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Four Blue Devils Placed on NFLPA Big Board
8/27/2021 7:30:00 PM | Football
DURHAM – Graduate student cornerback Josh Blackwell, senior running back Mataeo Durant, redshirt senior cornerback Leonard Johnson and redshirt senior center Jack Wohlabaugh represented Duke on the 2021-22 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Preseason Big Board, announced Friday by the organization.
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Since 2011, the NFLPA Bowl has provided senior NFL prospects with an exceptional platform to showcase their talents to all 32 NFL teams as well as a one-of-a-kind experience that educates participants about the business of football.
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In 25 career games, including 17 starts, Blackwell has 61 tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble in addition to 13 pass breakups. The Buford, Ga., product, owns 17 career games with two or more tackles and recorded a career-high six stops against Wake Forest in 2019.
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He started the first two games of the 2020 season before suffering a season-ending injury. Earlier in his career, Blackwell set the Duke bowl game record with four pass breakups in the Blue Devils' 2018 Independence Bowl win against Temple.
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Durant, a native of Plum Branch, S.C., boasts 1,321 yards on 234 carries with nine scores in 32 career games. In addition, the senior has caught 28 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Entering the 2021 season, Durant's 1,321 career rushing yards rank 30th in program history.
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Last year, Durant led the Blue Devils in rushing yards (817) and rushing touchdowns (eight) while ranking second on the team in scoring (54 points). Durant averaged 6.81 yards per rushing attempt, the fourth highest in a season in program lore.
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Johnson returns as Duke's starting cornerback. The Hayden, Ala., product has played in 35 career games, with 28 starts. He has 131 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, four interceptions, four caused fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 13 pass breakups throughout his career. He also holds 10 games with six or more tackles and three games with multiple pass breakups.
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Most recently in 2020, Johnson saw action in 10 games with seven starts and compiled 24 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups. Johnson's longest interception return of his career came at Baylor in 2018, following a 53-yard return for a touchdown.
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Wohlabaugh, who was recently named to the 2021 Rimington Trophy Watch List, has played in 22 games as a Blue Devil, including 18 starts. The redshirt senior missed all of 2020 after suffering a season-ending knee injury during preseason camp.
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The 6-4, 305-pound Akron, Ohio, native earned honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2019 and was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after Duke's win against Virginia Tech. Along with his conference accolades, Wohlabaugh also earned Duke's Dan "Tiger" Hill Award as the most outstanding offensive lineman after anchoring an offensive line that ranked fifth in the ACC in sacks allowed and 15th nationally in tackles for loss allowed.
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This January, the NFL Players Association will produce the 10th annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl game at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. In the past two years alone, 87 NFLPA Bowl participants have been invited to the NFL Combine and 58 were drafted by NFL clubs.
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Duke begins the 2021 season on Friday, Sept. 3 at Charlotte. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
Season tickets are available online at www.GoDuke.com/FootballTix or by calling the Duke Athletic Ticket Office at 919-681-2583.
#GoDuke
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Since 2011, the NFLPA Bowl has provided senior NFL prospects with an exceptional platform to showcase their talents to all 32 NFL teams as well as a one-of-a-kind experience that educates participants about the business of football.
Â
In 25 career games, including 17 starts, Blackwell has 61 tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble in addition to 13 pass breakups. The Buford, Ga., product, owns 17 career games with two or more tackles and recorded a career-high six stops against Wake Forest in 2019.
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He started the first two games of the 2020 season before suffering a season-ending injury. Earlier in his career, Blackwell set the Duke bowl game record with four pass breakups in the Blue Devils' 2018 Independence Bowl win against Temple.
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Durant, a native of Plum Branch, S.C., boasts 1,321 yards on 234 carries with nine scores in 32 career games. In addition, the senior has caught 28 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Entering the 2021 season, Durant's 1,321 career rushing yards rank 30th in program history.
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Last year, Durant led the Blue Devils in rushing yards (817) and rushing touchdowns (eight) while ranking second on the team in scoring (54 points). Durant averaged 6.81 yards per rushing attempt, the fourth highest in a season in program lore.
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Johnson returns as Duke's starting cornerback. The Hayden, Ala., product has played in 35 career games, with 28 starts. He has 131 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, four interceptions, four caused fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 13 pass breakups throughout his career. He also holds 10 games with six or more tackles and three games with multiple pass breakups.
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Most recently in 2020, Johnson saw action in 10 games with seven starts and compiled 24 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups. Johnson's longest interception return of his career came at Baylor in 2018, following a 53-yard return for a touchdown.
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Wohlabaugh, who was recently named to the 2021 Rimington Trophy Watch List, has played in 22 games as a Blue Devil, including 18 starts. The redshirt senior missed all of 2020 after suffering a season-ending knee injury during preseason camp.
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The 6-4, 305-pound Akron, Ohio, native earned honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2019 and was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after Duke's win against Virginia Tech. Along with his conference accolades, Wohlabaugh also earned Duke's Dan "Tiger" Hill Award as the most outstanding offensive lineman after anchoring an offensive line that ranked fifth in the ACC in sacks allowed and 15th nationally in tackles for loss allowed.
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This January, the NFL Players Association will produce the 10th annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl game at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. In the past two years alone, 87 NFLPA Bowl participants have been invited to the NFL Combine and 58 were drafted by NFL clubs.
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Duke begins the 2021 season on Friday, Sept. 3 at Charlotte. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
Season tickets are available online at www.GoDuke.com/FootballTix or by calling the Duke Athletic Ticket Office at 919-681-2583.
#GoDuke
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