Completed Event: Football versus Arizona State on December 31, 2025 , Win , 42, to, 39
Football
42
vs Arizona State
39
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Umeh Receives Defensive Player of the Year Honor
1/19/2026 10:05:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke defensive lineman signee Obinna Umeh continued his high school honor haul this week by being named the VYPE Awards presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Private School Defensive Player of the Year.
Umeh, who signed with the Blue Devils in December, lettered four seasons at St. Thomas under head coach Raymond Davis. Umeh is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com and Rivals.com. In his final campaign, he earned Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) First Team All-State honors after registering 71 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, one caused fumble and one fumble recovery. He was named the Touchdown Club of Houston Private School Lineman of the Year and TAPPS Division I Defensive Lineman of the Year after helping St. Thomas to an 8-1 regular season and a bye into the quarterfinals of the TAPPS Division I playoffs.
As a junior, Umeh booked 58 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and one fumble recovery and was an All-VYPE Private School Team honoree. Umeh is a National Honor Society member who earned multiple academic honors, including the William Goetzmann Academic Writing Contest award, the English I Award and the U.S. History Award. At St. Thomas, he served on the Student Council and was involved in the Tolton Society, Brothers Under the Cross, Pre-Med Club, Business Club and Aquin Yearbook Staff.
For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".
#GoDuke
Umeh, who signed with the Blue Devils in December, lettered four seasons at St. Thomas under head coach Raymond Davis. Umeh is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com and Rivals.com. In his final campaign, he earned Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) First Team All-State honors after registering 71 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, one caused fumble and one fumble recovery. He was named the Touchdown Club of Houston Private School Lineman of the Year and TAPPS Division I Defensive Lineman of the Year after helping St. Thomas to an 8-1 regular season and a bye into the quarterfinals of the TAPPS Division I playoffs.
As a junior, Umeh booked 58 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and one fumble recovery and was an All-VYPE Private School Team honoree. Umeh is a National Honor Society member who earned multiple academic honors, including the William Goetzmann Academic Writing Contest award, the English I Award and the U.S. History Award. At St. Thomas, he served on the Student Council and was involved in the Tolton Society, Brothers Under the Cross, Pre-Med Club, Business Club and Aquin Yearbook Staff.
For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".
#GoDuke
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