Duke football recruiting class 2023

Durham

Duke coach Mike Elko and his staff lined up 26 committed players by July, long before they led the Blue Devils to a turn-around season on the field.

With Elko being named ACC coach of the year and the Blue Devils headed to their first bowl game since 2018, the staff successfully kept that class together as all 26 signed with Duke on Wednesday’s first day of the early signing period for high school seniors.

Duke’s class is entirely comprised of players with three-star ratings by various recruiting services. According to 247sports.com, the first class Elko fully recruited as head coach after being hired last December is rated No. 49 nationally and No. 9 in the ACC.

Top rated recruit

Peyton Jones, RB: The Norfolk, Virginia, native committed last July as part of Duke’s summer recruiting blitz. A three-time state champion and two-time all-state selection, Jones scored 34 touchdowns during his prep career.

Player who could impact early

Kevin O’Connor, DE: A multi-talented athlete who played quarterback and middle linebacker in high school. O’Connor also lettered in basketball and lacrosse. He does so many things well it seems he’ll find his way on to the field for the Blue Devils next season.

Most intriguing recruit

Marquise Collins, RB: A highly productive player from College Station (Texas) High School whom Elko was familiar with from his days at Texas A&M prior to coming to Duke in 2021. Collins had offers from Utah, Arizona, Cal and Boston College. He scored 62 touchdowns in high school.

Top local recruit

Semaj Turner, DE: While the Blue Devils didn’t land anyone from the Triangle in this class, Turner comes from Winston-Salem where he starred at Reagan High School. He committed in June, played well enough his senior season to make the N.C. Shrine Bowl team then was on an unofficial visit to Duke on Nov. 26 when the Blue Devils beat Wake Forest, 34-31.

Signed players

Name	Position	Height	Weight	Hometown	High school
Peyton Jones	RB	5-11	180	Norfolk, Va.	Maury
Kevin O’Connor	DE	6-4	240	Easton, Md.	Easton
Marquise Collins	RB	5-10	190	Bryan, Texas	College Station
Grayson Loftis	QB	6-2	205	Gaffney, SC	Gaffney
Semaj Turner	DE	6-2	235	Winston-Salem	Reagan
Terry Simmons	DT	6-2	298	Port Wentworth, Ga	Calvary Day
Moussa Kane	S	6-1	176	Harlem, NY	Blair Academy (NJ)
Kimari Robinson	CB	6-1	185	Miramar, Fla	St. Thomas Aquinas
Quentin Ajiero	CB	5-10	175	Acworth, Ga	North Cobb
Vance Bolyard	TE	6-5	230	Greensboro	N. Guilford
Kendall Johnson	LB	6-2	200	Gaithersburg, Md	Orchard
DaShawn Stone	S	6-3	185	Asheville	Reynolds
Tony Boggs	DT	6-4	270	Wartrace, Tn	Baylor School
River Hanson	S	6-1	197	Atlanta	Woodward
Desmond Aladuge	DE	6-4	245	Milford, Del.	Milford
Luke Mergott	LB	6-3	200	Berlin, Md	Stephen Decatur
Sean Brown	WR	5-8	150	Winston-Salem	E. Forsyth
Spencer Jones	WR	6-3	190	Columbia, Md	Good Counsel
Leon Griffin	S	5-11	185	Virginia Beach, Va	Bayside
David Anderson	DE	6-4	280	Hampton, Va	Kecoughtan
Apollos Cook	WR	6-2	200	Lexington, SC	Airport
Vincent Drolet	TE	6-5	220	Saint-Lazare, Canada	Choate (CT)
Ethan Hubbard	OT	6-6	275	Hoover, Ala.	Hoover
Quarn Boyd	ATH	5-10	185	Virginia Beach, Va	Kempsville
Caleb Dorris	OT	6-6	240	White House, Tn	Ensworth
Reagan McCranie	OL	6-3	320	Rutherfordton	Chase