Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | PUNT | YDS | AVG | LONG | IN20 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 7-38@ New Mexico | 6 | 306 | 51.0 | 62 | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 13-10vs Colgate | 4 | 130 | 32.5 | 37 | 1 | |
| Total | 10 | 436 | 41.8 | 62 | 2 |
#18
Declan Duley
Junior punter for Central Michigan. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 220 lb · El Paso, IL · El Paso-Gridley H.S.
Returning to Central Michigan for 2026
The numbers
43.6
yards per punt · 2026
10 punts · long of 62 · 2 inside the 20
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 punts, 51 avg, at New Mexico
Swing playSwung Kent State from 11% to 37% to win.Central Michigan at Kent State · 28-16
The story
3 punter for Central Michigan. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Illinois in 2023.
Declan Duley
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane. He has spent two seasons at Central Michigan.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
His career
2023
- Signed with Illinois3-star out of El Paso-Gridley
202513 games
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Central Michigan
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Matt Drinkall, all run-heavy, slow tempo offenses — 8-7 over that span.
2025Central Michigan7-6HC: Matt Drinkall · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2026Central Michigan1-1HC: Matt Drinkall · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Not enough tracked stats yet to summarize this season.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Drinkall
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 13–10
vs Colgate
4 NO · 130 YDS · 32 AVG
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 at home.
With A. H Flores — 57 yds · 0 TD · 1 INT · QBR 24.4 · 122 rush yds (22 car) · 1 TD · J. Ruffin Jr. — 5 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Central Michigan
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Punter · Central Michigan
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -5 net (12 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Central Michigan · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #125 · 2026 recruiting class #95
DNA match
Player DNA
Steady
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.
P
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Dante Atton’s 2024 season.
Matches Dante on
Yards / punt
In-20 rate
Class year
Differs from Dante on
Weight (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Liam Dougherty's freshman season at Houston (2024).
Matches Liam on
Class year
In-20 rate
Yards / punt
Differs from Liam on
Weight (higher)
Background
Transferred to Central Michigan after playing two years at Illinois … Enrolled at Central Michigan in January 2025. 2025 As a redshirt sophomore, saw action in all 13 games as Central Michigan’s punter … Finished the year with a 41.1 yards per punt average (54-2221) with 25 fair catches, 18 place...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology