Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 17-3vs Tulane | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 31-27@ Illinois | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#95
Preston Watson
Junior defensive tackle on Duke's 2026 roster.
6′1″ · 300 lb · Lake Mary, FL · Seminole
CFB Index 54 · #148 of 330 interior linemenLow confidenceReturning to Duke for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
1 TFL · 6 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 TFL, 4 tackles, vs Tulane
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 defensive tackle on Duke's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Duke in 2024.
Preston Watson
Wins his gap play after play. Third year in the Duke defensive front, same address the whole way. The receipt on tape: 4 tackles, 1 TFL against Tulane, Week 1, 2026.
6 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 3 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20247 games
- Signed with Duke3-star out of Seminole
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Duke
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Duke
Played his entire career under Manny Diaz.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Manny Diaz — 20-9 over that span.
2024Duke9-4HC: Manny Diaz · Pass-leaning
2025Duke9-5HC: Manny Diaz · Balanced
2026Duke2-0HC: Manny Diaz · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Low confidenceBreakout
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.5 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Manny Diaz
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
54 · #148 of 330 interior linemen
Three-star recruit. Now #148 at the position.
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #9 of 11 ACC DTs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 31–27
at Illinois
2 TOT
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 4 on the road.
With W. Eget — 206 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · QBR 75.9 · -2 rush yds (1 car) · N. Sheppard — 147 rush yds (24 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Duke
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive tackle · Duke
Returning around him
- 3 Duke players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +2 net (19 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Duke · Last season: 9-5 · Talent rank #69 · 2026 recruiting class #71
DNA match
Player DNA
Two-Gap Base
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Darold Dengohe’s 2024 season.
Matches Darold on
Sack rate
Class year
TFL rate
Differs from Darold on
Height (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Dylan Manuel's sophomore season at App State (2025).
Matches Dylan on
Class year
Hurry rate
Weight
Differs from Dylan on
Sack rate (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Preston Watson
Background
2026 ACCOLADES Fourth Team Preseason All-ACC (Athlon) 2026: Returning defensive tackle … in 27 career games, has compiled 21 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, one fumble recovery, one PBU and three QB pressures … recorded 2+ tackles in five games with a career-high three against Elon in 2025 … posted a...
The defensive line · Duke
- #10Tyshon Reed3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #95Preston Watson3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #12Bryce Davis2 tackles for loss · 2025
- #15Kevin O'Connor1 tackle for loss · 2025
- #44David Anderson0.5 tackles for loss · 2025
12 more on the roster · Duke team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology