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Seven Selected to PFF’s 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team
7/27/2023 10:00:00 AM | Football
DURHAM – Seven Duke football players were selected to the Pro Football Focus 2023 preseason All-ACC team, the organization announced.
Offensive lineman Graham Barton, defensive lineman DeWayne Carter, nickel Brandon Johnson, and return specialist Jaylen Stinson were tabbed to the first team, while wide receiver Jalon Calhoun was named to the second team. Rounding out the Blue Devils honored was defensive end R.J. Oben, running back Jordan Waters, and safety Stinson, who all garnered third-team accolades.
Barton, a 2022 first team All-ACC selection, blocked for a Blue Devil offense that accumulated 2,394 rushing and 3,010 passing yards last season. The Brentwood, Tenn., native has played in 31 career games along the offensive line, making 30 starts. In 2022, Barton helped Duke register 31 rushing touchdowns, which set the program's single season record. He anchored an offensive line unit that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and tackles for loss allowed (51). At the conclusion of the season, he held a Pro Football Focus grade of 88.2, which ranked fifth nationally among offensive tackles.
Carter, a three-time team captain, has registered 86 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, seven caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 11 quarterback pressures and seven pass breakups in 39 career games. The Pickerington, Ohio, native was named a second team All-ACC section a year ago after finishing tied for third and tied for 13th nationally in fumble recoveries and forced fumbles, respectively.
Johnson, a 2022 honorable mention All-ACC selection, finished last season ranking tied for first on the team in sacks (5.5), tied for first in pass breakups (seven), tied for second in interceptions (two), and third in tackles for loss (7.5). The Newton, N.C., native returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown against Miami in 2022 for his first-career score. Johnson owns 72 career tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, two caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries and four quarterback hurries in 24 career games.
Stinson, an Opelika, Ala., native finished third in the ACC last season with 15 kick returns, while his 380 kick return yards placed him tied for second. Throughout his Blue Devil career, Stinson has recorded 66 returns for 1,553 yards with two touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, the safety has compiled 129 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, four pass breakups, one caused fumble, two fumble recoveries and one quarterback hurry. A season ago, he placed third on the team with 74 tackles, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
Calhoun, a 2022 third team All-ACC selection, hauled in 62 passes for 873 yards with four touchdowns last season to lead the Blue Devils. Of his 62 receptions, 37 produced a first down and 20 covered 20-plus yards. In 2022, the Greenville, S.C., native became the 11th player in program history to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards with 2,360, ranking him ninth all-time in Duke history. In addition, his 203 career receptions place him fifth all-time.
Oben, a Montclair, N.J., native, led the team in 2022 in quarterback pressures, while finishing tied for second in forced fumbles (two), third in sacks (4.5) and fourth in tackles for loss (6.5). In his Blue Devil career, Oben has registered 50 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, five caused fumbles, and 18 quarterback pressures in 38 career games. He enters 2023 one caused fumble shy of breaking into the program's career top-six chart and just 2.0 sacks shy of becoming the 17th Duke player with 11.5 career sacks.
Waters compiled 123 rushes for 566 yards (4.60) with eight touchdowns in 2022 to place second on the team in rush attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, while sitting third in scoring with 48 points. The Fairmont, N.C., native joined Riley Leonard (699), Jaquez Moore (508), and Jaylen Coleman (480) to form the first quartet in Duke history to post 400-plus rushing yards each in a single-season. Additionally, Waters coupled with Leonard (13), Ja. Moore (5), and Coleman (4) formed the first foursome in Blue Devil history to compile four-plus rushing touchdowns apiece in a single-season. In his career, he has rushed 180 times for 871 yards (4.83) with 11 touchdowns in 38 career games.
Duke is set to kick off the 2023 season at home on Monday, Sept. 4, when it welcomes Clemson to Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Season and single-game tickets as well as mini plans for the 2023 campaign are now available by visiting GoDuke.com/footballtix.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils football, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFootball".
#GoDuke
Offensive lineman Graham Barton, defensive lineman DeWayne Carter, nickel Brandon Johnson, and return specialist Jaylen Stinson were tabbed to the first team, while wide receiver Jalon Calhoun was named to the second team. Rounding out the Blue Devils honored was defensive end R.J. Oben, running back Jordan Waters, and safety Stinson, who all garnered third-team accolades.
Barton, a 2022 first team All-ACC selection, blocked for a Blue Devil offense that accumulated 2,394 rushing and 3,010 passing yards last season. The Brentwood, Tenn., native has played in 31 career games along the offensive line, making 30 starts. In 2022, Barton helped Duke register 31 rushing touchdowns, which set the program's single season record. He anchored an offensive line unit that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and tackles for loss allowed (51). At the conclusion of the season, he held a Pro Football Focus grade of 88.2, which ranked fifth nationally among offensive tackles.
Carter, a three-time team captain, has registered 86 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, seven caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 11 quarterback pressures and seven pass breakups in 39 career games. The Pickerington, Ohio, native was named a second team All-ACC section a year ago after finishing tied for third and tied for 13th nationally in fumble recoveries and forced fumbles, respectively.
Johnson, a 2022 honorable mention All-ACC selection, finished last season ranking tied for first on the team in sacks (5.5), tied for first in pass breakups (seven), tied for second in interceptions (two), and third in tackles for loss (7.5). The Newton, N.C., native returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown against Miami in 2022 for his first-career score. Johnson owns 72 career tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, two caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries and four quarterback hurries in 24 career games.
Stinson, an Opelika, Ala., native finished third in the ACC last season with 15 kick returns, while his 380 kick return yards placed him tied for second. Throughout his Blue Devil career, Stinson has recorded 66 returns for 1,553 yards with two touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, the safety has compiled 129 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, four pass breakups, one caused fumble, two fumble recoveries and one quarterback hurry. A season ago, he placed third on the team with 74 tackles, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
Calhoun, a 2022 third team All-ACC selection, hauled in 62 passes for 873 yards with four touchdowns last season to lead the Blue Devils. Of his 62 receptions, 37 produced a first down and 20 covered 20-plus yards. In 2022, the Greenville, S.C., native became the 11th player in program history to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards with 2,360, ranking him ninth all-time in Duke history. In addition, his 203 career receptions place him fifth all-time.
Oben, a Montclair, N.J., native, led the team in 2022 in quarterback pressures, while finishing tied for second in forced fumbles (two), third in sacks (4.5) and fourth in tackles for loss (6.5). In his Blue Devil career, Oben has registered 50 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, five caused fumbles, and 18 quarterback pressures in 38 career games. He enters 2023 one caused fumble shy of breaking into the program's career top-six chart and just 2.0 sacks shy of becoming the 17th Duke player with 11.5 career sacks.
Waters compiled 123 rushes for 566 yards (4.60) with eight touchdowns in 2022 to place second on the team in rush attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, while sitting third in scoring with 48 points. The Fairmont, N.C., native joined Riley Leonard (699), Jaquez Moore (508), and Jaylen Coleman (480) to form the first quartet in Duke history to post 400-plus rushing yards each in a single-season. Additionally, Waters coupled with Leonard (13), Ja. Moore (5), and Coleman (4) formed the first foursome in Blue Devil history to compile four-plus rushing touchdowns apiece in a single-season. In his career, he has rushed 180 times for 871 yards (4.83) with 11 touchdowns in 38 career games.
Duke is set to kick off the 2023 season at home on Monday, Sept. 4, when it welcomes Clemson to Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Season and single-game tickets as well as mini plans for the 2023 campaign are now available by visiting GoDuke.com/footballtix.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils football, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFootball".
#GoDuke
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