DeVon Edwards

Classroom

A second-team Academic All-American in 2015, DeVon Edwards is one of only two active players who earned both All-America and Academic All-America honors last fall, joining Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey. Edwards already has graduated with a BA in psychology and is pursuing a master’s in liberal studies. He completed his graduate school summer session with a 3.850 GPA and wrapped up his undergraduate degree with a 3.353 GPA. He is a two-time Academic All-District First Team honoree as well as a three-time All-ACC Academic Football Team member. To be eligible for consideration on the all-league squad, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade-point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career. Edwards also has earned a place on the ACC Academic Honor Roll every year of his career. He is Duke’s nominee for the National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award.

Character

Edwards is a 2016 team captain as elected by his teammates. He is a tireless worker who is expected to anchor the secondary and special teams units again this fall. For the overall team, he is counted on to fill key leadership roles within this year’s squad. Edwards has spent countless hours in the film room with younger players, teaching them and helping them improve their productivity on the field. He is always willing to lend his time and assistance to younger players as they adjust to college life and Duke football. As a reflection of his character, Edwards was nominated for the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team and the Wuerffel Award.

Community

Edwards has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House every Thursday during the summer and on Saturdays during the spring, playing games, putting together puzzles, eating meals and spending time with the seriously ill children and their families at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham. He also volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Durham in a similar capacity.

Edwards is extremely involved in Bull City Fit, a community-based wellness program for patients and families of the Duke Children’s Healthy Lifestyles Program. Bull City Fit puts together a wide variety of activities to encourage and promote active living and help fight childhood obesity. Edwards spends time helping oversee these activities and speak to young children. He also invests time with the Kid’s Club in Oxford Manor, Duke Children’s Hospital, Duluth High School, Durham Little League Football, Duke Campus Trash Cleanup and with Christmas gift wrapping.

Competition

A returning three-time All-America selection as a kickoff returner, Edwards is a preseason All-ACC pick by ESPN, Lindy’s Sports and Phil Steele. He has been named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Wuerffel Award and Hornung Award this fall. Edwards has earned All-ACC accolades every year of his career as a return specialist and has been an honorable mention pick at safety the last two years. He is a four-time league player of the week, once as the rookie of the week in 2013 and three times as the specialist of the week, once in 2014 and twice in 2015. Edwards entered the 2016 campaign holding the Duke records for kickoff returns for touchdowns in a season (three in 2015) and career (six) as well as kickoff return average in a season (30.21 in 2013) and career (28.04). As of nomination time, his six kickoff returns for scores are one short of the ACC record of seven held by C.J. Spiller of Clemson and one shy of the NCAA record of seven shared by Spiller and Tyron Carrier of Houston. Among active players nationally, Edwards ranked first in kickoff returns for TDs, second in kickoff return yards, third in kickoff return average and sixth in kickoff returns. He also began the 2016 season just two tackles shy of becoming the 19th player in Duke history to post 300+ tackles.