Kevin O'Connor

Duke defensive end Kevin O'Connor, wearing a white helmet, blue jersey and white pants, wraps his arm around the quarterback during the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, which Duke won 42-39 against Arizona State inside Sun Bowl Stadium.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke defensive lineman Kevin O'Connor, wearing a white helmet, white jersey and white pants, gets his hand on Virginia's quarterback and tries to make a tackle versus the No. 16 Cavaliers in the 2025 ACC Championship Game.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke defensive lineman Kevin O'Connor, wearing a white helmet, jersey and pants, rushes the quarterback Clemson during the Blue Devils' 46-45 victory.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke defensive end Kevin O'Connor makes a run towards the quarterback at Syracuse on September 27, 2025, in a 38-3 Blue Devil victory.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Kevin O'Connor looks to the Middle Tennessee backfield.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Kevin O'Connor celebrates with the Victory Bell after beating UNC.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Kevin O'Connor awaits a snap at Middle Tennessee.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Position:
Defensive End
Height:
6-4
Class:
Redshirt Junior
Hometown:
Easton, Md.

2026: Returning defensive end ... two-time Academic All-ACC selection (2024-25) ... in 27 career games, has compiled 19 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks and four QB pressures ... added a six-yard run on a fake punt in 2025 … earned 2+ tackles in four games, 4+ in two contests and a career-high five versus Arizona State in the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl ... booked a career-high 1.0 TFL against the Sun Devils … credited with a solo QB pressure against Elon, Wake Forest, Virginia in the ACC Championship Game and Arizona State in 2025 … has played 537 career snaps.

2025: Academic All-ACC selection ... recipient of the team’s Special Teams Most Valuable Player Award as well as the Ace Parker Award, which is presented to those who have overcome adversity to contribute … saw action in all 14 games … carded 11 tackles, 1.0 TFL and four QB pressures … added a six-yard run on a fake punt in the ACC Championship Game that resulted in a first down … posted 2+ tackles in two games with two versus Elon in the season opener and a year-high five against Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl … booked one stop against Syracuse, Virginia in the regular season, North Carolina and Virginia in the ACC Championship Game ... closed the season on a strong run with six tackles, 1.0 TFL and three QB pressures in final three games … logged a season-best 1.0 TFL against Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl … in addition to the fake punt run, a key blocker and kickoff coverage specialist as a member of the special teams … provided the key block for Todd Pelino's fake field goal run at North Carolina that helped keep the Victory Bell in Durham … on the field for 392 snaps.

2024: Academic All-ACC selection ... recipient of the team’s Mike Suglia Award, which is presented annually to a second-year member of the Duke football program who best exemplifies the qualities of the late Mike Suglia … saw action in the first seven games of the season before missing the rest of the campaign due to injury ... compiled eight tackles, 0.5 TFL and 0.5 sacks … posted 1+ tackles in four contests, including a season-best four at Middle Tennessee ... logged a year-high 0.5 TFL with 0.5 sacks at Middle Tennessee … on the field for 145 snaps.

2023: Did not see game action.

PRIOR TO DUKE: Lettered three seasons at Easton under head coach Matt Griffith … rated a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … listed as the No. 39 outside linebacker in the country by ESPN.com … charted as the No. 10 and No. 11 prospect from the state of Maryland according to ESPN.com and 247Sports.com, respectively … recorded 156 tackles, 35 TFLs and 18 sacks … added 4,200 passing yards during final two seasons … helped Easton to a 15-9 ledger and consecutive playoff appearances … three-time first team all-conference and honorable mention all-state choice … also lettered two seasons in basketball and lacrosse … earned first team all-conference accolades in basketball and second team all-conference honors in lacrosse.

PERSONAL: Majoring in public policy while pursuing a certificate in markets and management ... son of Jim and Ann O’Connor … brother, Ryan, was a two-year starter (2023-24) at quarterback and four-year member (2021-22-23-24) of the University of Delaware program, helping the Blue Hens to the second round of the 2023 FCS playoffs … uncle, Tom Catena, lettered three seasons in football at Brown University (1983-84-85) before graduating from Duke’s Medical School in 1992.