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Eight Duke Blue Devils make 2019 All-ACC football teams

By Kevin Connelly

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 16: Noah Gray #87 of the Duke football team makes a catch against Evan Foster #9 of the Syracuse Orange during the first half of their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 16: Noah Gray #87 of the Duke football team makes a catch against Evan Foster #9 of the Syracuse Orange during the first half of their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Eight players on the Duke Football team were voted to the various 2019 All-ACC Football teams despite struggling in the second half of the season.

The 2019 football season did not end how the Duke Blue Devils would have liked, but despite finishing the year at 5-7 and not reaching a bowl game, the program saw eight players be recognized by the ACC for their outstanding performance this year.

While Duke was not able to put any players on the First-Team Offense or Defense, the Blue Devils saw three players named to the Second-Team.

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On offense, tight end Noah Gray was selected to the All-ACC Second-Team Offense as the junior posted career highs across the board.

Gray played in all 12 games for Duke, caught 51 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns, developing into a security blanket for Quentin Harris this season and being one of the most consistent players on the Duke offense.

Victory Dimukeje was selected to the All-ACC Second-Team defense after leading the Blue Devils on the defensive side of the ball.

The junior defensive end finished the year with 41 tackles, nine and a half for a loss, and a career-high eight and a half sacks in just 11 games.

Duke also saw a player be selected for the All-ACC Second-Team Specialists in kick returner Damond Philyaw-Johnson.

Philyaw-Johnson returned 17 punts and kick returns for the Blue Devils this season, taking two back for touchdowns in a loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and he averaged 32.3 yards per return this year.

The Blue Devils struck out on having a player named to the All-ACC Third-Team Offense but made up for it with two players landing on the All-ACC Third-Team Defense in Chris Rumph II and Koby Quansah.

Rumph II, the sophomore defensive end, played in all 12 games for Duke and saw a significant jump in his numbers from his freshman to sophomore seasons.

The Florida native recorded 47 tackles, 13.5 for loss, and six and a half sacks, with three pass deflections and one forced fumble.

Rumph II’s defensive teammate, Koby Quansah, also posted career highs across the board in his senior season in playing in all of the Blue Devils’ 12 games.

Quansah racked up 105 tackles, 12 for loss, two and a half sacks, three pass deflections, and one fumble recovery on the year.

Duke landed center Jack Wohlabaugh on the Honorable Mention Offense after only playing in nine games this season as the Ohio State transfer needed to have season-ending ankle surgery after the team’s loss to Notre Dame.

Wohlabaugh won ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after Duke’s win against Virginia Tech this season. He was also placed on the Rimington Award Watch List at the beginning of the season for the nation’s best center.

In his redshirt junior season, Jack Wohlabaugh should be back on the field in Durham next season.

Finally, the Blue Devils saw specialists Austin Parker and AJ Reed named to the All-ACC Honorable Mention Specialists Team.

Punter Austin Parker punted 66 times for Duke this season, averaging 45.7 yards per punt, while also rushing the ball three times this season for 45 yards.

Placekicker AJ Reed made all of his 34 extra points this season and was 15-of-18 on field goal attempts (83.3%), with a long of 51 yards coming in a loss to Syracuse.

With several of these key contributors coming back to Duke for the 2020 season, the Blue Devils will look to get back to a bowl game next year.

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