Two Duke football standouts earn preseason All-American honors
Two Duke football standouts, Chris Rumph II and Damond Philyaw-Johnson, were named as preseason All-Americans thanks to Athlon Sports.
Duke football players are continuing to receive preseason recognition for the assumed college football season as two players have been named a Preseason All-American.
Chris Rumph II and Damond Philyaw-Johnson were both named All-Americans by Athlon Sports.
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The Blue Devils’ duo were both named to the Fourth Team, Rumph as a defensive lineman and Philyaw-Johnson a kick returner under the specialists category.
Philyaw-Johnson was also named to Phil Steele’s Fourth Team All-American as well as a Sporting News‘ Second Team All-American selection.
Duke’s kick returner brought back 17 kicks for a total of 549 yards and two touchdowns last season as both scores came in the same game in a loss to Wake Forest.
In the game against the Demon Deacons, Philyaw-Johnson returned five kicks for 251 yards and cemented his elite status for the upcoming season.
Damond Philyaw-Johnson will only be preparing for his first full season as the Duke kick returner as the 6-foot-1 special weapon only returned kicks for nine games last season.
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As for Philyaw-Johnson’s teammate in Chris Rumph II, he was also named to the Bednarik Award Watch List after his 47 tackles and six and a half sacks a season ago.
Both players are getting set for their junior seasons, but there is extreme uncertainty with the 2020 season because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
It is looking increasingly likely that the Blue Devils will play perhaps an only ACC schedule or a heavily favored schedule this season due to the pandemic, but no official announcement has been made.
ALSO READ: Handful of Duke stars named to preseason positional watch lists
As things currently stand, Duke is slated to open the season against Middle Tennessee State at Wallace Wade Stadium on September 5, but no other details surrounding the game have been announced.