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Duke Football Places Eight on All-ACC Team
12/3/2019 10:00:00 AM | Football
Official Release
DURHAM, N.C. – The ACC announced that a total of eight Blue Devils were honored with All-ACC recognition Tuesday.
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A voting panel of 46 media members and the league's 14 head coaches cast ballots for the 2019 All-ACC Football Teams, with three points awarded for each first-team vote, two points for each second-team vote and one point for each third-team selection.
This was Duke's highest number of players acknowledged since 2015 when it also saw eight honored.
Junior defensive end Victor Dimukeje and junior tight end Noah Gray, as well as redshirt sophomore specialist Damond Philyaw-Johnson were all tabbed to the second team. In addition, senior linebacker Koby Quansah and redshirt sophomore defensive end Chris Rumph II garnered third team recognition, while redshirt senior punter Austin Parker, redshirt junior kicker AJ Reed, and redshirt junior center Jack Wohlabaugh each netted honorable mention praise. All eight selections earned all-conference citations for the first time in their careers.
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Dimukeje, a 6-2, 265-pound junior from Baltimore, Md., finished the year with 41 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. He led Duke, ranked fourth in the ACC, and was tied for 17th nationally with 8.5 sacks. Dimukeje also ranked tied for 21st in ACC with 9.5 TFL. He posted four multi-sack games this season vs. Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Wake Forest. The 8.5 sacks are the most by a Blue Devil in a season since 2002. Dimukeje was tabbed the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week on Oct. 14 when he posted six tackles and 3.0 sacks in a win over Georgia Tech.
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Gray, a 6-4, 240-pound junior from Leominster, Mass., led all ACC tight ends and ranked second among Power 5 tight ends with 51 receptions on the year. He finished with 392 yards and three touchdowns, while recording five or more receptions in six games and two or more receptions in all 12 games. Per Pro Football Focus, only two tight ends nationally (Stanford's Colby Parkinson & Iowa State's Charlie Kolar) were targeted more times with fewer dropped passes.
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Philyaw-Johnson, a 6-1, 170-pound redshirt sophomore from Pensacola, Fla., matched an NCAA single-game record with two kickoff returns for a touchdown vs. Wake Forest. The two KORs for TDs in a single game marked the second time in ACC history someone had achieved that feat. His 251 kickoff return yards against the Demon Deacons was Duke's highest single-game total in school history as well. For those efforts, Philyaw-Johnson was named the ACC Specialist of the Week. On the year, he compiled 17 returns, 549 yards, 32.29 average, and two TDs.
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Quansah, a 6-1, 230-pound senior from Manchester, Conn., ranked tied for second in the ACC in total tackles and tackles per game as well as tied for eighth in tackles for loss per game. He also led Duke in both tackles (tied for 26th in the NCAA) and TFL (10th ACC). Quansah was selected the ACC Linebacker of the Week on Sept. 30 after registering 13 tackles, 0.5 sack and one fumble recovery in a win over Virginia Tech. He tallied six games with double-digit tackles, including a 13 tackles performance opposite the Hokies. The linebacker finished with 105 tackles, 12.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries on the year.
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Rumph II, a 6-3, 225-pound redshirt sophomore from Gainesville, Fla., ranked tied for 14th in the ACC in tackles for loss and led Duke with 11 quarterback pressures. Rumph II recorded a career high eight total tackles, including 3.5 quarterback sacks as the Blue Devils defeated Miami. His final sack total marked the second highest in Duke single-game history, behind only a 4.0 sack outing by Blaine Earon vs. Georgia Tech in 1949. He spearheaded a Duke defense that limited Miami to 17 points (11.8 below its average), 98 rushing yards (25.1 below its average), 161 passing yards (104.9 below its average) and 259 total yards (130.8 below its average). He finished the year with 47 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks (30 yards), 11 QBH, and three pass breakups.
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Parker, a 6-1, 190-pound redshirt senior from Mount Pleasant, N.C., ranked fifth in the ACC and 15th nationally in punting average. He registered 66 total punts on the year for 3,018 yards for an average of 45.73 yards per punt. Parker closed out his final campaign compiling 26 punts of 50+ yards this season for the third-highest total in the ACC. He also booted a career long 72-yarder against Syracuse.
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Reed, a 5-11, 185-pound redshirt junior from Prattville, Ala., was the only ACC kicker with three field goals of 49+ yards this season. He also was one of just two ACC kickers with multiple field goals of 50+ yards this season. On the year, Reed went 15-for-18 on field goal attempts for a .833 percentage and was a perfect 34-for-34 on PATs. He was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award and was tabbed the ACC Specialist of the Week on Nov. 18 after converting field goals of 31 yards and a career-best 51 yards opposite Syracuse.
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Wohlabaugh, a 6-4, 305-pound redshirt junior from Akron, Ohio, was Duke's top offensive lineman. He helped the Blue Devils rank fifth in the ACC in sacks allowed and 15th nationally in TFL allowed. Wohlabaugh was selected the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Sept. 30 after spearheading a Duke offense that produced 45 points, 24 first downs and 422 total yards in a win.Â
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Redshirt freshman linebacker Shaka Heyward finished third in the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year category as well after garnering 58 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries this season. The Hoschton, Ga., native led all ACC freshmen in tackles and ranked second among ACC freshman linebackers in TFL.
Duke All-ACC Breakdown
TE - Noah Gray       - Second Team Offense
DE - Victor Dimukeje    - Second Team Defense
SP - Damond Philyaw-Johnson - Second Team Specialist
DE - Chris Rumph IIÂ Â Â Â Â - Third Team DefenseÂ
LB - Koby Quansah      - Third Team Defense
C - Jack Wohlabaugh    - Honorable Mention Offense
P - Austin Parker     - Honorable Mention Specialists
PK - AJ Reed        - Honorable Mention Specialist
#GoDuke
DURHAM, N.C. – The ACC announced that a total of eight Blue Devils were honored with All-ACC recognition Tuesday.
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A voting panel of 46 media members and the league's 14 head coaches cast ballots for the 2019 All-ACC Football Teams, with three points awarded for each first-team vote, two points for each second-team vote and one point for each third-team selection.
This was Duke's highest number of players acknowledged since 2015 when it also saw eight honored.
Junior defensive end Victor Dimukeje and junior tight end Noah Gray, as well as redshirt sophomore specialist Damond Philyaw-Johnson were all tabbed to the second team. In addition, senior linebacker Koby Quansah and redshirt sophomore defensive end Chris Rumph II garnered third team recognition, while redshirt senior punter Austin Parker, redshirt junior kicker AJ Reed, and redshirt junior center Jack Wohlabaugh each netted honorable mention praise. All eight selections earned all-conference citations for the first time in their careers.
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Dimukeje, a 6-2, 265-pound junior from Baltimore, Md., finished the year with 41 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. He led Duke, ranked fourth in the ACC, and was tied for 17th nationally with 8.5 sacks. Dimukeje also ranked tied for 21st in ACC with 9.5 TFL. He posted four multi-sack games this season vs. Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Wake Forest. The 8.5 sacks are the most by a Blue Devil in a season since 2002. Dimukeje was tabbed the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week on Oct. 14 when he posted six tackles and 3.0 sacks in a win over Georgia Tech.
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Gray, a 6-4, 240-pound junior from Leominster, Mass., led all ACC tight ends and ranked second among Power 5 tight ends with 51 receptions on the year. He finished with 392 yards and three touchdowns, while recording five or more receptions in six games and two or more receptions in all 12 games. Per Pro Football Focus, only two tight ends nationally (Stanford's Colby Parkinson & Iowa State's Charlie Kolar) were targeted more times with fewer dropped passes.
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Philyaw-Johnson, a 6-1, 170-pound redshirt sophomore from Pensacola, Fla., matched an NCAA single-game record with two kickoff returns for a touchdown vs. Wake Forest. The two KORs for TDs in a single game marked the second time in ACC history someone had achieved that feat. His 251 kickoff return yards against the Demon Deacons was Duke's highest single-game total in school history as well. For those efforts, Philyaw-Johnson was named the ACC Specialist of the Week. On the year, he compiled 17 returns, 549 yards, 32.29 average, and two TDs.
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Quansah, a 6-1, 230-pound senior from Manchester, Conn., ranked tied for second in the ACC in total tackles and tackles per game as well as tied for eighth in tackles for loss per game. He also led Duke in both tackles (tied for 26th in the NCAA) and TFL (10th ACC). Quansah was selected the ACC Linebacker of the Week on Sept. 30 after registering 13 tackles, 0.5 sack and one fumble recovery in a win over Virginia Tech. He tallied six games with double-digit tackles, including a 13 tackles performance opposite the Hokies. The linebacker finished with 105 tackles, 12.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries on the year.
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Rumph II, a 6-3, 225-pound redshirt sophomore from Gainesville, Fla., ranked tied for 14th in the ACC in tackles for loss and led Duke with 11 quarterback pressures. Rumph II recorded a career high eight total tackles, including 3.5 quarterback sacks as the Blue Devils defeated Miami. His final sack total marked the second highest in Duke single-game history, behind only a 4.0 sack outing by Blaine Earon vs. Georgia Tech in 1949. He spearheaded a Duke defense that limited Miami to 17 points (11.8 below its average), 98 rushing yards (25.1 below its average), 161 passing yards (104.9 below its average) and 259 total yards (130.8 below its average). He finished the year with 47 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks (30 yards), 11 QBH, and three pass breakups.
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Parker, a 6-1, 190-pound redshirt senior from Mount Pleasant, N.C., ranked fifth in the ACC and 15th nationally in punting average. He registered 66 total punts on the year for 3,018 yards for an average of 45.73 yards per punt. Parker closed out his final campaign compiling 26 punts of 50+ yards this season for the third-highest total in the ACC. He also booted a career long 72-yarder against Syracuse.
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Reed, a 5-11, 185-pound redshirt junior from Prattville, Ala., was the only ACC kicker with three field goals of 49+ yards this season. He also was one of just two ACC kickers with multiple field goals of 50+ yards this season. On the year, Reed went 15-for-18 on field goal attempts for a .833 percentage and was a perfect 34-for-34 on PATs. He was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award and was tabbed the ACC Specialist of the Week on Nov. 18 after converting field goals of 31 yards and a career-best 51 yards opposite Syracuse.
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Wohlabaugh, a 6-4, 305-pound redshirt junior from Akron, Ohio, was Duke's top offensive lineman. He helped the Blue Devils rank fifth in the ACC in sacks allowed and 15th nationally in TFL allowed. Wohlabaugh was selected the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Sept. 30 after spearheading a Duke offense that produced 45 points, 24 first downs and 422 total yards in a win.Â
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Redshirt freshman linebacker Shaka Heyward finished third in the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year category as well after garnering 58 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries this season. The Hoschton, Ga., native led all ACC freshmen in tackles and ranked second among ACC freshman linebackers in TFL.
Duke All-ACC Breakdown
TE - Noah Gray       - Second Team Offense
DE - Victor Dimukeje    - Second Team Defense
SP - Damond Philyaw-Johnson - Second Team Specialist
DE - Chris Rumph IIÂ Â Â Â Â - Third Team DefenseÂ
LB - Koby Quansah      - Third Team Defense
C - Jack Wohlabaugh    - Honorable Mention Offense
P - Austin Parker     - Honorable Mention Specialists
PK - AJ Reed        - Honorable Mention Specialist
#GoDuke
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