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Davis One of Six Franklin D. Watkins Award Recipients
2/7/2025 8:39:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – The National Alliance of African American Athletes (The Alliance) announced Bryce Davis as one of its six recipients for the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award. Davis, who signed with the Blue Devils in December and enrolled at Duke in January, will join the five other recipients at the Watkins Award presentation on February 22 in Washington, D.C.
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Davis, a defensive end from Grimsley High School in Greensboro, N.C., was recently named the Sports Illustrated National Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a MaxPreps All-America pick and took part in the 2025 Under Armour Next All-America Game. As a senior, Davis guided the Whirlies to the No. 1 seed in the state playoffs and captured the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4A title. He ended his final campaign with 125 total tackles, 37 tackles for a loss, 27 sacks, five forced fumbles and eight pass breakups as Grimsley finished 16-0.Â
Off the field at Grimsley, Davis was a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honors Society and Grimsley's A/B Honor Roll. He served as a Kiser Middle School mentor and volunteered with the Tiger Teammate Lunch Buddy Program, the Miracle League of High Point and the Under the Bridge Project.
"This year's 2025 Watkins Award features an incredible collection of fine student-athletes," Executive Director of The Alliance Everette Pearsall said. "Each of these young men is well equipped for success academically. We have continued to recognize and honor the premier African American Scholar-Athletes in the United States."
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Davis becomes Duke's 12th student-athlete named as a finalist for this award, joining Vince Oghobaase (2005), Matt Daniels (2008)*, Deion Williams (2012), Zavier Carmichael (2014), Brandon Hill (2016), Rakavius Chambers (2017)*, Mataeo Durant (2018), Jaylen Coleman (2019), Michael Reese (2020), Jordan Moore (2021)* and Wesley Williams (2022).
*Recipient of the award
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Recipients are chosen based on their unweighted grade point average, their personal statements, extracurricular activities, community service and letters of recommendation. In addition to the February event, each winner will receive an award, ring and dinner in his hometown. The six 2025 recipients are:
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• Bryce Baker, Kernersville N.C., 4.1 GPA
• Bryce Davis, Greensboro, N.C., 4.1 GPA
• Gavin Nix, Orlando, Fla., 4.0 GPA
• Dylan Robinson, Upland, Calif., 4.2 GPA
• Malik Washington, Glen Burnie, Md., 4.0 GPA
• Mark Zackery, Indianapolis, Ind., 4.2 GPA
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ABOUT THE ALLIANCE AND THE FRANKLIN D WATKINS MEMORIAL AWARD
The National Alliance of African American Athletes was founded in 1989 and its mission is to empower African American males through athletics, education and public programs. Since 1992, The Alliance has annually presented the Watkins Award to the nation's elite high school student-athletes. The award is named for the late Franklin D. Watkins, who coached championship football and basketball teams in Harrisburg, Pa. Past winners include Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle, as well as several others who went on to play in the NFL.
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#GoDuke
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Davis, a defensive end from Grimsley High School in Greensboro, N.C., was recently named the Sports Illustrated National Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a MaxPreps All-America pick and took part in the 2025 Under Armour Next All-America Game. As a senior, Davis guided the Whirlies to the No. 1 seed in the state playoffs and captured the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4A title. He ended his final campaign with 125 total tackles, 37 tackles for a loss, 27 sacks, five forced fumbles and eight pass breakups as Grimsley finished 16-0.Â
Off the field at Grimsley, Davis was a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honors Society and Grimsley's A/B Honor Roll. He served as a Kiser Middle School mentor and volunteered with the Tiger Teammate Lunch Buddy Program, the Miracle League of High Point and the Under the Bridge Project.
"This year's 2025 Watkins Award features an incredible collection of fine student-athletes," Executive Director of The Alliance Everette Pearsall said. "Each of these young men is well equipped for success academically. We have continued to recognize and honor the premier African American Scholar-Athletes in the United States."
Â
Davis becomes Duke's 12th student-athlete named as a finalist for this award, joining Vince Oghobaase (2005), Matt Daniels (2008)*, Deion Williams (2012), Zavier Carmichael (2014), Brandon Hill (2016), Rakavius Chambers (2017)*, Mataeo Durant (2018), Jaylen Coleman (2019), Michael Reese (2020), Jordan Moore (2021)* and Wesley Williams (2022).
*Recipient of the award
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Recipients are chosen based on their unweighted grade point average, their personal statements, extracurricular activities, community service and letters of recommendation. In addition to the February event, each winner will receive an award, ring and dinner in his hometown. The six 2025 recipients are:
Â
• Bryce Baker, Kernersville N.C., 4.1 GPA
• Bryce Davis, Greensboro, N.C., 4.1 GPA
• Gavin Nix, Orlando, Fla., 4.0 GPA
• Dylan Robinson, Upland, Calif., 4.2 GPA
• Malik Washington, Glen Burnie, Md., 4.0 GPA
• Mark Zackery, Indianapolis, Ind., 4.2 GPA
Â
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE AND THE FRANKLIN D WATKINS MEMORIAL AWARD
The National Alliance of African American Athletes was founded in 1989 and its mission is to empower African American males through athletics, education and public programs. Since 1992, The Alliance has annually presented the Watkins Award to the nation's elite high school student-athletes. The award is named for the late Franklin D. Watkins, who coached championship football and basketball teams in Harrisburg, Pa. Past winners include Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle, as well as several others who went on to play in the NFL.
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#GoDuke
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