Duke Football set to open Fall Camp on Friday
Duke Football will open Fall Camp on Friday, with the Blue Devils laying the foundation for an encore season to Mike Elko's debut 9-4 performance in 2022. With the first returning starting quarterback since Daniel Jones was back for his Redshirt Junior year in 2018, optimism surrounds the program with newly appointed captain Riley Leonard under center.
Nineteen starters are back from that 2022 group, including seven All-ACC selections in offensive tackle Graham Barton, wide receiver and return specialist Jalon Calhoun, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, safety Brandon Johnson, quarterback Riley Leonard, center Jacob Monk, and punter Porter Wilson. Additionally, Duke returns 98.8 percent of its total yards, 99.0 percent of its rushing yards and 98.7 percent of its receiving yards from a year ago.
Duke finished with a 5-3 record in conference play in Elko's first season atop the program, turning around a team that went 0-8 in conference play a year prior under the previous regime. The plus-six overall improvement (3 wins in 2021 to 9 victories in 2022) equaled the second-best turnaround in ACC history.
Vegas odds have a 6.5-win over-under pegged for this year's edition of Duke Football despite what looks on paper to be one of the most difficult schedules in the country. Helping that effort will be the return of every skill position player at Leonard's disposal from an offensive attack that put points up on a regular basis last year.
The Blue Devils finished 2022 ranked first nationally in fumbles recovered (16) and punt return average (19.92), fifth in fewest turnovers lost (10), eighth in tackles for loss allowed (3.92), ninth in both fewest fumbles lost (4) and most turnovers gained (26), 12th in fewest interceptions thrown (6), 23rd in sacks (2.8) and 25th in winning percentage (.692).
On the other side of the ball, eight starters are back and looking to build on their dramatic turnaround to one of the best defensive units in the conference.
Duke's defensive unit ranked fourth in the ACC in rushing defense, allowing just 121.08 yards per outing, and held five-of-12 opponents to under 100 yards rushing for an average of just 3.73 yards per carry with eight rushing scores. In addition, the Blue Devil defensive back unit compiled 59 pass breakups in 2022 to rank fourth in the ACC and were one of two schools in the conference with five players with six-plus pass breakups on the year.
