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Duke Football: 2020 Report card for Blue Devils

By Dante Pryor

Dec 5, 2020; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Chase Brice (8) stands on the sidelines in the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Chase Brice (8) stands on the sidelines in the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports /

Overall Offensive Grade: D-

The offense had issues gaining any traction this season. Without the benefit of spring or summer practice, the offense had little time to gel with Clemson transfer Chase Brice.

As a result, the Blue Devils struggled with turnovers. What the Blue Devils lacked most was offensive speed. There were many games where the Duke football would cut its nose to spite its face. They would gain momentum, and then mistakes would often cost them the ball game.

Outstanding offensive players: 

  • Mateo Durant, RB: 120 carries, 817 yards, eight touchdowns.

Durant was the closest thing the Blue Devils had to a dynamic playmaker leading the team in rushing yards and total touchdowns. Durant had four 100-yard rushing games, including a 162 yard, two-touchdown performance against Syracuse.

Quarterback: F

Steve Spurrier once said that if you have two quarterbacks, then you don’t have any. This season, the Blue Devils played four quarterbacks, and none of them played exceptionally well. Starting quarterback Chase Brice struggled with turnovers all season, throwing 15 interceptions and having issues with fumbles all season. Brice had no time to acclimate himself to the new system with no spring or summer practice.

Running Back: B-

The lone bright spot on offense was running back. Deon Jackson and Mataeo Durant combined for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns. Duke did not have many game-breakers on offense; Jackson and Durant were the closest the Blue Devils had to that on offense.

Wide Receiver/Tight End: D

The receiver group suffered from “sameness” last season. There was no alpha, go-to receiver on the roster. Duke had no perimeter speed and could not go downfield against anyone with a good secondary. As a result, no receiver caught more than two touchdowns, and no receiver with 20 receptions averaged more than 15 yards per catch.

Offensive Line: F

The offensive line play for Duke was terrible this season. Two of their projected starters, Jack Wohlbaugh, missed the season with a torn ACL and Jacob Rimmer opted out of the season. A program like Duke does not have the depth to replace front line starters. As a result, the Blue Devils were 114th in the country in sacks allowed, and the run game averaged only 3.9 yards per carry.

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