The Duke Blue Devils are entering the upcoming season with a reshaped defensive backfield after a wave of offseason departures.
Veteran safety Terry Moore, who missed the previous campaign because of a torn ACL, has moved on to Ohio State, where he will rehab and attempt to regain his form.
Enter DaShawn Stone, a redshirt junior who emerged as a standout defender and earned the K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award for his performance last year.
Joining him is transfer Patrick Smith-Young, a former North Texas standout who recorded 73 tackles and three pass breakups before arriving in Durham.
Coaches say the combination of Stone’s experience and Smith-Young’s aggressive style gives the secondary a new dynamic, while younger players such as Leon Griffin III, KD Cotton, Brady Winter and Andrew Pelliccoiotta add depth.
The staff also notes that the departure of Moore is manageable, thanks to the talent and readiness of the new safety corps, and they are confident in the unit’s potential to be a defensive anchor.
A New Look in the Secondary
With the roster adjustments in place, Duke feels prepared to move forward and rely on its revamped secondary to compete in the ACC.