Tag: Duke football

Duke lands fifth 2025 commitment, a three-star defensive lineman

The Blue Devils got a commitment from Georgia defensive lineman Julius Columbus, a three-star 2025 recruit, late on Monday night.

Duke landed its fifth commitment of the 2025 football cycle late on Monday night.

Julius Columbus, a three-star defensive lineman from Gainesville, Georgia, announced his commitment to the Blue Devils on social media.

Columbus is 247Sports’ 99th-ranked defensive lineman in the class and the No. 86 player in the state of Georgia. Over 12 games as a junior, MaxPreps credits him with 58 total tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, and 17.0 sacks.

He unofficially visited Durham over the weekend, committing swiftly afterward. The Blue Devils beat out offers from Yale, UCF, Appalachian State, Liberty, and a handful of other schools.

Columbus is the fifth player from the Class of 2025 to commit to new Duke head coach Manny Diaz and the fourth to do so since February 8. Four-star linebacker Cameron Smith leads an all-defensive class that includes edge rusher Sampson Onuoha and defensive backs Ma’Khi Jones and William Felder Jr.

Duke is now 37th in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings for the 2025 cycle.

WATCH: Duke receiver Eli Pancol’s one-handed catch in practice

Blue Devils wide receiver Eli Pancol hauled in a crazy one-handed catch from new quarterback Maalik Murphy in spring practice. Watch the video here.

Duke’s football season might be months away, but the Blue Devils are still throwing up some crazy social media clips.

New quarterback Maalik Murphy, who transferred from Texas this winter, has drawn the headlines during his first appearances in a Duke uniform, but the player on the other end of his pass got the star moment on Friday.

Senior receiver Eli Pancol hauled in one of Murphy’s passes with one hand in a social media clip shared by the team.

Pancol, a fifth-year wideout, has 70 receptions for 912 yards and five touchdowns across his first four years in Durham. He compiled 347 yards last season, the highest single-season total of his career, and his first 100-yard game came against Northwestern in 2022.

Duke’s 2024 season gets underway on August 30 against Elon.

2025 three-star edge rusher Sampson Onuoha commits to the Blue Devils

Sampson Onuoha, who plays for Belmont Hill in Massachusetts, announced his commitment to the Blue Devils on Friday.

Sampson Onuoha, a three-star edge rusher in the Class of 2025, announced his commitment to the Blue Devils through social media on Friday.

Onuoha, who plays for Belmont Hill School in Massachusetts, is the 37th-ranked edge rusher in the class, per 247Sports’ rankings. MaxPreps tracked him with five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 35 total tackles during his six-game junior season in 2023.

He became the fourth commit of Duke’s 2025 class, joining four-star linebacker Cameron Smith and three-star corners Ma’Khi Jones and William Felder Jr.

“I am incredibly grateful for all of my coaches, teammates, friends, and family who supported throughout this process. #bleedblue,” Onuoha wrote in his message about the commitment.

The Blue Devils beat out offers from schools like Boston College and Rutgers. Onuoha took an unofficial visit to the Blue Devils last Friday, one day after an unofficial visit with Boston College.

Onuoha also plays basketball, and he made Great Britain’s roster for the FIBA u16 European Championships back in the summer of 2022.

His official Duke visit is scheduled for June 23.

Where did Graham Barton go in the newest College Sports Wire mock draft?

College Sports Wire editor Patrick Conn released a new mock draft on Friday, but where did Duke lineman Graham Barton go?

College Sports Wire editor Patrick Conn released a one-round mock draft on Friday morning, and he gave Duke lineman Graham Barton to the Philadelphia Eagles with the 22nd pick.

Barton, who played both tackle and center with the Blue Devils over his four years with the team, would be part of the plan to replace future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce, according to Conn.

“This is a new problem for the Philadelphia Eagles,” Conn wrote. “They can reshuffle some parts with Cam Jurgens sliding inside and filling the gap with Graham Barton.”

Conn brought up Barton’s versatility, which has been his biggest positive through the draft process because of the multiple positions he played for the Blue Devils.

Conn’s mock draft also featured six quarterbacks in the first 16 picks, including each of the first four after the Vikings traded up for Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Check out the rest of his first-round projection here.

All 32 NFL teams attend Duke football’s 2024 Pro Day

The Duke football team showcased 13 former players during its 2024 Pro Day on Thursday, and the team confirmed that all 32 NFL teams attended.

The Duke football team hosted its 2024 Pro Day in Durham on Thursday, and the team confirmed that all 32 NFL teams sent scouts and representatives to the event.

The Blue Devils showed off 13 former players on the day, including offensive lineman Graham Barton and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter.

Barton, a projected first-round pick, played left tackle for Duke in each of the last three seasons after playing center as a freshman.

Carter, a presumed day-two pick, was named to the All-ACC First Team at the end of the 2023 season. He compiled 12 sacks in his five years with the team.

The 11 other players involved included three more offensive linemen (Jacob Monk, Maurice McIntyre, and Jake Hornibrook), defensive linemen Anthony Nelson and Ja’Mion Franklin, cornerbacks Al Blades Jr. and Myles Jones, safety Jeremiah Lewis, wide receiver Jalon Calhoun, running back Jaylen Coleman, and punter Porter Wilson.

Monk and Wilson both participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier this month alongside Barton and Carter.

The NFL draft begins on Thursday, April 25.

New mock draft from The Ringer has Graham Barton end up in Tampa Bay

The Ringer’s Danny Kelly released a new NFL mock draft on Thursday with Graham Barton ending up on a division-winning team from Tampa Bay.

The Ringer’s Danny Kelly released a new mock draft on Thursday, and Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton ended up in one of his most popular landing spots.

Barton went 26th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the new projections.

Kelly described Barton as “an unsexy but smart pick.” The former Blue Devil’s versatility has been praised through the draft process after he played both left tackle and center in Durham.

“(Barton) has the body type and demeanor to thrive at any of the three interior spots–which is where the Buccaneers need the most help,” Kelly wrote.

The Ringer writer compared Barton to Mitch Morse, the longtime Buffalo Bills center who just signed with Jacksonville this offseason.

Barton was Kelly’s seventh offensive lineman off the board in a stacked class, and he was the third-highest player from the ACC behind North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse.

Newest three-round NFL mock draft from CBS Sports features two Duke linemen

Graham Barton and DeWayne Carter both got chosen in CBS Sports’ latest three-round NFL mock draft, but where did they go?

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards released a three-round mock draft on Thursday, and he included two Duke linemen in his first 100 selections.

Offensive lineman Graham Barton, who played left tackle for the Blue Devils over the last three years, went 22nd overall to the Philadelphia Eagles. Barton played center for Duke as a freshman, and the Eagles just lost Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce to retirement earlier this offseason.

“Barton is a Swiss Army knife that can fulfill a variety of roles,” Edwards wrote. “He gives them insurance at a variety of positions.”

His teammate, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, went in the third round to Seattle. The Seahawks took Carter with the 81st pick in Edwards’ projections.

Carter was named to the All-ACC First Team last season, and he put up 12 sacks and 126 total tackles during his five seasons in Durham.

Where did ESPN’s Matt Miller have Graham Barton and DeWayne Carter in his seven-round mock?

Duke linemen Graham Barton and DeWayne Carter should both hear their names called before the end of the second day, but where did Matt Miller have them go in his new seven-round mock draft?

Duke linemen Graham Barton and DeWayne Carte could both hear their names called before the end of the third round of April’s NFL draft, but where exactly will they go?

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller released a full, seven-round mock draft on Wednesday with two new destinations for the former Blue Devils.

Barton, who played left tackle for Duke but could move to guard or center in the NFL, went 27th to the Arizona Cardinals. The four-year player started at multiple positions in Durham, and for a team with needs everywhere, Miller thinks that versatility should be prioritized.

“Additional support on the interior is needed,” Miller wrote. “Barton allowed three sacks over his final two seasons and has the talent to replace Hjalte Froholdt (currently projected to start) in his rookie season.”

Carter needed to wait until near the end of the third round, but he got rewarded with a spot on the most dominant team in the sport. Miller projected Carter would go 95th to the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won three of the past five Super Bowls.

“The Chiefs still covet more rotational pass-rushers for Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme,” Miller wrote. “Carter has similar tools to Derrick Nnadi.”

Carter would get to play alongside Chris Jones, who just signed a massive contract extension this offseason.

Duke offensive lineman Jacob Monk, who was invited to the NFL Combine, did not appear in Miller’s mock.

Former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones attends spring practice on Tuesday

New York Giants quarterback and former first-round pick Daniel Jones returned to Durham to watch the 2024 team get some work in on Tuesday.

Duke football spring practice is underway in Durham, and there was a familiar face along the sidelines on Tuesday.

Daniel Jones, the New York Giants quarterback and sixth-overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, came back to campus to watch his former team get some work in ahead of the 2024 season.

Jones started for the Blue Devils for three seasons, throwing for 8,201 yards, 52 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions across 36 games. He added 1,323 yards and 17 touchdowns with his legs.

As the Giants quarterback, Jones only played in six games last season as he battled multiple injuries, and his season ended after he tore his ACL in November. He did lead the Giants to the playoffs in 2022, winning a Wild Card Round game over the Vikings for the team’s first playoff win in 11 years.

Former Blue Devils receiver Jake Bobo, now a member of the Seattle Seahawks, joined Jones on the sidelines. Bobo played for the Blue Devils for four seasons before transferring to UCLA for his senior campaign. He caught 19 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns with Seattle as a rookie.

Jones got a close look at former Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy, who committed to the Blue Devils back in December. A former four-star recruit, Murphy is the highest-rated quarterback prospect to ever suit up for Duke.

Duke becomes only school to win bowl game and reach both Sweet 16s this year

After Sunday’s victories, Duke is the only school to win a football bowl game and make the men’s and women’s Sweet 16 during this academic year.

There’s a real argument that the Blue Devils are having the best year of any athletic program in the country.

After the women’s basketball team upset Ohio State and the men’s basketball team throttled James Madison on Sunday, Duke became the only school to win a bowl game and make the Sweet 16 in the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament during this academic year.

The Blue Devils beat Troy in the 76 Birmingham Bowl, a 17-10 defensive battle back in December led by interim coach Trooper Taylor. Duke’s football team has now won five consecutive postseason games dating back to 2015.

Junior guard Reigan Richardson has led the women’s basketball team through the postseason thus far. She’s averaged 26.5 points per game so far, including a 28-point performance against Ohio State, and she’s shooting 62.5% from beyond the arc through two games.

On the men’s side, freshman guard Jared McCain has played hero with a 30-point performance against James Madison. He made eight 3-pointers, the most by a Blue Devil in an NCAA Tournament game.