He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and earned second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors as a junior in 2015.

After forgoing his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2016 NFL draft, he was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round.

[4][6] The son of a Mexican-American father and Japanese-American mother,[7] Duarte was one of the rare high-profile college recruits to be of Asian descent.

[3] He was rated a four-star prospect and capable of playing tight end, H-back, or wide receiver in college.

[3][8] He decided to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), his mother's alma mater.

After the season, he opted to forgo his final year of college eligibility and enter the 2016 NFL draft.

[18][19] He was promoted to the active roster on December 20 to replace tight end Julius Thomas, who was placed on injured reserve.

[21] He returned for training camp but was among the Dolphins final cuts before the 2018 season after he failed to supplant veterans MarQueis Gray and A. J.