{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox college football player |name= Duce Chestnut |image= Duce Chestnut at Syracuse Orange football quad walk (2024) 01.jpg |image_size= |caption= Chestnut with the Syracuse Orange in 2024 |school= Syracuse Orange |currentnumber=0 |currentposition=Cornerback |class={{redshirt}} Junior |major= |birth_date={{birth date and age|2002|12|5}} |birth_place= |heightft=5 |heightin=10 |weight_lb=200 |highlights= *Third-team All-ACC (2021) |highschool=Camden (Camden, New Jersey) |pastschools= *Syracuse (2021–2022) *LSU (2023) *Syracuse (2024–2025) |espn=4569658 |pfr=ChesDu00 }}
'''Darian "Duce" Chestnut''' (born December 5, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Darian-Chestnut-DB-Syracuse|title=Duce Chestnut Safety Syracuse|website=nfldraftbuzz.com|access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref> is an American college football cornerback for the Syracuse Orange. He previously played for the LSU Tigers.
==Early life== Chestnut attended Camden High School in Camden, New Jersey, and was rated as a four-star recruit.<ref name="commit">{{cite web |last1=Gutierrez |first1=Matthew |title=How Syracuse landed a commitment from Duce Chestnut, its top recruit in a decade |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1986641/2020/08/11/syracuse-football-recruiting-duce-chestnut/ |website=The Athletic |date=11 August 2020 |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref> On August 2, 2020, he committed to play college football for the Syracuse Orange over offers such as Miami, Louisville, Ole Miss, Michigan, Michigan State, and Rutgers.<ref name=commit/>
==College career== === Syracuse === In 2021 and 2022, Chestnut appeared in 24 games for the Orange, recording 83 tackles with six being for a loss, nine pass deflections, four interceptions, and a touchdown.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darian Chestnut |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/darian-chestnut-1.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref> In 2021, he was named a freshman all-American, third-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and was the runner-up for the ACC defensive rookie of the year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leiker |first1=Emily |title=Syracuse football may have its next Duce Chestnut: 'He is about his business' |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2024/08/syracuse-football-may-have-its-next-duce-chestnut-he-is-about-his-business.html |website=Syracuse.com |date=16 August 2024 |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref> After two seasons with the Orange, Chestnut entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Axe |first1=Brent |title=Syracuse football starting CB Duce Chestnut has entered the transfer portal |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2022/12/syracuse-football-starting-cb-duce-chestnut-has-entered-the-transfer-portal.html |website=Syracuse.com |date=13 December 2022 |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref>
=== LSU === Chestnut transferred to play for the LSU Tigers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Wilson |title=LSU lands former freshman All-American cornerback transfer from Syracuse |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/lsu/syracuse-cornerback-duce-chestnut-transfers-to-lsu/article_05ad2a8a-8fb0-11ed-af91-875af1106aaf.html |website=NOLA.com |date=8 January 2023 |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref> In his Tiger debut in week one of the 2023 season, he notched an interception versus USC.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stepansky |first1=Aiden |title=After living out dreams at LSU, Duce Chestnut's back in Syracuse |url=https://dailyorange.com/2024/09/duce-chestnut-lsu-syracuse-football-dreams/ |website=The Daily Orange |date=26 September 2024 |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref> During his first season at LSU, Chestnut only appeared in four games due to injury, notching six tackles and an interception.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schultz |first1=Nick |title=LSU CB Duce Chestnut enters NCAA transfer portal |url=https://www.on3.com/college/lsu-tigers/news/duce-chestnut-transfer-portal-lsu-cornerback-enters-ncaa-syracuse-darian/ |website=On3.com |date=27 December 2023 |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref> After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Chestnut once again entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Darcey |first1=Reed |title=An LSU corner enters the transfer portal. See what that means for the Tigers' secondary |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/lsu/lsu-db-duce-chestnut-officially-in-transfer-portal/article_cf8daa84-a466-11ee-b9cd-37658a4e583e.html |website=NOLA.com |date=27 December 2023 |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref>
=== Syracuse (second stint) === Chestnut transferred back to play for the Syracuse Orange.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Axe |first1=Brent |date=January 1, 2024 |title=Duce Chestnut rings in 2024 by announcing return to Syracuse football |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2024/01/duce-chestnut-rings-in-2024-by-announcing-return-to-syracuse-football.html |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=Syracuse.com}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 10 3/8 | weight = 200 | dash = 4.60 | ten split = 1.63 | twenty split = 2.73 | shuttle = 4.70 | vertical = 30.5 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 8 | bench = 16 | arm span = 30 1/2 | hand span = 9 1/8 | wingspan ft = 6 | wingspan in = 2 1/4 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1053362&DraftYear=2026 |title=Duce Chestnut College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 22, 2026}}</ref> }}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons}} * [https://cuse.com/sports/football/roster/Duce-Chestnut/23366 Syracuse Orange bio] * [https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/duce-chestnut/ LSU Tigers bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chestnut, Duce}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Camden, New Jersey Category:American football cornerbacks Category:LSU Tigers football players Category:Syracuse Orange football players Category:Camden High School (New Jersey) alumni Category:21st-century American sportsmen