Eight Named to Athlon Sports 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team

Football
5/26/2023 4:42:00 PM

DURHAM – Eight Duke football players were selected to the Athlon Sports 2023 preseason All-ACC team, the organization announced.

Offensive lineman Graham Barton, defensive lineman DeWayne Carter and kickoff return specialist Jaylen Stinson were tabbed to the first team, wide receiver Jalon Calhoun and safety Brandon Johnson were selected to the second team while center Jacob Monk, safety Stinson, and punter Porter Wilson were named to the third team. Quarterback Riley Leonard closed out the Blue Devil honorees after garnering fourth team nods.

 

Barton, a 2022 first team All-ACC selection, blocked for a Blue Devil offense that accumulated 2,394 rushing and 3,010 pass­ing yards last season. The Brentwood, Tenn., native has played in 31 career games along the offensive line, making 30 starts. In 2022, Barton helped Duke register 31 rushing touchdowns, which set the program’s single season record. He anchored an offensive line unit that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and tackles for loss allowed (51). At the conclusion of the season, he held a Pro Football Focus grade of 88.2, which ranked fifth nationally among offensive tackles.

 

Carter, a three-time team captain, has registered 86 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, seven caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 11 quarterback pressures and seven pass breakups in 39 career games. The Pickerington, Ohio, native was named a second team All-ACC section a year ago after finishing tied for third and tied for 13th nationally in fumble recoveries and forced fumbles, respectively.

 

Stinson, an Opelika, Ala., native finished third in the ACC last season with 15 kick returns, while his 380 kick return yards placed him tied for second. Throughout his Blue Devil career, Stinson has recorded 66 returns for 1,553 yards with two touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, the safety has compiled 130 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, six pass breakups, one caused fumble, two fumble recoveries and one quarterback hurry. A season ago, he placed third on the team with 74 tackles, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.

 

Calhoun, a 2022 third team All-ACC selection, hauled in 62 passes for 873 yards with four touchdowns last season to lead the Blue Devils. Of his 62 receptions, 37 produced a first down and 20 covered 20-plus yards. In 2022, the Greenville, S.C., native became the 11th player in program history to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards with 2,360, ranking him ninth all-time in Duke history. In addition, his 203 career receptions place him fifth all-time.

 

Johnson, an honorable mention All-ACC selection, finished last season ranking tied for first on the team in sacks (5.5), tied for first in pass breakups (seven), tied for second in interceptions (two), and third in tackles for loss (7.5). The Newton, N.C., native returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown against Miami in 2022 for his first-career score. Johnson owns 72 career tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, two caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries and four quarterback hurries in 24 career games.

 

Monk, a five-year starter along the offensive line, has played 3,051 career snaps throughout 46 career games. Last season the honorable mention All-ACC selection helped Duke register 31 rushing touchdowns, which set the program’s single-season record. He anchored an offensive line unit that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and tackles for loss allowed (51). 

Wilson, a 2022 honorable mention All-ACC recipient, registered 46 total punts on the year for 1,984 yards for an average of 43.13 yards per punt. He was one of five punters in the ACC with over 1,800 punting yards and 13-plus kicks inside the 20 with 10-plus boots of 50-plus yards. The Fairlawn, Ohio, product has booted 160 career punts for 6,992 yards with 41 of those being 50-plus yards.

Leonard has completed 287-of-454 pass attempts (.632) for 3,348 yards with 21 touchdowns against seven interceptions and has rushed 171 times for 872 yards (5.09) with 15 touchdowns in 20 career games. He was tabbed an honorable mention All-ACC selection and the Military Bowl MVP during his first year as Duke’s starter a season ago. The Fairhope, Ala., native set school single-season records for touchdowns responsible with 33 and pass completion-to-interception ratio (41.67), while also ranking tied for first in wins by a starting quarterback, second in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, tied for third in rushing touchdowns, and fourth in rushing yards by quarterback. In addition, he finished with the sixth-highest pass completion percentage and seventh-most passing yards in a single season.

Duke is set to kick off the 2023 season at home on Monday, Sept. 4 when it welcomes Clemson to Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.

 

Season tickets for the 2023 campaign are now available by visiting GoDuke.com/footballtix.

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