The Duke football program dropped its first game of the 2026 campaign this past weekend.
Duke was defeated by Georgia Tech 28-25 in a game the Blue Devils had a chance to win the whole way. Penalties proved costly, but Duke kept itself in it the entire time, which is a promising sign for the future.
Despite the loss, I was impressed with the offense's ability to keep itself in the game, converting several crucial third- and fourth-downs
Duke must rebound before it hosts rival North Carolina next on Oct. 17. Here are a few risers and fallers after the road loss.
Risers
WR Jared Richardson
We've been waiting for Penn transfer Jared Richardson to get more involved in this offense, and he seems to be finding a rhythm.
Richardson transferred to Duke with the most productive collegiate resume of any receiver on the team, but it took him some time to make a big impact, as he went catchless through the Blue Devils' first two games of the year. Against Georgia Tech, the former Quaker hauled in four receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown; he now has nine receptions for 111 yards and two scores over the last three games.
It felt like a matter of time before Richardson made himself known, and he's starting to find his role.
LB Luke Mergott
Luke Mergott was one of the Blue Devils' best returning players this season and is one of the best players on the entire roster. Over the last few weeks, he's made a massive impact. Against the Yellow Jackets, Mergott led the team in total tackles with seven, along with five solo tackles, a pass deflection, and a tackle for loss.
Mergott is currently third on the team in total tackles (23), fourth in pass deflections (1), and he has notched a forced fumble.
WR Jaivon Solomon
Duke's wide receiver room has several guys who can make an impact in any game, and we're seeing that come to fruition on the field. After a very quiet start to the year for redshirt freshman Jaivon Solomon, he's starting to get involved. Solomon had two receptions for 22 yards against Georgia Tech and now has seven catches for 128 yards and a touchdown over the last three games. This receiver room seems to be operating as a committee, and Solomon has become a bigger presence over the last few weeks.
Fallers
DT Owen Wafle
There was some excitement around Penn State transfer Owen Wafle, as the former 4-star recruit made previous stops at Michigan and Penn State before arriving at Duke. In a potentially expanded role, he had a chance to make a name for himself, but he hasn't burst onto the scene yet.
This season, Wafle has notched five total tackles and three solo tackles. He's seen solid time on the field and has made some plays, but maybe not as big an impact as we anticipated early in the year.
WR Javen Nicholas
Along with Richardson, Charlotte transfer Javen Nicholas was widely expected to come to Duke and be a big part of the receiver room. Now five games into the year, Nicholas has logged one reception for -1 yard.
Nicholas has missed a few games to kick off the year, but he was not on the injury report ahead of Duke's bout in Atlanta. Like Richardson, it's hard not to imagine him making an impact sooner or later, but that has yet to happen.
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