Duke scholar-athlete honored with national award
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Duke Blue Devils senior linebacker David Helton was named the 2014 William V. Campbell Trophy recipient on Tuesday evening as part of the 57th annual National Football Foundation (NFF) Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria.
The award recognizes an individual who is deemed the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
Helton becomes the first Duke student-athlete to receive the Campbell Trophy and was awarded a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.
He was the third straight Blue Devil to be named an NFF Scholar-Athlete, joining Sean Renfree (2012) and Perry Simmons (2013).
“First and foremost, congratulations to David and his family for this incredible honor,” said head coach David Cutcliffe, who also mentored 1997 Campbell Trophy recipient Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee.
“David’s personality, work ethic and drive to be successful combine for achievements like this one, and it all starts with his parents. I couldn’t be happier for Keith and Mary to watch their son experience this great journey.”
Helton is just the second ACC student-athlete to be honored, joining Virginia’s Thomas D. Burns (1993).
Last week, Helton was named to the Atlantic Sports Media Association All-ACC first team and a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
The Chattanooga, Tenn., product owns a 3.63 grade point average as a psychology major and was a Capital One/CoSIDA First Team Academic All-America selection and is a three-time Academic All-ACC Football Team honoree.
Helton is the eighth Duke player to earn first team Academic All-America honors and the fourth to receive Academic All-America and All-ACC honors in the same season, joining Simmons (2012-13), Shawn Johnson (2002) and Bill Jones (1965).
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.
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William V. Campbell Trophy Winners
2014 David Helton, Duke University
2013 John Urschel, Penn State University
2012 Barrett Jones, University of Alabama
2011 Andrew Rodriguez, United States Military Academy
2010 Sam Acho, University of Texas
2009 Tim Tebow, University of Florida
2008 Alex Mack, University of California-Berkeley
2007 Dallas Griffin, University of Texas
2006 Brian Leonard, Rutgers University
2005 Rudy Niswanger, Louisiana State University
2004 Michael Munoz, University of Tennessee
2003 Craig Krenzel, Ohio State University
2002 Brandon Roberts, Washington University in St. Louis
2001 Joaquin Gonzalez, University of Miami
2000 Kyle Vanden Bosch, University of Nebraska
1999 Chad Pennington, Marshall University
1998 Matt Stinchcomb, University of Georgia
1997 Peyton Manning, University of Tennessee
1996 Danny Wuerffel, University of Florida
1995 Bobby Hoying, Ohio State University
1994 Robert B. Zatechka, University of Nebraska
1993 Thomas D. Burns, University of Virginia
1992 Jim Hansen, University of Colorado
1991 Brad Culpepper, University of Florida
1990 Chris Howard, United States Air Force Academy
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2014 David Helton Accomplishments
• National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy winner
• National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award winner
• Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist
• First Team All-ACC (ACSMA)
• Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team
• Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District III First Team
• ACC Jim Tatum Award winner
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Duke bound for Sun Bowl
DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke Blue Devils will play in three consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history by meeting Arizona State in the 81st annual Sun Bowl on Sat., Dec. 27 in El Paso, Texas.
Kickoff at Sun Bowl Stadium is set for 2 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally live on CBS.
The meeting between the Blue Devils (9-3) and the 15th-ranked Sun Devils (9-3) will mark the first on the gridiron between the two schools.
Blue Devil fans are encouraged to purchase tickets from the Duke allotment on GoDuke.com.
“To be selected to participate in the Sun Bowl is both a privilege and honor for our program,” said Duke head coach David Cutcliffe.
“The tradition of the Sun Bowl is well documented, and it is exciting to become a part of that prestigious history. Obviously, I could not be any more thrilled for our seniors, who together become the first class in Duke history to play in three bowl games. That means a lot, and it should. This group has earned this. Winning 25 games in three seasons and 19 games over the past two seasons hasn’t been easy.
“Having been fortunate enough to participate in the Sun Bowl, I know both programs will have a great experience. What the El Paso community does in terms of embracing the teams and fans, along with its involvement with the game, is second to none. We look forward to representing the Atlantic Coast Conference and playing against another very deserving team in Arizona State. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach (Todd) Graham and what their staff has been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. After our exam schedule this week, we look forward to returning to the practice field in preparation for what I anticipate to be a terrific game on December 27th in El Paso.”
Cutcliffe previously participated in the Sun Bowl as an assistant with the University of Tennessee.
The Volunteers dropped a 28-27 decision to Maryland in 1984.
Cutcliffe, who is 4-3 all-time as a head coach in bowl games, will participate in the 25th bowl game of his coaching career.
“When we started off today, I thought there was no way in the world that we would get two 9-3 teams,” said John Folmer, Chairman of the Hyundai Sun Bowl Football Committee.
“Now we have two 9-3 teams, Duke and Arizona State. This is a blessing and it’s a good thing for El Paso.”
Offensively, the Blue Devils are led by first team All-ACC selections in wide receiver Jamison Crowder and guard Laken Tomlinson.
Crowder, who also received first team all-league honors as a return specialist, has 78 pass receptions for 952 yards and six touchdowns while sitting just seven catches shy of the ACC’s all-time record of 283 held by former Blue Devil receiver Conner Vernon.
A two-time first team all-conference choice, Tomlinson was the runner-up in the balloting for the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, an honor presented annually to the league’s top blocker as voted on by the coaches.
On defense, three All-ACC picks – safety Jeremy Cash, safety DeVon Edwards and linebacker David Helton – highlight a unit that ranks among the nation’s top 20 in third down defense (18th), pass efficiency defense (20th) and scoring defense (20th).
A two-time all-league pick and semifinalist for the 2014 Thorpe Award, Cash is the only defensive back in the nation with 100-plus tackles, 10-plus tackles for loss and five-plus sacks this season.
Edwards, a third team all-league pick as a return specialist and honorable mention choice in the defensive backfield, has 119 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and a team-high nine pass breakups to his credit this season.
A first team All-ACC pick who leads the conference in tackles with 125, Helton earned first team Capital One Academic All-America selection last week.
With an all-time record of 3-7, Duke will make its 11th bowl game appearance.
The Blue Devils also have appeared in the Rose Bowl (1938 & 1941 seasons), Sugar Bowl (1944), Orange Bowl (1954 & 1957), Cotton Bowl (1960), All American Bowl (1989), Hall of Fame Bowl (1994), Belk Bowl (2012) and Chick-fil-A Bowl (2013).