The Duke Blue Devils return a bevy of defensive stars as a part of their high 10 returners for the 2022 college football season. Whereas their quarterback scenario stays a thriller, the Blue Devils can depend on a number of veteran defenders in 2022 to maintain their offense in a constructive scenario. DeWayne Carter is the headliner on a defensive unit that’s stacked up entrance.
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Prime 10 returning gamers at Duke
We’re counting down all the highest 10 gamers returning to motion on each workforce — we’ll take care of transfers later — from Air Pressure to Wyoming, from Miami to Hawaii, and all in between. Listed below are the highest returning gamers to Duke.
10) Eli Pancol, WR
Again to take up the mantle left with Jake Bobo’s departure is Eli Pancol. An enormous receiver at 6’3″, 200 kilos, Pancol has a terrific catch radius and maybe even higher palms. Throw away that Virginia sport the place he made marquee drops as a result of Pancol was positive together with his receptions in each different outing. Along with his dimension and misleading pace alongside his routes, Pancol might grow to be a real No. 1 receiver on the skin with some plus play at quarterback.
9) Graham Barton, OT
For the way vital left tackles are in at this time’s soccer, returning Graham Barton for his second season on the place and third general is essential for Duke’s QB scenario. Barton had a stable 2020 season at heart however actually made waves because the workforce’s left sort out in 2021. He excelled in each sides, however Barton’s motion for his dimension is what stands out. Anchoring and holding his stability will go a good distance in making that subsequent step up.
8) Maurice McIntyre, G
It’s a stacked offensive line returning to Duke this season, and Maurice McIntyre is again for his fifth season with this system. After beginning many of the previous two seasons and a few of that 2019 12 months, McIntyre can depend on the expansion he’s proven since stepping foot on campus for the 2022 season. He’s a terrific cross protector and provides maybe even higher motion expertise within the run sport.
7) Jaylen Stinson, DB
Dealing with his duties from contained in the field, Jaylen Stinson performs far above his dimension. Although he could hand over a few inches and positively just a few kilos, Stinson possesses nice ball expertise and terrific protection capacity. Stinson recorded three cross breakups a season in the past in addition to a handful of pressured incompletions on account of his tight protection. He exceeded expectations given the actual fact he was tasked with overlaying such quite a lot of cross catchers in 2021.
6) Dorian Mausi, LB
With the protection capacity of a security, Dorian Mausi had a terrific 12 months patrolling the center of the sphere for Duke. He restricted ball carriers on the second stage very properly and showcased a capability to smell out factors of assault on the common.
Mausi was constant down the stretch in protection, limiting massive performs and making just a few performs of the ball on his personal. With one other season subsequent to Shaka Heyward, this skilled and gifted linebacking corps ought to strike worry into opposing offenses.
5) Jacob Monk, G
Again to deal with the duties on the left aspect for a fourth season, Jacob Monk returns to Duke as some of the skilled linemen within the convention. Monk began his freshman season at proper sort out earlier than transitioning inside. And my what a transition that was! Monk’s dominated on the within over the previous two seasons, holding clear sheets in cross safety and pancaking defenders within the run sport all the identical.
4) Jalon Calhoun, WR
Physique management and mushy palms don’t typically are available in such a tight-knit bundle as they do with Jalon Calhoun. Calhoun dominates from the within for the Blue Devils, hauling in 56 receptions for 718 yards with a team-high three touchdowns. He showcased, on a number of events, a capability to make contested catches look simple and pluck passes out of the air that had been both over or underthrown. Calhoun is a stud on the within.
3) R.J. Oben, EDGE
R.J. Oben pressured his method into the pocket for a team-high 5 sacks final season. In what was actually a breakout 12 months, Oben additionally recorded seven tackles for loss and led the workforce in QB pressures. With a knack for locating the soccer, Oben additionally pressured three fumbles and was a continuing pressure round ball carriers.
2) Shaka Heyward, LB
The wiley veteran of the Duke defensive entrance, Shaka Heyward is again for his fifth 12 months with the Blue Devils. Heyward is a flexible weakside linebacker who’s at his greatest when speeding the passer. But, he’s no stranger to creating performs in all places else on the sphere.
Heyward has a excessive motor in each defensive sides and possesses loads of power to tackle any shifting linemen in his method in opposition to the run. In protection, Heyward’s strengths are in opposition to these mismatched, undersized cross catchers he’ll face within the flats as he makes highlight-reel performs look routine.
1) DeWayne Carter, DT
You may not have heard about it, however DeWayne Carter was dominant for Duke final season. He ripped his method via for 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4 pressured fumbles, and dozens of quarterback pressures.
At 6’3″, 298 kilos, Carter understands leverage, using it completely frequently. He’ll upend his blocker en path to pressuring the QB or pursuing the ball provider. Carter is fast, instinctual, sturdy, and possesses the management qualities to hold this veteran Duke defensive entrance in 2022.
Honorable point out gamers returning to Duke in 2022
- Darrell Harding Jr., WR
- John Gelotte, OT
- Da’Quan Johnson, S
- Ja’Mion Franklin, DT
- Michael Reese, EDGE
- Riley Leonard/Jordan Moore, QBs
