Duke stunned on final day of football transfer window. Who’s in, out for Blue Devils
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Duke retained QB Darian Mensah plus WR Cooper Barkate and RB Nate Sheppard.
- Fifteen players exited; Que'Sean Brown left for Virginia Tech; Javen Nicholas incoming.
- Portal additions focus on line help and secondary depth with 14 new transfers.
Initially for Duke, the biggest news surrounding the transfer portal was who didn’t go in it, not who the Blue Devils got out of it.
Until Friday.
Quarterback Darian Mensah, after leading the ACC in passing, initially said he was returning to Duke for a second season. Friday, he changed his mind, and is now reportedly working to finalize a deal with the University of Miami. That shocking news leaves a giant hole in the Blue Devils’ offense, and may shuffle the deck in terms of wqhat coach Manny Diaz will do next.
Wide receiver Cooper Barkate and running back Nate Sheppard are expected to return, which will help.
Barkate, like Mensah, transferred to Duke after the 2024 season — Barkate from Harvard — and flourished, with 72 catches for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns. Sheppard, after a standout freshman season and 1,132 yards rushing, announced he would return and should be the featured back from the start of the 2026 season.
The biggest loss in the portal otherwise? The Blue Devils, who had 15 players leave, did not want to lose wide receiver Que’Sean Brown, a big-play guy who had 64 grabs and five touchdowns. But he split for Virginia Tech, staying in the ACC, rather than returning for the 2025 ACC champions.
The biggest gain: It could be wideout Javen Nicholas, who comes to Duke from Charlotte and could help fill the hole left by Brown’s departure. Nicholas had 60 receptions for 740 yards and five TDs for the 49ers last season.
Duke’s portal class, with 14 additions, is ranked 60th nationally by 247Sports and 13th in the ACC. That could change, depending on what Diaz and co. do after Mensah’s announcement.
Help up front on O and D
The Blue Devils, like many teams, can use help along the lines and should get it among the players coming in through the portal.
Offensive lineman Braden Miller played 17 games in two years with the Cal Golden Bears and should push for immediate playing time. Another O-lineman to watch could be Nick Del Grande, a former All-Sun Belt selection with Coastal Carolina and a team captain in 2025.
On the defensive line, Dakota Quinonez was named first-team All-Ivy League last season and will get a good look early. So will Owen Wafle, who comes to Duke from Penn State and also was in the Michigan program.
Getting a refill at running back
The Devils’ running back room also was getting depleted with Anderson Castle and Jacquez Moore both graduating and Peyton Jones in the portal – Castle making his one season at Duke memorable after transferring from Appalachian State, rushing for 488 yards and 12 TDs to complement Sheppard.
The Blue Devils went back to the Ivy League for a running back, picking up Wilhelm “Billy” Daal, who is listed at 6-1 and 220 pounds and could be a replacement as the power back for Castle. Daal, like Castle, was a strong runner and dependable pass catcher at Yale.
Running back C.J. Campbell is well travelled, having spent time with Florida State and FAU before going to Rutgers. He’s a smaller back at 5-10 and 210 pounds but also has some power in his game.
New faces in the secondary
Duke’s defensive backfield won’t look the same without cornerback Chandler Rivers, one of the ACC’s best, who is headed to the NFL. Safety Terry Moore, an All-ACC choice in 2024, did not play in 2025 after an ACL injury but has decided to transfer rather than return,
The Devils lost safeties Ma’khi Jones and Kenzy Paul, and corners Moussa Kane, Vontae Floyd and Kyren Condoll to the portal – Floyd played three games in 2025 because of injury after being in 11 games in 2024.
Incoming from the portal are cornerback Dylan Flowers, who had a solid 2025 season at Western Kentucky, and Kyon Loud from Montana. Safety Patrick Smith-Young has 39 games of college experience at North Texas and Old Dominion.
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
