With the 2018 season right around the corner, The Chronicle breaks down each of the eight major position groups: quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, defensive backs, linebackers and specialists.
Duke had three 500-yard rushers for the first time in program history last season, including quarterback Daniel Jones, and found the end zone 22 times on the ground. The Blue Devils' top big-play threat in its 2017 backfield, Shaun Wilson, is gone this fall, putting more pressure on redshirt sophomore Brittain Brown to perform.
Key player lost: Shaun Wilson
Wilson was one of the Blue Devils' top playmakers of the decade, rushing for 2,463 yards during his four-year career—fourth in Duke's all-time record books—and racking up another 725 yards through the air. Add in his prowess in the return game, and he found the end zone a total of 26 times, accumulating the third-most all-purpose yards of any Blue Devil in history, behind only Chris Douglas and current NFL wide receiver Jamison Crowder.
After leading last year's Duke squad in both rushing yards and receiving touchdowns, Wilson is now in training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is expected to have a good chance to make the final 53-man roster. The Blue Devils will certainly miss his NFL-caliber speed and explosiveness this season.
Projected starter: Brittain Brown
For the last several years, the Blue Devils have largely platooned running backs, as Wilson, Brown, Jela Duncan, Shaquille Powell, Juwan Thompson and Josh Snead have been among the backs to share carries since 2012. This year, there should be little doubt who the feature back is.
Brown rushed for 701 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season of action last year on 5.4 yards per carry, providing more power at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds to complement Wilson's speed. If he takes another step forward as a redshirt sophomore, he could develop into Duke's most dangerous offensive weapon.
Dark horse: Deon Jackson
Jackson rushed for almost 100 yards as a true freshman last season in limited time on the field and has caught the eye of head coach David Cutcliffe in fall camp. Don't be surprised to see Jackson and Brown both on the field at the same time occasionally this year, and when Brown needs a breather, Jackson appears to be a cut above veteran Nicodem Pierre and redshirt freshman Marvin Hubbard III in the coaches' minds.
The Blue Zone has already previewed Duke's quarterbacks, specialists and defensive backs. And come back tomorrow as we break down Duke's wide receivers/tight ends and linebackers.
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