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Moore and Rivers Named to Thorpe Award Watch List
7/30/2025 12:02:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke graduate safety Terry Moore and senior cornerback Chandler Rivers have been selected to the preseason watch list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, an honor presented to the top defensive back in the country by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association.
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Moore is a returning All-America honoree and All-ACC safety. He earned Second Team All-America honors from Action Network to cap his 2024 season. From Washington, N.C., Moore was tabbed by Pro Football Focus (PFF) as the No. 10 returning safety nationally heading into 2025. He also earned a place on the 2025 On3 top-100 players list (No. 63).
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In 33 career games (19 starts), Moore has compiled 116 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven pass breakups and two quarterback pressures.
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Rivers is a preseason All-America selection and returning First Team All-ACC honoree. A Beaumont, Texas, native, Rivers was an All-America selection by four publications following the 2024 campaign: The Athletic (Second Team), College FootÂball Network (Second Team), the Associated Press (Third Team) and Phil Steele (Fourth Team). He enters the 2025 campaign with 164 career tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five interceptions, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, 21 pass breakups, six quarterback pressures and one blocked kick.Â
Last fall, Rivers was graded by PFF as having the second-highest defense grade (90.7) among cornerbacks nationally. According to PFF, he had the second-highest coverage grade (89.8) among cornerbacks nationally. He was also rated by PFF as the No. 40 overall player in college football during the 2024 season. Rivers surrendered only 13 completions last season, including just three that went for 20 yards or more. His 4.5 yards allowed per target ranked 13th among Power Four corners.
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Three Thorpe Award finalists will be submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches in late November. The winner will be revealed live on ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards in mid-December, and the trophy will be presented to the winner at the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet in Oklahoma City, Okla., in early February, 2026.
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Duke 2025 NCFAA Watch Lists Selections
Maxwell Award: Darian Mensah
Outland Trophy: Brian Parker II
Nagurski Trophy: Chandler Rivers
Thorpe Award: Terry Moore & Chandler Rivers
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To stay up to date with Blue Devils football, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFootball".
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#GoDuke
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Moore is a returning All-America honoree and All-ACC safety. He earned Second Team All-America honors from Action Network to cap his 2024 season. From Washington, N.C., Moore was tabbed by Pro Football Focus (PFF) as the No. 10 returning safety nationally heading into 2025. He also earned a place on the 2025 On3 top-100 players list (No. 63).
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In 33 career games (19 starts), Moore has compiled 116 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven pass breakups and two quarterback pressures.
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Rivers is a preseason All-America selection and returning First Team All-ACC honoree. A Beaumont, Texas, native, Rivers was an All-America selection by four publications following the 2024 campaign: The Athletic (Second Team), College FootÂball Network (Second Team), the Associated Press (Third Team) and Phil Steele (Fourth Team). He enters the 2025 campaign with 164 career tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five interceptions, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, 21 pass breakups, six quarterback pressures and one blocked kick.Â
Last fall, Rivers was graded by PFF as having the second-highest defense grade (90.7) among cornerbacks nationally. According to PFF, he had the second-highest coverage grade (89.8) among cornerbacks nationally. He was also rated by PFF as the No. 40 overall player in college football during the 2024 season. Rivers surrendered only 13 completions last season, including just three that went for 20 yards or more. His 4.5 yards allowed per target ranked 13th among Power Four corners.
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Three Thorpe Award finalists will be submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches in late November. The winner will be revealed live on ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards in mid-December, and the trophy will be presented to the winner at the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet in Oklahoma City, Okla., in early February, 2026.
Â
Duke 2025 NCFAA Watch Lists Selections
Maxwell Award: Darian Mensah
Outland Trophy: Brian Parker II
Nagurski Trophy: Chandler Rivers
Thorpe Award: Terry Moore & Chandler Rivers
Â
To stay up to date with Blue Devils football, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFootball".
Â
#GoDuke
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