACC defenders, the Youngstown State transfer is tied for fourth in total tackles (36), tied for seventh in sacks (3.0), and first in TFLs (8.5).

Moore, who also made the Pro Football Focus team in Week 2 for his game against Northwestern, made six tackles against MTSU. He’s come down with two of the Blue Devils’ three interceptions this season.

https://twitter.com/DukeFOOTBALL/status/1839291285364158802

Duke football retakes national lead in tackles for loss through Week 4

Duke’s defense made 12 tackles for loss on Saturday, retaking the national lead in the statistic through Week 4.

The Blue Devils’ defense enforced its will upon Middle Tennessee on Saturday, holding the Blue Raiders to 295 yards of total offense and forcing four turnovers in opposing territory.

The story of the team, once again, came behind the line of scrimmage. Duke made 12 tackles for loss in Week 4, moving them back past East Carolina for the most in the FBS.

The Blue Devils have 46 tackles for loss through four games, two more than the Pirates. Mississippi (43) is the only other program with more than 40 as of Sunday, and no other ACC school has more than 34 (Miami).

Linebacker Alex Howard, who excelled again against MTSU, already has 8.5 tackles for loss through his first four games with the Blue Devils. No Power Four defender has more this season, and only Buffalo’s Shaun Dolac (9.5) has more in the entire FBS.

Fellow linebacker Cameron Bergeron also has 6.5 TFLs, and four other Blue Devils already have at least three on the season.

Defensive end Wesley Williams made his impact with two sacks on Saturday, and the Blue Devils’ 15 sacks as a team are second to only the Hurricanes among FBS programs.

More college football fans should be talking about Duke linebacker Alex Howard

Youngstown State transfer Alex Howard has anchored the Duke defense through the first four games, and he deserves more credit for it.

He might not get the love for it yet, but Duke linebacker Alex Howard has been one of the best defensive players in the ACC through four weeks of the 2024 college football season.

Howard led the Blue Devils with eight total tackles against Middle Tennessee, bringing himself to 36 on the season. He made 3.5 of them behind the line of scrimmage, adding to his team-leading 8.5 tackles for loss. He even tacked on 1.5 sacks to give himself 3.0 of those for the season (you’re never going to believe this, but that’s also the most on the team).

The Youngstown State transfer isn’t just the leading Blue Devil in all three categories. He’s the only ACC defensive player with 35 tackles. eight tackles for loss, and three sacks so far in 2024.

Howard put together his first great performance against Northwestern in Week 2 when he made 14 tackles and 2.5 TFLs. He didn’t just rack up tackles downfield after broken plays, either, as more than half of his stops came within five yards of the line of scrimmage.

He proved himself as an asset in run defense, fitting gaps and making tackles when he made contact, and in pass protection thanks to his ability to read a quarterback’s eyes. If the Wildcats threw a pass around the line of scrimmage, Howard was already heading in that direction by the time the ball was in the air.

The first-year Blue Devil has used his talents each week with at least seven tackles in all four games. He’s made at least two tackles for loss in three games, and he’s been an essential part of a Duke pass defense allowing fewer than 4.3 yards per attempt this season.

Howard gets his chance to earn those headlines in Week 5 when the Blue Devils host North Carolina. The Blue Devils haven’t beaten the Tar Heels since 2018, and a win would move Duke to 5-0 before a road trip to Georgia Tech. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you if he becomes a First Team All-ACC heavyweight.

Duke football still leads Power Four defenses in tackles for loss through Week 3

The Duke Blue Devils added seven tackles for loss against Connecticut in Week 3, maintaining their lead over all Power Four defenses.

The Duke Blue Devils maintained their lead over the Power Four conferences with seven more tackles for loss against Connecticut in Week 3, giving them 34 for the season.

East Carolina took the FBS lead after the Pirates reached 36 TFLs through three games, but no other team in the country has more than 30.

Linebacker Cameron Bergeron finished with two tackles for loss against the Huskies, his second straight home game with multiple TFLs. Alex Howard, a transfer linebacker from Youngstown State, leads the team with five tackles for loss on the season, and eight different Blue Devils already have multiple TFLs.

Even the defensive backs are getting in on the action in the backfield. Chandler Rivers, whose third-down tackle for loss in overtime against Northwestern helped the Blue Devils win the game, forced a fumble on a similar play on Saturday. He now has three tackles behind the line of scrimmage this season, and fellow cornerback Joshua Pickett already has two.

Duke looks to keep the momentum rolling against Middle Tennessee in Week 4 as they try to get head coach Manny Diaz off to a 4-0 start.

Duke defense leads FBS college football teams in tackles for loss through Week 2

Manny Diaz said before the 2024 season that he wanted the Duke defense to create negative plays. Through Week 2, nobody is creating more.

No team in the FBS creates more havoc on defense than the Duke Blue Devils.

First-year head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] said in the offseason that he thought the Blue Devils had the defensive line to wreck offenses, and he preached the importance of negative plays for slowing down opposing teams.

Through Week 2, the Duke defense has generated 27 tackles for loss, more than any other college football team in the country. In fact, the only other Power Four program with more than 22 tackles for loss is Mississippi, and the Rebels haven’t played a fellow Power Four opponent yet.

The Blue Devils put a nation-leading eight sacks on the board against Elon in Week 1, and while the defensive line didn’t add to that tally in Week 2 against Northwestern, they still wrangled the Wildcats in the backfield 11 times.

Linebacker Alex Howard, the Youngstown State transfer who led the defense with 14 total tackles against Northwestern, has finished with at least two TFLs in both games. His 4.5 tackles for loss are tied for the fifth-most in the country, and seven other Blue Devils have at least 2.0 for the season already.

Defensive back [autotag]Chandler Rivers[/autotag] came away with the biggest negative play of the season during overtime against Northwestern. The Wildcats faced third-and-1 from within the 5-yard line in 2OT, needing a touchdown to tie and the ensuing 2-point conversion to win the game. Quarterback Mike Wright scrambled to the right on a keeper, and Rivers wrapped him up in the open field for an 8-yard loss to force a game-deciding fourth down.

Duke looks to keep its defensive momentum rolling against Connecticut on Saturday.

Texas A&M linebacker announces he plans to enter the transfer portal

After making through half of spring practice transfer linebacker Alex Howard will be on the move again entering the spring transfer portal

With another football transfer portal window opening for the spring, there was bound to be some more turnover on the Texas A&M roster. Especially, with how many players Mike Elko brought in I’m expecting to see a few others over the next week. New Aggie linebacker Alex Howard announced via X that he will be re-entering the transfer portal after joining coming to College Station during the fall portal.

Howard came from Youngstown State where he amassed 142 total tackles and 15.5 sacks during his five seasons with the Penguins.

With playing time up for grabs next to SEC All-Freshman Taurean York, Howard appeared to have a chance to take over that spot but halfway through spring practice, Daymion Sanford has been making a big impression. Possibly seeing the writing on the wall Howard thanked coach Elko for the opportunity, but will be on the move.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Former Youngstown State LB Alex Howard has committed to Texas A&M

It’s official: Former Youngstown State LB Alex Howard has committed to Texas A&M

Texas A&M and new head coach Mike Elko have added a third player from the transfer portal in the form of former Youngstown State linebacker Alex Howard, as Elko continues to add quality veteran depth to a defense that has dealt with recent attrition.

While other positions, such as cornerback, deserve the most attention, the Aggies will lose two of their top three linebackers, as star junior Edgerrin Cooper has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, while senior Chris Russell Jr. is out of collegiate eligibility, placing incoming stud sophomore Taurean York as the lone linebacker with proven experience. Immediate help is coming, as Howard announced via X that he has officially committed to Texas A&M for the 2024 season.

Knowing the importance of the position in SEC play, Alex Howard’s three seasons at Youngstown State showed a player who improved year after year, accumulating 142 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one interception, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 38 total games

This season, Howard, who stands at 6’2″and weighs 230 pounds, recorded 76 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and three pass deflections during the 2023 season, earning an All-Missouri Valley Conference honorable mention recognition in the process.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.