DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Blue Devils senior linebacker David Helton was named the recipient of the 2014 Jim Tatum Award as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s (ACC) top senior football scholar-athlete, as announced by the league on Thursday.
The six-foot-four-inch, 240-pound linebacker was also named to the Capital One Academic All-America first team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on the same day.
Helton became the third straight Duke player and seventh overall to receive the Tatum Award, following quarterback Sean Renfree (2012) and offensive lineman Perry Simmons (2013).
The Tatum Award is given annually in memory of the late Jim Tatum to the top senior student-athlete (in athletic eligibility) among the league’s football players.
Tatum, a two-time ACC Coach of the Year, coached in the 1950s at both Maryland and North Carolina and believed strongly in the concept of the student-athlete.
The Academic All-America honor was the first of Helton’s career.
Helton, who owns a 3.64 grade point average as a psychology major, was also selected as a National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar-Athlete and is a finalist for the NFF’s William V. Campbell Trophy that honors the top football student-athlete in the nation.
Additionally, he is a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and a three-time Academic All-ACC Football Team selection.
Named to the All-ACC first team by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA) earlier this week for his play on the field, Helton leads the ACC and ranks 15th nationally in tackles per game (10.42).
In total tackles, he tops the league (125) and stands 11th nationally.
He owns six games with double figure tackles in 2014 and is now tied for 10th in Duke history with 338 career tackles.
Among active FBS players, Helton is tied for 12th in total tackles with 338 and ranks second in assisted stops with 215.
Helton’s performance has helped Duke to its most successful two-season win total in school history with 19 as well as helping the Blue Devils to own the winningest three-season stretch in program history with 25.
This year’s squad has won nine games after last season’s 10-win performance, giving the program its first consecutive campaigns with nine or more victories.
Duke’s Jim Tatum Award Recipients
1979 – Scott Hamilton
1989 – Doug Kley
2003 – Chris Douglas
2005 – Brendan Dewan
2012 – Sean Renfree
2013 – Perry Simmons
2014 – David Helton
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Duke Academic All-Americans
1959 Butch Allie (—)
Ed Lyon (—)
1960 Butch Allie (—)
1965 Bill Jones (2nd)
1965 Mike Shasby (Honorable Mention)
1966 Roger Hayes (1st)
1966 Mike Shasby (Honorable Mention)
1967 Bob Laskey (1st)
1969 John Cappellano (Honorable Mention)
1969 Jim Dearth (Honorable Mention)
1969 Curt Rawley (Honorable Mention)
1969 Dave Trice (Honorable Mention)
1970 Curt Rawley (1st)
1986 Mike Diminick (1st)
1987 Mike Diminick (1st)
1988 Mike Diminick (1st)
1989 Doug Kley (1st)
1993 Travis Pearson (1st)
2002 Shawn Johnson (2nd)
2005 Eli Nichols (2nd)
2006 Eli Nichols (2nd)
2012 Perry Simmons (2nd)
2013 Perry Simmons (1st)
2014 David Helton (1st)
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