Josh Blackwell

Josh Blackwell, Leonard Johnson, and Michael Carter II pose after Duke's victory over Virginia Tech in 2019

Josh Blackwell will undergo surgery Monday to repair a right meniscus

Position:
Cornerback
Height:
6-0
Weight:
175
Class:
Redshirt Junior
Hometown:
Buford, Ga.
High School:
Buford

DUKE CAREER: In 37 career games (28 starts), posted 96 tackles, two TFL, one caused fumble and 20 PBUs, along with 25 punt returns for 230 yards (9.20) ... owned 2+ tackles in 26 games, including a career-high six stops against Wake Forest in 2019 ... set Duke bowl game record for PBUs with four against Temple in the 2018 Walk-On’s Independence Bowl ... played 2,235 career snaps ... signed free agent contract with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles in May 2022.

2021: Academic All-ACC selection ... recipient of the team’s Frances Cutcliffe Spirit of Perseverance Award, which is awarded annually to an individual who displays toughness and perseverance to overcome challenges ... saw action in all 12 games, making 11 starts … tied for a team-high with seven PBUs … added 35 tackles and one TFL ... returned seven punts for 54 yards (7.71), including a season-long 29-yard return against North Carolina A&T … registered a season-high five tackles in contests with Kansas and Miami … posted 3+ tackles in eight games … lone TFL came against Virginia Tech … recorded a year-best two PBUs in contests with North Carolina A&T and Wake Forest … on the field for 689 snaps.

2020: Started in opening two games before suffering a season-ending right knee injury, which required surgery on Sept. 21 ... registered four tackles and 1.0 TFL ... also returned five punts for 35 yards (7.00), including a season-long 13-yard return at Notre Dame ... on the field for 112 snaps.

2019: Played in and started 10 games, missing two weeks due to injury ... did not see action against North Carolina and Syracuse ... compiled 29 tackles and seven PBUs ... returned 13 punts for 142 yards (10.92) with a long return of 32 yards against Georgia Tech ... ranked second in the ACC and 12th nationally in punt return average ... posted a season-best six tackles at Wake Forest ... had 3+ tackles in games against Middle Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest and Miami ... posted a season-high two PBUs against No. 15 Notre Dame ... ranked second on the team in PBUs ... on the field for 776 snaps.

2018: Played in all 13 games with five starts ... earned starting assignments against Northwestern, Baylor, N.C. Central, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech ... thrust into a prominent role following a season-ending injury to All-America CB Mark Gilbert in week two at Northwestern ... totaled 28 tackles, six PBUs and one caused fumble ... tied for the team lead in PBUs ... had 2+ tackles in six games, including a season-high five stops against Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Temple ... logged four tackles versus Northwestern in first career start ... recorded caused fumble at Baylor ... set Duke bowl game record for PBUs with four against Temple in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl to help the Blue Devils capture their third consecutive bowl win ... helped Duke rank among the ACC leaders in both passing defense (4th) and passing efficiency defense (5th) ... on the field for 658 snaps.

2017: Did not see game action.

PRIOR TO DUKE: Played at Buford High School for coach Jess Simpson ... consensus three-star prospect by ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com ... charted as the No. 41 athlete in the nation by ESPN.com ... following senior season, received the Touchdown Club of Gwinnett’s Cecil Morris Award, an honor presented to an all-county caliber player whose season was cut short by injury ... helped the Wolves to a 13-2 record and appearance in the state championship game ... as a junior, earned first team all-state (4A) honors from the Georgia Sports Writers Association as squad went 13-2 and reached the state title game ... also a first team all-region selection ... posted 47 tackles and one INT as part of a Buford defense that allowed just 7.33 points per game ... averaged 14.4 yards per punt return ... in sophomore season, helped Buford to a perfect 15-0 record and Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class 4A state championship with a 55-10 victory against St. Pius X Catholic in the title tilt ... member of Team North Georgia, the 2013 Football University eighth grade national champions ... also participated in track and field ... helped 4x100-meter relay team to a fourth place finish (42.51) at the GHSA Class 4A state meet during junior year ... as a senior at the GHSA 5A Section B meet, placed fourth in the 100-meters (10.96) and seventh in the 200-meters (22.27).

PERSONAL: Born April 5, 1999 ... graduated from Duke in May 2020, with a public policy degree, a psychology minor and a certificate in markets and management ... working toward a master’s degree in management studies from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business ... son of Joe and Janine Blackwell ... cousin, Katherine Randolph, was a member of the track and field program at Georgia State University and a member of the Sun Belt Conference championship 4x100 relay team in 2015.