Football Hands Out Annual Team Awards

Members of the 2024 Duke football team gather on stage during the squad's annual banquet.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Football Hands Out Annual Team Awards

12/14/2024 8:15:00 PM | Football

DURHAM, N.C. – Graduate wide receiver Jordan Moore was named the recipient of the Carmen Falcone Most Valuable Player Award at Duke University's annual football banquet held Saturday evening.

Moore, from Sykesville, Md., capped an outstanding career with 50 catches, 798 yards (15.96 yards/reception) and seven touchdowns in the regular season. He walked off Wake Forest in his final regular season game with a 39-yard touchdown to give Duke a 23-17 victory. On Duke's career charts, he enters the bowl game ranked seventh in receiving touchdowns and receptions, 11th in yards and tied for 11th in 100-yard receiving games.

Other honorees included Gemyel Allen (Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award), Vincent Anthony Jr. (Cutcliffe Family Award), Cameron Bergeron (K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award), Que'Sean Brown (Cutcliffe Family Award), Landan Callahan (Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award), Kendy Charles (Ace Parker Award), Cole Denson (D-Squad Player of the Year), Tre Freeman (Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award), Sahmir Hagans (K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award), Aaron Hall (Captain's Award), Alex Howard (Defensive Newcomer of the Year), Spencer Jones (D-Squad Player of the Year), Caleb Krings (Hard Hitter Award), Terry Moore (Skill Player of the Year), Maalik Murphy (Captain's Award), Ozzie Nicholas (Hard Hitter Award), Kevin O'Connor (Mike Suglia Award), Brian Parker II (Lineman of the Year), Eli Pancol (Ace Parker Award & Offensive Most Valuable Player), Todd Pelino (Special Teams Most Valuable Player), Justin Pickett (Duke Tough Award & Captain's Award), Tyshon Reed (Duke Tough Award), Kade Reynoldson (Special Teams Newcomer of the Year), Chandler Rivers (Defensive Most Valuable Player), Micah Sahakian (Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award), Kobe Smith (D-Squad Player of the Year), Ryan Smith (Duke Tough Award), Jaylen Stinson (Duke Tough Award), Jake Taylor (Duke Tough Award) and Wesley Williams (Lineman of the Year). Jordan Moore also received the Captain's Award and Skill Player of the Year Award and was a member of the Champions Club.

The Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award is presented annually to the top developmental players in the weight room. These Blue Devils best exemplify the strength staff's expectations with their daily effort, commitment, pride, toughness and discipline. This year, the honorees were Allen, a freshman offensive lineman from Buford, Ga., and Callahan, a freshman cornerback from Rural Hall, N.C.

Anthony Jr., a junior defensive end from Durham, and Brown, a redshirt freshman wide receiver from Winston-Salem, N.C., earned the Cutcliffe Family Awards, which are presented annually to the most improved player in the program. Anthony Jr. finished the regular season with 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, 12 quarterback pressures and two pass breakups. Brown, an honorable mention All-ACC honoree as a punt returner, caught 37 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns. He returned a league-high 24 punts for 233 yards (9.71).

Bergeron, a senior linebacker from Albany, Ga., and Hagans, a redshirt junior wide receiver from Philadelphia, Pa., received the K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award as the Blue Devils who demonstrate the most heart, durability and toughness throughout the year. Bergeron finished third on the team in tackles with 75 and added 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, two caused fumbles, two pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery. Hagans caught 42 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns while adding 135 snaps on special teams.

Charles, a graduate defensive tackle from Orange Park, Fla., and Pancol, a graduate wide receiver from Pendleton, Ind., shared the Ace Parker Award as those who have overcome adversity to contribute. Parker, one of 12 former Duke players and coaches to be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame, was a two-time All-America pick in 1935 and 1936. Following his successful NFL career, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. Charles, an All-ACC Second Team selection, overcame multiple injuries in 2023 to start all 12 games and book 49 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one fumble recovery.

Pancol also received the team's Offensive Most Valuable Player Award. He suffered a broken left ankle in October of 2022. Following that recovery, during the 2023 training camp he experienced a fracture dislocation of his right ankle, which caused him to miss the entire season. This fall, he returned and started all 12 games, catching 55 passes for 741 yards and a single-season high nine touchdowns. His nine receiving scores lead the Blue Devils, rank tied for third in the ACC and are tied for the sixth most in a year in Duke history. He was named Third Team All-ACC in recognition for his on-field performance.

A trio of Blue Devils received D-Squad Player of the Year accolades as scout team players who competed and displayed great work ethic to help the team win. Denson, a freshman running back from Rye, N.Y, Jones, a redshirt freshman wide receiver from Columbia, Md., and Kobe Smith, a freshman defensive end from Chattanooga, Tenn., were all honored for their dedication, attitude and coachability.

Freeman, a redshirt junior linebacker from Durham and Sahakian, a graduate offensive lineman from Mount Prospect, Ill., were named Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award recipients. The honor is bestowed annually to the member of the Duke football program who displays the highest teammate qualities such as inspiration, unselfishness and commitment to the team. Micah Harris was tragically killed in an automobile accident in June of 2004, just prior to his senior year at Duke.

Howard, a graduate linebacker from Cincinnati, Ohio, picked up the Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award. An honorable mention all-league and All-America honoree, Howard completed the regular season with 80 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, four quarterback pressures and one fumble recovery.

Krings, a graduate offensive lineman from Fayetteville, N.C., and Nicholas, a graduate linebacker from Encinitas, Calif., received the Hard Hitter Award, fittingly presented to the hardest-hitting and most physical players on the team. Krings, who received Second Team All-ACC honors, led the line in knockdowns with 70 and has led the unit in knockdowns in seven of the 12 regular games. Nicholas, who was on the all-league third team, topped Duke with 89 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and had an interception.

Terry Moore, a junior safety from Washington, N.C., joined Jordan Moore as Skill Players of the Year. Terry Moore, an Action Network Second Team All-America honoree and second team all-league selection, started all 12 regular season games and finished with 70 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three interceptions, six pass breakups and two caused fumbles.

O'Connor, a redshirt freshman defensive end from Easton, Md., received the Mike Suglia Award, which is presented annually to the second-year member of the Duke football program who best exemplifies the qualities of the late Mike Suglia. Suglia was an offensive lineman at Duke in 1976-77 who died suddenly during the spring of his sophomore year. He was an excellent student, an outstanding football player, and, most importantly, a young man of the highest integrity.

Parker II, a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Williams, a redshirt sophomore defensive end from Gainesville, Va., shared Lineman of the Year honors. Parker, an All-ACC Second Team pick, led an offensive line that ranks second in the ACC in fewest sacks allowed per game (1.00). Williams had his most productive year as a Blue Devil with 47 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, seven quarterback pressures, two pass breakups, one caused fumble and one safety while earning an honorable mention all-league nod.

Pelino, a junior from Cornelius, N.C., earned the Special Teams Most Valuable Player Award. He led Duke with 78 points scored and converted 15-of-20 field goals and 33-of-34 points after touchdowns. He converted seven field goals of 40 or more yards and hit twice from 50 yards. He enters the bowl game ranked sixth in Duke history in career points scored.

Reynoldson, a freshman from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, received the Special Teams Newcomer of the Year award. He punted 70 times for 3,069 yards (43.84 yards/punt) with 25 downed inside the 20-yard line and 16 boots of 50 or more yards. He was named to the All-ACC Honorable Mention list, and was a 247Sports True Freshman All-America pick, as a result of his on-field performance.

Rivers, a junior cornerback from Beaumont, Texas, received the Defensive Most Valuable Player Award. The first team all-league and second-team All-America selection finished the regular season with 52 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three interceptions, nine pass breakups, two caused fumbles, two quarterback pressures and one fumble recovery. He tied for first in the ACC in league games in interceptions (three) and passes defended (12).

The Duke Tough Award is presented annually to the football student-athlete who personifies the physical and mental toughness required to be a Blue Devil. This year's five honorees were Pickett, a redshirt junior offensive lineman from Carmel, Ind., Reed, a freshman defensive end from Nashville, Tenn., Ryan Smith, a graduate defensive end from Acworth, Ga., Stinson, a senior safety from Opelika, Ala., and Taylor, a redshirt sophomore tight end from Apex, N.C. Each have overcome difficulties, shown great perseverance, led by example and made significant contributions to this year's team.

The Captain's Award is quite possibly the highest honor a Duke student-athlete can receive. This year, four captains, who were selected by their teammates at the beginning of the season, were honored in Pickett, Jordan Moore, Murphy and Hall, a redshirt junior defensive tackle from Durham. This group led a Duke team that captured nine wins for just the eighth time in program history, won the state championship by defeating North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest and earned the right to participate in a bowl game.

Finally, the 2024 Champions Club was announced. To be a member of the Champions Club is an achievement that each Blue Devil strives for every week. It means within the criteria set forth by each position coach, a player has graded out at a winning level of 80 percent or higher on offense, defense or special teams. If a player earns that distinction at least six times during the season, he will be honored as a member of the Champions Club.

The 14 members of the 2024 Champions Club on offense are Brown, Matt Craycraft, Nicky Dalmolin, Bruno Fina, Hagans, Javon Harvey, Peyton Jones, Krings, Jordan Moore, Murphy, Pancol, Parker II, Pickett and Star Thomas.

The 15 members of the 2024 Champions Club on defense are Anthony, Bergeron, Charles, Freeman, Hall, Howard, Terry Moore, Nicholas, Michael Reese, Rivers, Ryan Smith, Stinson, DaShawn Stone, Preston Watson and Williams.

The 13 members of the 2024 Champions Club on Special Teams are Brown, Curtis Cooper, Vontae Floyd, Hagans, Kendall Johnson, Luke Mergott, O'Connor, Pelino, Reed, Reese, Reynoldson, Ryan Smith and Stone.

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