Que'Sean Brown Performance Through Six Weeks

Brown has emerged as a true go-to option in Duke's passing attack. How has performance been through the first half of the 2025 season?

Sep 27, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Que'Sean Brown (7) runs against Syracuse Orange defensive back Cornell Perry (19) in the first quarter at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Duke's passing offense possesses a perfect mix between Que'Sean Brown and Cooper Barkate, who are the ideal pairing with Darian Mensah at the helm.

At 5'8" and 165 pounds, Brown could be viewed as an afterthought, but he has been anything but that through the first half of the 2025 season.

Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Javon Harvey (7) dances after his touchdown score with wide receiver Que'Sean Brown (14) during the second quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last year in his inaugrual season in college football, Brown secured 37 receptions for 394 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 32.8 receiving yards per game in 12 outings. This season, through six games, the sophomore receiver has caught 27 passes for 400 yards and one touchdown, while averaging 66.7 receiving yards per contest.

Brown has improved vastly from his freshman season. Here is a look at where he is excelling on the field.

Sep 27, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz on the sidelines in the second quarter game against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Producing Explosive Plays: B+

The Blue Devils have utilized Brown almost exclusively from the slot this season. Yet, the speedster wideout has continually created chunk gains this season.

Nov 9, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Que'Sean Brown (14) celebrates during the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

According to PFF, Brown has run a route from the slot at least 76.7% of the time, with five games with at least an 84% route participation from the slot position.

Of Brown's 400 receiving yards, 157 of those yards have come on six receptions, which accounts for 39.2% of his receiving production. That also equates to 26.1 yards per reception from Brown in those instances.

Nov 2, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Que'Sean Brown (14) runs with the football past Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Those statistics could indicate that Brown does not see enough volume to sustain that type of success down the field, but he has earned at least six targets in four games this season. Those explosive plays will continue to be a feature of this offense, with Brown being the main contributor.

Creating Separation: B+

Sep 24, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; A general view of a Duke Blue Devils helmet against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half of the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Despite his size, Brown possesses an expansive route tree that can open up avenues of space not just for himself, but also for his teammates, which vastly improves the offense.

Brown's ability to break open at all levels of the field is telling when analyzing Mensah's passer rating metrics on passes thrown to Brown in specific areas.

Duke wide receiver Que'Sean Brown (14) carries the ball as Middle Tennessee wide receiver Kellen Stewart (19) moves in for a tackle during the MTSU Homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. | HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

According to PFF, Mensah possesses a 109.5 passer rating when targeting Brown on short routes (0-9 yards), a 113.1 passer rating when targeting Brown at medium depth (10-19), and an 84.5 passer rating when targeting Brown on deep throws (20+ yards).

The short routes are primarily a product of manufactured touches for Brown, but the fact that Mensah is a better passer when throwing to the second-year wideout in those intermediate spots shows how quickly Brown is getting to his spot and how easily he is beating opposing cornerbacks.

Sep 14, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Que'Sean Brown (14) celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the second half of the game against Connecticut Huskies at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Brown is still a relatively young player on the college level. If he can refine various parts of his game, he can become an elite receiver by the end of this season.

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