Duke Football Depth Chart: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Roster

Winning an ACC title changes everything. People look at you differently. Just ask Manny Diaz, who basically pulled off a miracle in Durham by taking a 7-5 regular-season team and turning them into conference champions by the end of December 2025. Now, everyone is staring at the duke football depth chart trying to figure out if this was a fluke or a foundation.

Honestly, it’s a weird time to be a Blue Devil. You've got the high of that overtime win against Virginia and a Sun Bowl trophy sitting in the case, but you’re also losing guys like Chandler Rivers and Brian Parker II to the NFL Draft. Replacing an All-American tackle and a lockdown corner at the same time is... well, it’s a lot.

The 2026 roster is a puzzle. Diaz and his staff aren't just looking for warm bodies; they are hunting for specific fits to keep that "Blue Sense" defense humming and the spread offense explosive. Here is how the room is actually shaping up as we head into the thick of the 2026 offseason.

The QB Room: Is Darian Mensah Still the Guy?

Darian Mensah didn't just play well in 2025; he became the face of the program. After coming in from Tulane, he settled into Jonathan Brewer’s spread system and looked like a natural. But college football in 2026 doesn't let you sit still.

With Henry Belin IV hitting the transfer portal, the depth behind Mensah got thin, fast. That's why the addition of Ari Patu from North Alabama is so interesting. Look, Patu isn't coming in to take Mensah’s job—let’s be real. But he’s a veteran. He’s been at Stanford. He’s seen the speed of Power 4 football. If Mensah’s helmet pops off for a series, you want a guy who won't panic.

Then you have Dan Mahan, the freshman who enrolled early. He’s the future, but is he the "now"? Probably not. The staff is likely still poking around the portal for one more arm, just in case. It's a "better safe than sorry" situation when you're defending a conference crown.

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Replacing the Pillars on the Offensive Line

This is where things get shaky. Brian Parker II leaving for the NFL is a massive blow. He was the anchor at left tackle, a guy Mel Kiper Jr. has ranked as a top-10 prospect at his position. You don't just "replace" that.

Currently, the duke football depth chart at tackle is a bit of a construction zone. Bruno Fina, the Arizona transfer, is likely going to have to be the man at LT. He’s got the frame, but the ACC pass rushers are a different breed than what he saw at times in the past.

• Left Tackle: Bruno Fina (GR) / Roman Fina (FR)
• Center: Matt Craycraft (RS JR)
• Right Guard: Justin Pickett (RS SR)

Craycraft and Pickett give the interior some much-needed stability. Pickett was a captain for a reason. He’s the guy who keeps the communication clean when the stadium gets loud. We also have Sean Stover, a four-star freshman out of Texas, who signed early. Usually, you don't want to start true freshmen on the line, but Stover is 275 pounds of bad intentions. He might force his way into the rotation sooner than people think.

Skill Positions: The Sheppard Era Begins

With Anderson Castle and his 12 touchdowns graduating, the backfield belongs to Nate Sheppard now. He’s a sophomore with "breakout star" written all over him. But he can't carry the ball 30 times a game in this league.

Enter CJ Campbell Jr. from Rutgers. This was a savvy move by Diaz. Campbell had a tough break with an ankle injury last year, but when he’s right, he’s a physical, change-of-pace back. He’s the "thunder" to Sheppard’s "lightning."

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The receiver room is actually looking pretty deep. Sahmir Hagans and Que’Sean Brown are back, and they are essentially human highlight reels in the slot. The real x-factor is Andrel Anthony. He’s a big-bodied target who can win those 50/50 balls that Mensah loves to throw. If Anthony stays healthy, this offense might actually be more dangerous than it was last year because the threats are more balanced.

That "Blue Sense" Defense: Rebuilding the Secondary

Manny Diaz is a defensive guy at heart. You can tell by the way he’s attacked the portal for defensive backs. Losing Chandler Rivers to the NFL is like losing your security blanket.

To fix it, Duke went out and grabbed Ché Ojarikre from Stanford. He started six games last year and has that "Georgia-grown" toughness. He’s one of four DB transfers joining the squad, including Dylan Flowers from Western Kentucky and Kyon Loud from Montana.

1. Safety: Ché Ojarikre / Terry Moore
2. Cornerback: Kimari Robinson / Dylan Flowers
3. Cornerback: Landan Callahan / Moussa Kane

The logic here is simple: competition. Diaz wants these guys fighting for snaps every Tuesday in practice. He’s building a secondary that can rotate frequently without a drop-off in talent.

Up front, the defensive line still has some teeth. Tyshon Reed and Aaron Hall are the veterans who need to set the tone. Reed, especially, has that twitchy edge-rush ability that makes ACC quarterbacks see ghosts. If he can turn his "pressures" into "sacks" in 2026, Duke’s defense will stay in the top half of the league.

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The Special Teams Edge

Don't ignore the kickers. Todd Pelino is back for his senior year. In close games—and Duke had a lot of them last year, like that 46-45 thriller against Clemson—having a kicker who doesn't blink is worth more than a five-star recruit.

Kade Reynoldson is holding down the punting duties, and Que’Sean Brown remains one of the most terrifying return men in the country. Seriously, if you’re a punter, just kick it out of bounds. It’s not worth the risk of letting him get into space.

Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season

If you're tracking this team, keep your eyes on the spring game. That’s where we’ll see if the Fina brothers can actually hold down the edges of the line. If the protection holds, Mensah has the weapons to put up 35 points a game.

Watch the "Star" position in Diaz’s 4-2-5 scheme. Jaiden Francois is the projected starter there, and in this defense, that’s the most important role. He’s the hybrid who has to stop the run and cover the slot. If he's a dud, the whole system leaks.

Next Steps for Fans:

• Monitor the Spring Transfer Portal window (mid-April) for any late offensive tackle additions.
• Track Nate Sheppard’s weight room progress; if he adds 10 pounds of muscle, he’s an All-ACC contender.
• Focus on the turnover margin in the first three games—Diaz’s success depends on creating "Havoc" plays.