Breaking down Duke football’s 2023 signing class

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

With Elko being named ACC Coach of the Year and the Blue Devils (8-4) 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.

“For the rest of my career, these guys will always be first,” Elko said Wednesday. “All 26 of them committed prior to me ever coaching a football game as a head coach. That’s unique, and that commitment and them staying true to the process throughout this whole thing is certainly not lost on me.”

Duke’s class is entirely comprised of players with three-star ratings by various recruiting services. According to 247sports, the first class Elko fully recruited as head coach after being hired last December is rated No. 50 nationally and No. 9 in the ACC.

“I think the class represents the power of the Duke brand,” Elko said. “We continue to talk about how Duke travels. And when you look at it, we’re represented by 11 different states, two different countries in the U.S. and Canada.”

Ten players in the class have already enrolled for spring semester classes and will be on campus by Jan. 6 to begin their college careers by participating in offseason conditioning and spring practices. Those players are quarterback Grayson Loftis; linebacker Luke Mergott; cornerbacks Quentin Ajiero and Moussa Kane; defensive ends Desmond Aladuge and Semaj Turner; tight end Vance Bolyard; running backs Peyton Jones and Marquise Collins; and wide receiver Apollos Cook.

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.

“Peyton had 3,200 all-purpose yards and 34 touchdowns over the last two years,” Elko said. “Two electric running backs that we’re adding to this this program.”

Player who could impact early

Terry Simmons, DT: A 6-2, 310-pound nose guard who already possesses impressive strength. He recorded 61 tackles for losses with 16 sacks over his last three years at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia.

“He’s a kid who we think comes in as a ready-made nose guard who can help and contribute,” Elko said.

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 64 touchdowns in high school even though he missed his senior season due to injury.

“Obviously, this one’s unique,” Elko said. “Marquise went to school with my two sons. So he was one of the kids obviously we knew about coming from my previous stop and were able to get on him really quickly.”

Top local recruit

Semaj Turner, DE: While the Blue Devils didn’t land anyone from the Triangle in this class, Turner is from Winston-Salem and 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.

“He fits our defensive end position to a T,” Elko said. “He’s really physical can add pass rush to what we’re trying to do.”

Signed players