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Duke Offensive Line Honored With Midseason Praise
10/17/2023 1:04:00 PM | Football
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Duke football offense line was named to the 2023 midseason honor roll for the Joe Moore Award for the most outstanding offensive line unit in college football.
The Blue Devils offensive line has given up the fewest sacks in the ACC (5) and just 4.50 tackles for loss per game, while blocking for an offense that has racked up 2,328 yards (1,263 rushing and 1,137 passing). Additionally, Duke is 18th nationally and first in the ACC in rushing yards per game (198.50), while its rushing touchdowns (17) mark ranks 11th in the country and first in the league through the opening seven weeks of the season.
Senior Graham Barton and graduate Jacob Monk spearhead the Duke offensive line, anchoring a unit that ranks first in average yards per rushing attempt (5.6) as well as third on fourth down conversions (.625). The two have helped pave the way for graduate running back Jordan Waters to rush for 426 yards on 65 carries (6.6) with nine touchdowns, including one rushing score in all six games this season.
This year's honor roll members represent eight conferences and one independent (in alphabetical order): ACC (5), BIG TEN (3), BIG-12 (3), MWC (2), PAC-12 (3), SEC (6) and Notre Dame. For games played through Oct. 16, teams on this year's honor roll had a combined record of 122-26 and includes sixteen ranked teams, eight of which are in the Top Ten of the AP Poll.
These units have gained the attention of the Joe Moore Award voting committee as it moves closer to announcing the selection of semifinalists on Nov. 14 and finalists on Dec. 5. Selection of the 2023 Joe Moore Award winner will be made public after a surprise visit to the winning university's campus in late December.
"The offensive line units on the 2023 Midseason Honor Roll have caught the attention of the committee through the October 14 week, by demonstrating some or all of the award criteria in a recognizable way," said Cole Cubelic, chairman of the Joe Moore Award voting committee. "The bar will raise significantly from here, and the consistency required to earn further recognition will be how the elite units eventually separate themselves."
"It's been fun to watch these units come together and begin to elevate their play as the year has progressed," said Lance Zierlein, JMA voting committee member and NFL Draft Analyst. "Our experience has shown that the cream begins to rise to the top from here on out, so we'll keep a closer eye on all units to see how they finish down the stretch, especially in November. As always, having some depth and staying healthy will be critical."
Voting Committee
The Joe Moore Award voting committee comprises 10 individuals who are highly knowledgeable about offensive line play, including former linemen, coaches, talent evaluators and media analysts. This group conducts in-depth analysis by reviewing game tape every week of the season to assess both the fundamentals and subtleties of overall offensive line performance.
The 2023 voting committee includes Chairman Cole Cubelic (Auburn, SEC Network); Charles Arbuckle (UCLA, Indianapolis Colts); Randy Cross (UCLA, San Francisco 49ers); Gerry DiNardo (Notre Dame, head coach at LSU); Mike Golic, Jr. (Notre Dame, ESPN); Duke Manyweather (Humboldt State, player and coach); Geoff Schwartz (Oregon, Carolina Panthers); Phil Steele (publisher of Phil Steele's College Football Preview, ESPN); Aaron Taylor (Notre Dame, Green Bay Packers); and Lance Zierlein (NFL draft analyst, NFL.com).
About the Joe Moore Award
The Joe Moore Award is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, most notably for his work at Notre Dame and the University of Pittsburgh. Over 18 seasons, Coach Moore sent 52 players on to the NFL, including Bill Fralic, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Jimbo Covert and others.
The Joe Moore Award trophy, crafted by legendary sports sculptor Jerry McKenna, is the largest trophy in college football, standing at a height of 6 feet and weighing in at 800 pounds. The perpetual trophy is made available for display by the winning university until the conclusion of the following college football season.
#GoDuke
The Blue Devils offensive line has given up the fewest sacks in the ACC (5) and just 4.50 tackles for loss per game, while blocking for an offense that has racked up 2,328 yards (1,263 rushing and 1,137 passing). Additionally, Duke is 18th nationally and first in the ACC in rushing yards per game (198.50), while its rushing touchdowns (17) mark ranks 11th in the country and first in the league through the opening seven weeks of the season.
Senior Graham Barton and graduate Jacob Monk spearhead the Duke offensive line, anchoring a unit that ranks first in average yards per rushing attempt (5.6) as well as third on fourth down conversions (.625). The two have helped pave the way for graduate running back Jordan Waters to rush for 426 yards on 65 carries (6.6) with nine touchdowns, including one rushing score in all six games this season.
This year's honor roll members represent eight conferences and one independent (in alphabetical order): ACC (5), BIG TEN (3), BIG-12 (3), MWC (2), PAC-12 (3), SEC (6) and Notre Dame. For games played through Oct. 16, teams on this year's honor roll had a combined record of 122-26 and includes sixteen ranked teams, eight of which are in the Top Ten of the AP Poll.
These units have gained the attention of the Joe Moore Award voting committee as it moves closer to announcing the selection of semifinalists on Nov. 14 and finalists on Dec. 5. Selection of the 2023 Joe Moore Award winner will be made public after a surprise visit to the winning university's campus in late December.
"The offensive line units on the 2023 Midseason Honor Roll have caught the attention of the committee through the October 14 week, by demonstrating some or all of the award criteria in a recognizable way," said Cole Cubelic, chairman of the Joe Moore Award voting committee. "The bar will raise significantly from here, and the consistency required to earn further recognition will be how the elite units eventually separate themselves."
"It's been fun to watch these units come together and begin to elevate their play as the year has progressed," said Lance Zierlein, JMA voting committee member and NFL Draft Analyst. "Our experience has shown that the cream begins to rise to the top from here on out, so we'll keep a closer eye on all units to see how they finish down the stretch, especially in November. As always, having some depth and staying healthy will be critical."
Voting Committee
The Joe Moore Award voting committee comprises 10 individuals who are highly knowledgeable about offensive line play, including former linemen, coaches, talent evaluators and media analysts. This group conducts in-depth analysis by reviewing game tape every week of the season to assess both the fundamentals and subtleties of overall offensive line performance.
The 2023 voting committee includes Chairman Cole Cubelic (Auburn, SEC Network); Charles Arbuckle (UCLA, Indianapolis Colts); Randy Cross (UCLA, San Francisco 49ers); Gerry DiNardo (Notre Dame, head coach at LSU); Mike Golic, Jr. (Notre Dame, ESPN); Duke Manyweather (Humboldt State, player and coach); Geoff Schwartz (Oregon, Carolina Panthers); Phil Steele (publisher of Phil Steele's College Football Preview, ESPN); Aaron Taylor (Notre Dame, Green Bay Packers); and Lance Zierlein (NFL draft analyst, NFL.com).
About the Joe Moore Award
The Joe Moore Award is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, most notably for his work at Notre Dame and the University of Pittsburgh. Over 18 seasons, Coach Moore sent 52 players on to the NFL, including Bill Fralic, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Jimbo Covert and others.
The Joe Moore Award trophy, crafted by legendary sports sculptor Jerry McKenna, is the largest trophy in college football, standing at a height of 6 feet and weighing in at 800 pounds. The perpetual trophy is made available for display by the winning university until the conclusion of the following college football season.
#GoDuke
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