Daniels Named to 2023 ACC Football Honors Class

DURHAM – Former All-America safety Matt Daniels will represent Duke University as a member of the 2023 ACC Football Honors Class.

This year's class will be celebrated during the ACC Football Honors program presented by the Charlotte Sports Foundation at the Belk Theater in Uptown Charlotte on the evening of Friday, Dec. 1, and during the on-field pregame festivities at the 2023 ACC Football Championship Game, set for 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Bank of America Stadium. ACC Network will air the ACC Football Honors production on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.

"We are thrilled to announce this year's ACC Honors Class and we look forward to the opportunity to recognize these amazing individuals who have made incredible contributions to their respective institutions," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "The ACC Football Honors event is a meaningful part of our ACC Football Championship Game weekend, and we are proud to celebrate another extraordinary class of former student-athletes and coaches."

Daniels lettered four seasons (2008-09-10-11) as a safety for the Blue Devils and compiled 324 tackles, four interceptions, seven caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 27 pass breakups in 46 career games plays.

The 2011 All-America and First-Team All-ACC choice, three-time Academic All-ACC selection, and 2011 National Football Foundation University Student-Athlete recipient still ranks in the Top-20 in Duke football history in career caused fumbles, pass breakups and tackles. The 2011 team captain received the program's Carmen Falcone Team MVP Award after finishing the 2011 season first on the team in tackles (126), interceptions (two), pass breakups (14) and total passes defended (16). In addition, he was tabbed to the 2011 National Football Foundation Hampshire Society and the recipient of the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Award.

Daniels represented Duke in the 2012 East-West Shrine Bowl Game before signing as an undrafted free agent, playing four seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the San Diego Chargers from 2012-15. He is in his sixth season in the coaching ranks of the NFL, currently serving as the special teams coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings. Before joining the Vikings prior to the 2022 season, Daniels previously served on staffs with the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys.

Previous Duke representatives to be honored in the ACC Football Honors Class include Leo Hart (2005), Art Gregory (2006), Clarkston Hines (2007), Tee Moorman (2008), Bob Pascal (2009), Jay Wilkinson (2010), Ben Bennett (2011), Mike McGee (2012), Wes Chesson (2013), Chris Castor (2014), Chris Douglas (2015), Bob Harris (2017), Steve Spurrier (2018), Chris Port (2019), Anthony Dilweg (2021), and DeVon Edwards (2022). There was no class named in 2020.

Joining Daniels in the 2023 group are Boston College's Gosder Cherilus, Clemson's Jeff Bostic, Duke's Matt Daniels, Florida State's Charlie Ward, Georgia Tech's George O'Leary, Louisville's Michael Bush, Miami's Dennis Harrah, North Carolina's Alge Crumpler, NC State's Ray Agnew, Pitt's Jackie Sherrill, Syracuse's Robert Konrad, Virginia's Ronde Barber, Virginia Tech's Jeff King and Wake Forest's Bill Ard.

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Daniels Named to 2023 ACC Football Honors Class

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