Which Duke football players will join Manny Diaz at ACC media days?

Three Duke football players are set to join head coach Manny Diaz on Friday, July 17 at ACC Kickoff, the league’s annual preseason media event in Charlotte.

Tight end Jeremiah Hasley, running back Nate Sheppard and linebacker Luke Mergott are the Blue Devils set to join Diaz at this year’s event, held at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown. It will air on ACC Network between June 15-17 beginning at 9 a.m. ET each day.

Duke is coming off a 9-5 finish in 2025 that culminated in an ACC championship, its eighth overall and first since 1989, and a Sun Bowl victory. Diaz is entering his third year at the helm, owning an 18-9 career record and a 11-5 mark ACC play.

Here’s a breakdown of the players Duke is bringing to ACC media days.

Hasley is coming off a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him earn All-ACC honorable mention. He finished the 2025 season with 40 receptions for 454 yards and six touchdowns, including a career-high two and the game-winner in the ACC championship game. Hasley has started in 21 of 32 career games with 48 career receptions for 517 yards and eight touchdowns, four shy of a Duke tight end record.

Sheppard had a breakout freshman season in Durham, setting both the Duke freshman single-season rushing (1,312 yards) and touchdown records (11). His season-high rushing yards came in the Sun Bowl win over Arizona State (170) and he recorded three 100-yard rushing performances during the 2025 season. He was named to the 2025 Second Team All-ACC.

Mergott made his way into Duke’s starting lineup in Week 5 of the 2025 season, going on to finish the year with 90 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions, both of which sealed the ACC championship and Sun Bowl victories. He has made 10 starts across 32 career games.

Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Manny Diaz, Duke football players heading to ACC media days