Category: Transfer

Duke Hires Manny Diaz

It became official late last night – Duke hired Penn State DC Manny Diaz to be the program’s next head coach. We’ll do more in the next couple of weeks about this hire. But with bowl season, I’m a little backed up.

So, instead of doing a full post about why I like this hire and how I think it is a good one, I’ll just drop a link to a call I had with Adam Gold yesterday in which we discuss the Diaz hire before it became official. We cover what to expect from Diaz, the transfer portal and what this hire means for the Blue Devils. Hey, we just might be a football school after all!

Check it out on YouTube, too:

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Post, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Recruiting Update – Another Transfer Portal Loss

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Drew Jordan announced he’s entering the transfer portal. While he’s a senior and, but for COVID-19 and the NCAA’s free year rule, he’d be leaving no matter what, it still hurts to see guys choose not to come back for another season. While Jordan often got overlooked thanks to being on the line with Victor Dimukeje and Chris Rumph, he is very, very good. He was a stalwart on the line and always seemed to be right around the ball. He either made a big play or helped someone else make one.

Drew Jordan on Twitter: "I WILL NEVER STOP PURSUING WHAT I WANT👿😤🦁. #passrush #TheHunt… "
Drew Jordan is running to figuratively murder the opposing offense.

As if replacing Dimukeje and Derrick Tangelo weren’t enough, we’re down another member of the defensive line. We are now real thin at that position. Duke has done remarkably well of late at finding talent on defense and having it ready to play. Think about how we lost Jeremy Cash and never missed a beat. Ben Albert, the DL coach, may be Coach Cutcliffe’s best hire.

Coach Albert and the rest of the staff have their work cut out for them. Let’s hope they succeed. Go Duke!

Recruiting Update – Transfer Portal Madness

You’ve all heard by now that Marquis Waters is leaving Duke. Despite losing a big play maker, the Blue Devils picked up offensive lineman Kade Parmelly and defensive tackle Ja’Mion Franklin (who comes in from Notre Dame) through the portal.

Marquis Waters, Duke, Safety
Marquis Waters was one heck of a player. I’m going to miss him.

But, more important than those changes to the roster, it was just announced that Chase Brice, who transferred in to play quarterback last season, is transferring out to play elsewhere next season. That leaves Gunnar Holmberg and Luca Diamont on the QB depth chart. Looks like we’ll finally get to see a mobile quarterback run a mobile quarterback offense.

Duke QB Gunnar Holmberg back healthy after missing last year
We may finally get to see Gunnar Holmberg next season.

While Brice leaving is a sigh of relief for most of us as we’d all gotten tired of him turning the ball over, it’s probably a bad look for the program. All the hype of bringing in a major recruit like Brice is dashed against the rocks of reality. When the can’t miss prospect crashed and burned so badly, it doesn’t say a lot for the staff’s ability to recruit and develop talent.

I think this means that Holmberg is more likely to stay. Let’s hope he lives up to the hype. Go Duke!

2020 Transfer Portal Update – Chris Katrenick Out

What we all suspected when Chris Katrenick opted out is now official — Katrenick is entering the transfer portal and leaving Durham.

Katrenick’s announcement on his Twitter account.

Katrenick rode the bench for most all of his time at Duke. That was understandable when Daniel Jones was under center, but it made little to no sense last year when Quentin Harris looked confused and needed a break. While Katrenick may not have taken us to the ACC tournament, I have to think that he could have squeaked out one win and gotten the Blue Devils to a bowl last year.

What do we make of this? First, we appreciate Katrenick’s time at Duke and wish him the best. Second, this should put more pressure on Coach Cutcliffe to give Gunnar Holmberg a shot next week as he has been shown what happens when players don’t get to play. With this year not counting against eligibility, Holmberg has relatively little to lose from transferring. That is something this team cannot afford to have happen as it would leave Chase Brice, Luca Diamont and Gavin Spurrier as the only quarterbacks. I like Diamont and think he can do well in this offense, but I would prefer to have a quarterback depth chart of Holmberg, Diamont, Spurrier and then Brice. Holmberg showed some flashes of ability in limited time (that beautiful TD that got called back is the perfect example) and it is time for him to get a real opportunity under center. Cutcliffe needs to stop being so stubborn. The time is now.