Veteran coach and broadcaster Rick Neuheisel had high praise for Duke’s Mike Elko. Neuheisel’s comments come after the Blue Devils played a tight game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

“I thought Mike Elko coached a brilliant game,” Neuheisel said on Sirius XM Radio. “A brilliant game.”

Elko’s defense held Sam Hartman to just a 50% completion percentage and 0 touchdown passes.

“Elko is a defensive wizard. I am anointing him a czar of defense,” Neuheisel said. “The guy can flat coach on that side of the ball, and he had his way with the Notre Dame offense.”

The Blue Devil defense played well enough to beat the Irish, but the offense couldn’t get much going against an equally-impressive unit. Notre Dame prevailed 21-14 in the end.

The 4-1 Blue Devils currently have the No. 19 total defense in the nation. The Blue Devil secondary has been especially impressive, allowing just 159 yards per game through the air.

Elko’s squad gets a bye week in Week 6 before taking on NC State in Week 7.