Football Celebrates 2025 with Annual Team Awards

Members of the 2025 Duke football senior class hold their framed jerseys above their heads to cap the program's annual awards banquet.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Football Celebrates 2025 with Annual Team Awards

12/14/2025 9:05:00 PM | Football

DURHAM, N.C. – ACC Championship Game MVP Darian Mensah added another award to his collection Sunday as the recipient of the Carmen Falcone Most Valuable Player Award at Duke University's annual football banquet held Sunday evening.

Mensah, from San Louis Obispo, California, has completed 305-of-449 passes (.679) for 3,646 yards and 30 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Mensah already owns the Duke single-season touchdown record and currently tops the ACC in TD tosses and yards. He guided Duke to its first outright ACC Championship since 1962 with an incredibly efficient 19-of-25 passing night with two touchdowns. He was named Second Team All-ACC by the league and the Associated Press (AP) and was named the AP Newcomer Transfer of the Year in the ACC.

Other honorees included Cole Allen (Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award), Vincent Anthony Jr. (Lineman of the Year), Cooper Barkate (Skill Player of the Year), Que'Sean Brown (Skill Player of the Year), Landan Callahan (Cutcliffe Family Award), Anderson Castle (K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award), Curtis Cooper (Duke Tough Award), Matt Craycraft (Duke Tough Award), Cole Denson (D-Squad Player of the Year), Bruno Fina (Cutcliffe Family Award), Jaiden Francois (Defensive Newcomer of the Year), Josiah Green (Hard Hitter Award), Sahmir Hagans (Duke Tough Award and Special Teams Most Valuable Player), Aaron Hall (Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award and Captains Award), Jeremiah Hasley (Offensive Most Valuable Player), Bariate Kara (Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award), Landen King (Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award), Kaleb Lanier (D-Squad Player of the Year), Luke Mergott (Duke Tough Award), Jayden Moore (Ace Parker Award and Special Teams Newcomer of the Year), Kevin O'Connor (Ace Parker Award and Special Teams Most Valuable Player), Brian Parker II (Lineman of the Year), Justin Pickett (Hard Hitter Award and Captains Award), Chandler Rivers (Skill Player of the Year), Nate Sheppard (Offensive Newcomer of the Year), Kavon Simmons (D-Squad Player of the Year), Bradley Smith (Mike Suglia Award), Kobe Smith (Duke Tough Award), DaShawn Stone (K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award) and Wesley Williams (Defensive Most Valuable Player and Captains Award). Mensah also received the Captain's Award.

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 Jackson, Mississippi, and Kara, a freshman defensive tackle from Loganville, Georgia.

Anthony Jr., a senior defensive end from Durhan, and Parker II, a redshirt junior offensive lineman from Cincinnati, Ohio, shared Lineman of the Year honors. Parker II, an All-ACC Second Team pick and third team All-America selection, led an offensive line that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, which recognizes the most outstanding offensive line. Anthony Jr. had his most productive season as a Blue Devil with a team-high 13.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He earned Honorable Mention All-ACC accolades. Against No. 11 Illinois, he logged a career-high 3.0 sacks, tied for the fourth most in a game in program history and tied with Phillip Alexander (3.0; No. 6 Florida State; Sept. 27, 2003) for the most by a Blue Devil against a ranked opponent.

Barkate, Brown and Rivers shared Skill Players of the Year accolades. Barkate, a wide receiver from Newport Beach, California, leads Duke with 68 receptions, 1,069 yards and six touchdowns. He is just the sixth Blue Devil to record a 1,000-yard receiving season and first since 2014. Brown, a wide receiver from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is just behind Barkate with 54 grabs for 668 yards and three touchdowns. He caught two TD passes at Clemson to help Duke to its first win in Death Valley since 1980. Rivers, a cornerback from Beaumont, Texas, has carded 59 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one caused fumble, one quarterback pressure and eight pass breakups. He is tied for 13th in the league in interceptions and tied for fourth in passes defended. Among active FBS student-athletes, he ranks tied for third in career passes defended with 37.

Callahan, a redshirt freshman cornerback from Rural Hall, North Carolina, and Fina, a graduate student offensive lineman from Tucson, Arizona, earned the Cutcliffe Family Awards, which are presented annually to the most improved player in the program. Callahan's impact in the secondary exploded from last fall to now. After appearing in just five games in 2024, he has appeared in 11 this fall and started five. He increased his tackle total from one to 36 while setting the stage for a bright future. Fina started every game but one the last two seasons, but truly grew into a force this past year. Aided by a full spring with the Blue Devils, this William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist was a leader on and off the field.

Castle, a graduate running back from Boone, North Carolina and Stone, a redshirt sophomore safety from Asheville, North Carolina, received the K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award as the Blue Devils who demonstrate the most heart, durability and toughness throughout the year. Castle rushed for 470 yards and 11 touchdowns, all in conference games. Across his three games in helping Duke capture the state title, he scored eight rushing touchdowns. Stone became a regular starter and showcased his durability all year. He increased his on-field production from last year, going from 55 total tackles to 77 this season – in addition to tallying two interceptions and a caused fumble.

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 Hagans, a graduate wide receiver from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Craycraft, a redshirt junior center from Dallas, Texas, Mergott, a redshirt sophomore linebacker from Berlin, Maryland, Kobe Smith, a redshirt freshman defensive end from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Cooper, a graduate long snapper from Huntsville, Alabama. Each have overcome difficulties, shown great perseverance, led by example and made significant contributions to this year's team.

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 redshirt freshman running back from Rye, N.Y, Lanier, a freshman cornerback from Decatur, Georgia, and Simmons, a freshman wide receiver from Wake Forest, North Carolina, were all honored for their dedication, attitude and coachability.

Francois, a graduate linebacker from Florida City, Florida, picked up the Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award. He was all over the field, finishing fourth on the team in tackles and tackles for loss. He booked six or more tackles seven times. In Duke's three wins en route to the state championship, he tallied 22 stops.

Pickett, a graduate offensive lineman from Carmel, Indiana, and Green, a graduate defensive tackle from Indianapolis, Indiana, received the Hard Hitter Award, fittingly presented to the hardest-hitting and most physical players on the team. Pickett, who received Third Team All-ACC honors, led the line in knockdowns with 86 and has led the unit in knockdowns in five of the 12 regular games. Green produced 37 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three pass breakups. He earned the hammer twice, given to the defender who lays the biggest hit each week, following the Elon and Georgia Tech contests.

Hagans and O'Connor, a redshirt sophomore defensive end from Easton, Maryland, shared the Special Teams Most Valuable Player Award. Hagans earned Second Team All-ACC honors as a kickoff returner after running back 14 kickoffs for 467 yards (33.36) and one touchdown. He paces the league in total return yards, returns and is one of three with a kickoff return for a touchdown. O'Connor is key blocker and kickoff coverage specialist. His work provided the key block for Todd Pelino's fake field goal run at North Carolina and helped keep the Victory Bell in Durham. He also ran six yards for a first down in the ACC Championship Game on a fake punt.

Hall, a graduate defensive lineman from Durham and King, a graduate tight end from Beaumont, Texas, 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.

Hasley, a redshirt junior tight end from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, picked up the Offensive Most Valuable Player Award. He did whatever it took to make the team better and never stopped battling. He owns 34 receptions for 404 yards (11.88) and five touchdowns. Hasley led Duke with 85 receiving yards at North Carolina and helped propel Duke to the ACC Championship with two touchdowns versus No. 16 Virginia, including the game-winning score in overtime.

Moore, a redshirt freshman wide receiver from Sykesville, Maryland, and O'Connor 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. Moore returned to the field after missing the entire 2024 campaign due to injury while O'Connor fought through numerous ailments during the season to contribue.

Sheppard, a freshman running back from Mandeville, Louisiana, was tabbed the Offensive Newcomer of the Year Award recipient. He rewrote the Duke rookie single-season record chart by already setting the Blue Devil freshman marks for rushing yards with 962 and ground touchdowns with 11. His 35 receptions are the seventh most by a Duke rookie in program history and are the most by a Blue Devil freshman running back.

Smith, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman from Newnan, Georgia, 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.

Williams received the Defensive Most Valuable Player Award. The honorable mention all-league selection carded 41 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 16 quarterback pressures and one fumble recovery. He is the league's only defensive lineman to accumulate 7.0 or more tackles for loss in ACC games in each of the last two seasons. He helped Duke rank in the top 16 nationally in tackles for loss and tackles for loss per game.

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 Mensah, Hall, Pickett and Williams. This group led a Duke team that captured consecutive state championship by defeating North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest and helped the program to eight wins in four consecutive years for the first time in program history.

Finally, the 2025 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 16 members of the 2025 Champions Club on offense are Andrel Anthony, Barkate, Brown, Castle, Craycraft, Fina, Hagans, Hasley, King, Jordan Larsen, Mensah, Jaquez Moore, Parker II, Pickett, Sheppard and Chase Tyler.

The 14 members of the 2025 Champions Club on defense are David Anderson, Vincent Anthony Jr., Callahan, Tre Freeman, Green, Hall, Kendall Johnson, Ma'khi Jones, Luke Mergott, Rivers, Stone, Preston Watson, Caleb Weaver and Williams.

The 21 members of the 2025 Champions Club on Special Teams are Dawson Andrew, Vincent Anthony Jr., Vance Bolyard, Brown, Cooper, Bryce Davis, Bradley Gompers, Leon Griffin III, Hagans, Jones, Jayden Moore, O'Connor, Todd Pelino, Andrew Pellicciotta, Tyshon Reed, Kade Reynoldson, Cosme Salas, Elliott Schaper, Kobe Smith, Williams and George Wright.

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