Completed Event: Football versus Arizona State on December 31, 2025 , Win , 42, to, 39
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vs Arizona State
39
Four Blue Devils Accept Postseason Bowl Invitations
1/6/2023 5:18:00 PM | Football
DURHAM – Duke linebacker Shaka Heyward is set to participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl, while long snapper Evan Deckers and safety Darius Joiner as well as wide receiver Eric Gallman II have accepted invitations to the Hula Bowl and Tropical Bowl, respectively.
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The East-West Shrine Bowl will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m. PT. The Hula Bowl is set for noon on Saturday, Jan. 14 at UCF's FBC Mortgages Stadium in Orlando, Fla., while the Tropical Bowl will take place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m.
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Heyward becomes the 41st Duke player to be invited to the East-West Shrine Game, joining Elmore Hackney (1937), Ace Parker (1937), George McAfee (1939), Willard Perdue (1939), Tony Ruffa (1940), Ernest Beamer (1943), Al DeRogatis (1948), Bob Pascal (1955), Sonny Sorrell (1955), Wray Carlton (1958), Mike McGee (1959), Jack Wilson (1961), Jay Wilkinson (1963), Mike Murphy (1967), Wes Chesson (1970), Leo Hart (1970), Steve Jones (1972), Ed Newman (1972), Dave Meier (1975), Billy Bryan (1976), Mike Sandusky (1977), Lyman Smith (1977), Carl McGee (1978), Chris Castor (1982), Phil Ebinger (1983), Mike Junkin (1986), Dave Colonna (1989), Robert Baldwin (1994), Ray Farmer (1995), Tawambi Settles (1997), Ryan Fowler (2003), Drew Strojny (2003), Alex Green (2005), Michael Tauiliili (2008), Matt Daniels (2011), Sean Renfree (2012), Ross Cockrell (2013), Anthony Boone (2014), Will Monday (2015), and Daniel Helm (2018).
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Heyward, a 6-3, 240-pound redshirt senior from Dacula, Ga., finished second on the team this season in tackles (93) and pass breakups (6) and was tied for the team lead in interceptions (2). He helped anchor a defense that ranked fourth in the ACC in rushing defense, allowing just 121.62 yards per outing. Heyward finished his career having played in 51 games, compiling 339 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions while twice earning All-ACC honors in 2021 (3rd team) and 2022 (Honorable Mention).
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Deckers and Joiner become the 21st and 22nd Blue Devils to be invited to the Hula Bowl. They join Roy Hord (1957), Wray Carlton (1958), Mike McGee (1959), Tee Moorman (1960), Jack Wilson (1961), Jay Wilkinson (1963), Dick Biddle (1970), Ernie Jackson (1971), Steve Jones (1972), Lyman Smith (1977), Dennis Tabron (1981), Ben Bennett (1983), Anthony Dilweg (1988), Chris Port (1989), Carey Metts (1989), Robert Baldwin (1994), Corey Thomas (1997), Scottie Montgomery (1999), Troy Andrew (2000), and Austin Parker (2019).
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Deckers, a 6-4, 244-pound long snapper from Avon, Conn., helped the Duke kickers convert on 14-of-21 field goals and 49-of-49 PAT attempts in his lone season in Durham.
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Joiner, a 6-2, 200-pound Roanoke, Ala., native led the Blue Devils in tackles with 97 and finished tied for first in interceptions (2), second in tackles for loss (8.0), tied for second in forced fumbles (2), third in sacks (4.0), and fourth in QB pressures (5). In addition, the third team All-ACC selection tallied three double digit tackle games this season, including a 14-tackle performance at Northwestern. He finished the year with a Pro Football Focus grade of 87.6, which ranked fifth nationally among safeties.
Gallman II is the seventh Blue Devil to be invited to the Tropical Bowl, joining Dwayne Norman (2015), Lucas Patrick (2015), Tre Hornbuckle (2019), Edgar Cerenord (2019),  Devery Hamilton (2020), and Kade Parmelly from a year ago.
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Gallman II, a 5-9, 184-pound graduate student from Charlotte, N.C., came to Durham from Cornell University. In 28 career games with the Big Red, he registered 74 receptions for 695 yards with two touchdowns. He added one rush for three yards, 17 punt returns for 72 yards and nine kickoff returns for 190 yards.
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#GoDuke
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The East-West Shrine Bowl will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m. PT. The Hula Bowl is set for noon on Saturday, Jan. 14 at UCF's FBC Mortgages Stadium in Orlando, Fla., while the Tropical Bowl will take place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m.
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Heyward becomes the 41st Duke player to be invited to the East-West Shrine Game, joining Elmore Hackney (1937), Ace Parker (1937), George McAfee (1939), Willard Perdue (1939), Tony Ruffa (1940), Ernest Beamer (1943), Al DeRogatis (1948), Bob Pascal (1955), Sonny Sorrell (1955), Wray Carlton (1958), Mike McGee (1959), Jack Wilson (1961), Jay Wilkinson (1963), Mike Murphy (1967), Wes Chesson (1970), Leo Hart (1970), Steve Jones (1972), Ed Newman (1972), Dave Meier (1975), Billy Bryan (1976), Mike Sandusky (1977), Lyman Smith (1977), Carl McGee (1978), Chris Castor (1982), Phil Ebinger (1983), Mike Junkin (1986), Dave Colonna (1989), Robert Baldwin (1994), Ray Farmer (1995), Tawambi Settles (1997), Ryan Fowler (2003), Drew Strojny (2003), Alex Green (2005), Michael Tauiliili (2008), Matt Daniels (2011), Sean Renfree (2012), Ross Cockrell (2013), Anthony Boone (2014), Will Monday (2015), and Daniel Helm (2018).
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Heyward, a 6-3, 240-pound redshirt senior from Dacula, Ga., finished second on the team this season in tackles (93) and pass breakups (6) and was tied for the team lead in interceptions (2). He helped anchor a defense that ranked fourth in the ACC in rushing defense, allowing just 121.62 yards per outing. Heyward finished his career having played in 51 games, compiling 339 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions while twice earning All-ACC honors in 2021 (3rd team) and 2022 (Honorable Mention).
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Deckers and Joiner become the 21st and 22nd Blue Devils to be invited to the Hula Bowl. They join Roy Hord (1957), Wray Carlton (1958), Mike McGee (1959), Tee Moorman (1960), Jack Wilson (1961), Jay Wilkinson (1963), Dick Biddle (1970), Ernie Jackson (1971), Steve Jones (1972), Lyman Smith (1977), Dennis Tabron (1981), Ben Bennett (1983), Anthony Dilweg (1988), Chris Port (1989), Carey Metts (1989), Robert Baldwin (1994), Corey Thomas (1997), Scottie Montgomery (1999), Troy Andrew (2000), and Austin Parker (2019).
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Deckers, a 6-4, 244-pound long snapper from Avon, Conn., helped the Duke kickers convert on 14-of-21 field goals and 49-of-49 PAT attempts in his lone season in Durham.
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Joiner, a 6-2, 200-pound Roanoke, Ala., native led the Blue Devils in tackles with 97 and finished tied for first in interceptions (2), second in tackles for loss (8.0), tied for second in forced fumbles (2), third in sacks (4.0), and fourth in QB pressures (5). In addition, the third team All-ACC selection tallied three double digit tackle games this season, including a 14-tackle performance at Northwestern. He finished the year with a Pro Football Focus grade of 87.6, which ranked fifth nationally among safeties.
Gallman II is the seventh Blue Devil to be invited to the Tropical Bowl, joining Dwayne Norman (2015), Lucas Patrick (2015), Tre Hornbuckle (2019), Edgar Cerenord (2019),  Devery Hamilton (2020), and Kade Parmelly from a year ago.
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Gallman II, a 5-9, 184-pound graduate student from Charlotte, N.C., came to Durham from Cornell University. In 28 career games with the Big Red, he registered 74 receptions for 695 yards with two touchdowns. He added one rush for three yards, 17 punt returns for 72 yards and nine kickoff returns for 190 yards.
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#GoDuke
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