important role – Nice midfielder Riley Leonard He won the Carmen Falcone Award for Most Valuable Player as a head coach Mike Elko The Blue Devils football program handed out awards to the team at the Duke Football Awards Saturday night.
The Blue Devils also honored 30 departed seniors and 66 lettermen during the show.
Leonard, a 6-4, 212-pound native of Fairhope, completed Ala. 250 of 392 pass attempts (. 638) for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns, while leading the team in rushing with 699 yards on 124 carries with 13 scores. He finished as one of only two quarterbacks nationally to score 20+ catches and 13+ rushing touchdowns during the year, a first in Blue Devil history. Honorable Mention All-ACC selection and Military Bowl MVP compiled three 300-plus-yard passing games, including career-bests of 391 yards and four touchdowns against Wake Forest. He added a career best rushing performance against North Carolina after recording 14 carries for 130 yards and 1 score. Leonard concluded the season by setting the Duke record for touchdowns in charge of 33, while also ranking second in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and fourth in rushing yards by a quarterback.
Other honorees are included Vincent Anthony Jr. (Rookie of the Year Award), Graham Barton (Offensive Line of the Year Award), Jack Burns (KD Kennedy Iron Devil Award), Gallon Calhoun (Best Offensive Skill Player Award), Dewayne Carter (Defensive Lineman of the Year Award and Steve Brooks Captain Award), Jamion Franklin (Ace Parker Award), Jeremiah Hasley (Sonny Falcon Iron Duke Award), Shaka Hayward (Defensive MVP Award and Steve Brooks Captain Award), Brandon Johnson (Cutcliffe Family Award), Darius the carpenter (Defensive Skill Player of the Year Award), Nick Lambert (Offensive Scouting Team Most Valuable Player Award), Jacob Monk (Steve Brooks Captain Award), Jordan Moore (Micah Harris Trinity Fellow Award), Joshua Beckett (Mike Suglia Award), Chandler Rivers (Rookie of the Year Award), Ryan Smith (Special Teams Player of the Year Award), Wesley Williams (Defensive Scouting Team Most Outstanding Player Award). Riley was also awarded the Offensive MVP.
Anthony, a defensive freshman from Durham, was named Rookie of the Year. He started in 12 of 13 games with the Blue Devils and finished with 28 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, two pass breakups, three quarterback pressures, and one fumble recovery. Anthony assisted Duke’s fourth-ranked ACC rushing defense, allowing only 121.08 yards per carry, and caught five of 12 opponents under 100 yards rushing to just 3.73 yards per carry with eight rushing scores.
Barton, a small offensive tackle from Brentwood, got Tenn. Awarded Offensive Lineman of the Year. He started all 13 games for the Blue Devils at left tackle, helping the offense compile 2,394 rushing and 3,010 yards. The First Team All-ACC selection also helped Duke score 31 rushing touchdowns, which set a program record for a single season. Barton anchored an offensive line unit that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and tackles for loss allowed (51). At the end of the year, he was named an honorable mention All-American Phil Steele.
Burns, a graduate student center from Kansas City, is the recipient of the KD Kennedy Iron Devil Award, which is given annually to the player who displays heart, toughness, and toughness throughout the year. He helped the Duke offensive line unit rank first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17), first in tackles allowed (51), second in rushing touchdowns (31), second in time of possession (32:52) and third in rushing offense (184.15).
Calhoun, a rookie receiver from Greenville, South Carolina, was named Offensive Skilled Player of the Year. He earned three All-ACC honors after being named to the third team as a wide receiver, running back specialist, and honorable mention as an all-purpose player. Calhoun recorded a team-best 62 passes for 873 yards and four touchdowns this season. He became the 11th player in program history to eclipse the 2,000 career rushing yards and finished the year with 2,360 yards which ranks ninth all-time in Duke history.
Carter, a junior defensive player from Pickerington, Ohio, was named Defensive Player of the Year. He also received the Steve Brooks Captain Award, which is given to team captains for their leadership throughout the season. The second-team All-ACC selection totaled 36 tackles, with career bests of 11.0 for loss and 5.5 sacks. In addition, he finished tied for first in the ACC and tied for third nationally in fumble recoveries (three) and tied for fourth in the ACC and tied for thirteenth nationally in forced fumbles (three). At the end of the year, Carter was named to the Third Team All-American list by College Football Network.
Franklin, a top defensive tackle from Ridley, Maryland, is the recipient of the Ice Parker Award, which is given annually to an individual who overcomes adversity for a contribution. One of 12 former Duke players and coaches enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, Parker was a two-time All-America selection in 1935 and 1936. After his successful NFL career, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. That season, Franklin recorded 26 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, five pass breakups, two quarterback pressures, and one fumble recovery during his first full season as a starter.
The Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award is given annually to the developmental player who has scored the best touchdown in the weight room. This year, the winner was Hasley, a freshman linebacker from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. During his first year at Durham, he saw action in four matches.
Heyward, starting linebacker from Dacula, Ga. Winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award. In addition, he has also been honored with the Steve Brooks Captain Award. The Honorable Mention All-ACC selection finished second on the team in tackles (93), pass breakups (six) and fumble recoveries (two), while he was tied for leading the team in interceptions (two). Heyward finished his career at Duke and is tied for eighth in program history in career fumble recoveries (five), 12th in career TFLs (32.5), 13th in career tackles (339), and tied for 14th in career sacks (11.5). ).
Johnson, a sophomore safety from Newton, NC, is the recipient of the Cutcliffe Family Award, which is given to the program’s most improved player. The Honorable Mention All-ACC honoree finished the season tied for first on the team in sacks (5.5), tied for first in pass breakups (seven), tied for second in interceptions (two), and third in tackles for loss (7.5).
Carpenter, a graduate student safety from Roanoke, Alaska, was named Defensive Skilled Player of the Year. A third-team All-ACC selection he started all 13 games during his only season in Durham and finished first on the team in tackles (97), tied for first in interceptions (two), second in tackles for loss (8.0), and fourth in sacks (4.0). and fourth in quarterback pressures (five). In addition, he added five pass breakups and one forced fumble. At the conclusion of the season, Joyner held a match Focus on professional football A score of 88.7, which ranked fourth nationally among safeties.
Lambert, a sophomore from the University of Miami, Florida, was named Offensive Scout Player of the Year. During his sophomore year at Durham, he saw action on two games receiving one for seven yards.
Monk was awarded the Steve Brooks Captain Award, which is given to team captains for their leadership throughout the season. The senior from Clayton, NC, helped the offense compile 2,394 rushing and 3,010 yards. The Honorable Mention All-ACC selection also helped Duke score 31 rushing touchdowns, setting a program record for a single season. Monk has been a major factor in why the offensive line unit ranks first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and tackles for loss allowed (51).
Moore, a sophomore from Sykesville University, Maryland, was the recipient of the Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award, given annually to the program member who demonstrates the highest team member qualities such as inspiration, unselfishness, and commitment to the team. Micah Harris was tragically killed in a car accident in June of 2004, just before his senior year at Duke University. After transitioning to wide receiver midway through fall camp, Moore finished the year second on the team in receptions (60) and receiving yards (656), while being tied for a starter with five touchdowns. He compiled three receptions in eight contests and more than 50 yards in four contests, including a career best effort of 14 receptions for 199 yards and one score against Pittsburgh.
Pickett, a sophomore from Demorest, Ga., is the recipient of the Mike Suglia Award, which is given annually to a sophomore member of the Duke football program who best exemplifies the qualities of the late Mike Suglia. Suglia was an offensive lineman at Duke in 1976-77 who died suddenly during the spring of his sophomore year. He was an excellent student, an outstanding football player, and most importantly, a young man of the highest integrity. Pickett saw action in all 13 games, recording 41 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, and a career-best seven pass break-ups.
Rivers, a corner freshman from Beaumont, Texas, was also named rookie of the year. He appeared in all 13 matches, making five starts, during his inaugural year at Durham. He was fourth on the team in pass breakups (six) and sixth in tackles (52), while adding 2.0 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one interception, two quarterback pressures, and one blocked kick. At the end of the year, Rivers was honored with an All-American honor College Football News.
Smith was named Special Teams Player of the Year. The defensive back from Acworth, Ga. , compiled 240 snaps on special teams and finished the year with 13 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one blocked kick.
Williams, a defensive freshman from Gainesville, Virginia, was named Defensive Scout Player of the Year. Williams saw action in one game during his freshman year at Durham.
#GoDuke