Sports

Duke football NCAA transfer portal tracker: Who’s departing, who’s joining the Blue Devils

Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy looks to pass during the first half of the Blue Devils’ game against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy looks to pass during the first half of the Blue Devils’ game against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C. kmckeown@newsobserver.com

With Duke football preparing for a Gator Bowl game against No. 16 Mississippi, some of its players have started the process of finding new schools via the NCAA’s transfer portal.

The portal began accepting names of players interested in transferring on Dec. 9, the day after bowl assignments and the College Football Playoff bracket were finalized.

The deadline for players to enter their names in the portal is Dec. 28. But players in the portal don’t have to make their final choices by that date.

Here’s a look at players who are exploring a departure from Duke and players who have said their are coming to Duke from other schools:

On the way out

Maalik Murphy, QB: Duke’s starter this season after transferring from Texas in December 2023, Murphy set a school single-season record with 26 touchdown passes. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Grayson Loftis, QB: The starter during the final month of the 2023 regular season, Loftis led Duke to a Birmingham Bowl win over Troy, Loftis was No. 3 on the depth chart during the 2024 season behind Murphy and Henry Belin. He’ll have three seasons of eligibility at his new school.

Connor Wyatt, LB: After coming to Duke in January 2022 from West Brunswick High School, Wyatt didn’t see game action over his first two seasons. He played in three games this season.

Montreze Smith, LB: A 5-11, 210-pounder from Temple, Georgia, Smith came to Duke as a three-star recruit. He played in four games as a freshman this season, which allowed him to still qualify for a redshirt so he’ll have four seasons of eligibility at his new school.

On the way in

Darian Mensah, QB: A freshman who helped Tulane to a 9-4 record this season, Mensah committed to Duke on Dec. 11. He started a campus visit the day before, just as Murphy and Loftis were entering the transfer portal.

Josiah Green, DL: The latest Ivy League player to make the move to Duke to complete his college career. Duke’s seen plenty of success with players doing this. At Dartmouth this season, the 6-1, 280-pound Green had nine tackles for loss, with three sacks, while playing 10 games.

Andrel Anthony, WR: Duke needs reinforcements at wide receiver with Jordan Moore and Eli Pancol completing their eligibility after the Gator Bowl. Anthony arrives from Oklahoma to help. The 6-1, 186-pound Anthony played his first two seasons at Michigan before moving to the Sooners in 2023. He started that season’s first six games before a leg injury ended his season. Anthony played only one game at Oklahoma this season, which leaves him a season of eligibility to use at Duke.

Caleb Weaver, S: The Blue Devils landed a productive defensive back from Sam Houston State when Weaver picked Duke. Weaver recorded 97 tackles this season, including 69 solo stops.

This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Duke football NCAA transfer portal tracker: Who’s departing, who’s joining the Blue Devils."

Steve Wiseman
The News & Observer
Steve Wiseman was named Raleigh News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun sports editor in May 2025. He covered Duke athletics, beginning in 2010, prior to his current assignment. In the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, he placed in the top 10 in beat writing in 2019, 2021 and 2022, breaking news in 2019, event coverage in 2025 and explanatory writing in 2018. Before coming to Durham in 2010, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989. 
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