Duke football vs. NC State (Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports)
Duke Football: Blue Devils Host Top-Ranked Athlete
Douglas County (Ga.) wide receiver Aaron Gregory, one of a few 2026 composite five-star talents holding a Duke football offer, was in Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday night.
It appears the 6-foot-3, 170-pound speedster enjoyed the overall visit and left impressed by the Blue Devils' 24-3 stomping of the visiting NC State Wolfpack:
Gregory, No. 16 overall, No. 1 among athletes, and No. 4 in his state on the 247Sports 2026 Composite, already has dozens of suitors and more than a handful of the big-name variety.
That list includes the likes of Georgia, as the Bulldogs hosted him in September, along with Alabama, Florida State, and Texas, among others.
Duke football has never landed a full-fledged five-star recruit. And second-year head coach Mike Elko has reeled in only two four-star pledges since he arrived in Durham — the latest being Center Grove (Ind.) quarterback Tyler Cherry, who earned his fourth star last week, months after committing to the Blue Devils.
But Elko has worked magic while garnering unprecedented national attention for the program. The Blue Devils, following a remarkable 9-4 campaign last season, have hosted ESPN's College GameDay for the first time in program history and earned three primetime, nationally broadcasted games thus far.
Meanwhile, at No. 16 in this week's AP Top 25, Duke football boasts its highest ranking since 1994.
Furthermore, Elko and his gang enjoy the No. 36 recruiting class on the 2024 trail, per 247Sports, which would mark the Blue Devils' best haul since 2016 (No. 32) if it holds.
So, with the above in mind, perhaps it's no longer unrealistic to think the Blue Devils will eventually attract one of the nation's premier recruits to play college football in Durham.
Will it be Aaron Gregory? It's safe to say Duke didn't hurt its chances on Saturday night.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke football recruiting news.
