Football is won in the trenches.
Duke football‘s front seven has become one of the program’s most talked-about units for good reason. The Blue Devils return great experience from its 2024 defense, which ranked second nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.9), second in fumbles recovered (14) and fourth in sacks per game (3.3). That experience includes edge rushers Wesley Williams and Vincent Anthony Jr., and Aaron Hall on the interior. There are several new faces, too, including Dartmouth transfer Josiah Greene inside and true freshman Bryce Davis — the highest-rated recruit in Duke’s 2025 class — on the edge.
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At linebacker, Duke returns fifth-year senior Tre Freeman along with a healthy Nick Morris. It also bolsters its linebacker corps with Utah State grad transfer Jaiden Francois and true freshman Bradley Gompers – the second-highest rated recruit in Duke’s 2025 cycle behind Davis.
“You hear the expression ‘Big guys start the way, it starts up front,'” Williams said during an Aug. 19 media availability.
“It’s all true. We gotta set the tone. We gotta be the hammer not the nail. So I think every day, kind of bringing your hard hat and going and doing your job, striking somebody, being violent, physical, that’s what we’re all about. That’s what we harp on. So that’s who we want to be, who we are.”
It is a front seven that redshirt junior offensive lineman Brian Parker II called “one of the best I’ve seen while I’ve been here.” Parker II enters the 2025 season as the No. 9 returning offensive tackle per Pro Football Focus, having only allowed one sack across more than 800 snaps per PFF.
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It’s a challenge, Parker II said, facing the Duke front seven in practice, but one that only makes him better.
“For me, especially in pass pro, having Wes and VJ, both are kind of a little different style rushers, so I get both types that I’ll most likely see on game days,” Parker II said. “Those guys, they’re really good and they’ve really worked hard on the offseason. They’ve come out and they’re looking really good this year, so it challenges me everyday … We’ve been getting after it, it’s been a lot of fun.”
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Parker II is one of four returners on the Blue Devils’ offensive line, along with Matt Craycraft, Bruno Fina, and Justin Pickett. This group is also bolstered by the transfer of redshirt junior Jordan Larsen from South Dakota, adding depth and experience.
“We’re really excited to kickoff this season,” Parker II said. “I think we’re excited to show everyone around the country what this team has to offer.”
With fall camp concluded, Duke now turns its attention to opening its season against Elon on Thursday, Aug. 28, at Wallace Wade Stadium. For Parker II and the rest of the Duke offensive line, that means it’s finally time to face a defensive front other than their own, with the Phoenix first up on the list.
“I’ve been going against Wes and VJ now for four years now, so it’s always exciting get to go against somebody different,” Parker II said. “… I’m ready to hit somebody in different color than blue or white.”
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Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke football: What it’s like to face the Blue Devils’ front seven
