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Moore and Rivers Named to Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
8/11/2025 12:05:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke graduate safety Terry Moore and senior cornerback Chandler Rivers have been selected to the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
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Moore is a returning All-America honoree and All-ACC safety. He earned Second Team All-America honors from Action Network to cap his 2024 season. From Washington, N.C., Moore was tabbed by Pro Football Focus (PFF) as the No. 10 returning safety nationally heading into 2025. He also earned a place on the 2025 On3 top-100 players list (No. 63).
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In 33 career games (19 starts), Moore has compiled 116 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven pass breakups and two quarterback pressures.
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Rivers is a preseason All-America selection and returning First Team All-ACC honoree. A Beaumont, Texas, native, Rivers was an All-America selection by four publications following the 2024 campaign: The Athletic (Second Team), College FootÂball Network (Second Team), the Associated Press (Third Team) and Phil Steele (Fourth Team). He enters the 2025 campaign with 164 career tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five interceptions, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, 21 pass breakups, six quarterback pressures and one blocked kick.Â
Last fall, Rivers was graded by PFF as having the second-highest defense grade (90.7) among cornerbacks nationally. According to PFF, he had the second-highest coverage grade (89.8) among cornerbacks nationally. He was also rated by PFF as the No. 40 overall player in college football during the 2024 season. Rivers surrendered only 13 completions last season, including just three that went for 20 yards or more. His 4.5 yards allowed per target ranked 13th among Power Four corners.
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The Bednarik Award has been given to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. It is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, an NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and center who played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as one of the last "60-minute men" for playing both offense and defense, Bednarik exemplified toughness, excellence, and leadership on the field—values that the award bearing his name seeks to recognize in today's top defensive players.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced November 11 with the three finalists unveiled November 25. The winner of the 31st  Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 11. The formal presentations of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 13, 2026, in Atlanta.
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Season tickets for the upcoming campaign may be purchased online at goduke.com/footballtix or by calling the Duke Athletics Ticket Office at 919-681-BLUE (2583).
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Duke 2025 NCFAA Watch Lists Selections
Maxwell Award:Â Darian Mensah
Outland Trophy:Â Brian Parker II
Nagurski Trophy:Â Chandler Rivers
Thorpe Award: Terry Moore & Chandler Rivers
Hornung Award:Â Peyton Jones
Wuerffel Trophy:Â Chandler Rivers
Doak Walker Award:Â Jaquez Moore
Davey O'Brien Award: Darian Mensah
Rimington Trophy: Matt Craycraft
Chuck Bednarik Award: Terry Moore & Chandler Rivers
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To stay up to date with Blue Devils football, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFootball".
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#GoDuke
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Moore is a returning All-America honoree and All-ACC safety. He earned Second Team All-America honors from Action Network to cap his 2024 season. From Washington, N.C., Moore was tabbed by Pro Football Focus (PFF) as the No. 10 returning safety nationally heading into 2025. He also earned a place on the 2025 On3 top-100 players list (No. 63).
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In 33 career games (19 starts), Moore has compiled 116 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven pass breakups and two quarterback pressures.
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Rivers is a preseason All-America selection and returning First Team All-ACC honoree. A Beaumont, Texas, native, Rivers was an All-America selection by four publications following the 2024 campaign: The Athletic (Second Team), College FootÂball Network (Second Team), the Associated Press (Third Team) and Phil Steele (Fourth Team). He enters the 2025 campaign with 164 career tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five interceptions, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, 21 pass breakups, six quarterback pressures and one blocked kick.Â
Last fall, Rivers was graded by PFF as having the second-highest defense grade (90.7) among cornerbacks nationally. According to PFF, he had the second-highest coverage grade (89.8) among cornerbacks nationally. He was also rated by PFF as the No. 40 overall player in college football during the 2024 season. Rivers surrendered only 13 completions last season, including just three that went for 20 yards or more. His 4.5 yards allowed per target ranked 13th among Power Four corners.
Â
The Bednarik Award has been given to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. It is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, an NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and center who played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as one of the last "60-minute men" for playing both offense and defense, Bednarik exemplified toughness, excellence, and leadership on the field—values that the award bearing his name seeks to recognize in today's top defensive players.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced November 11 with the three finalists unveiled November 25. The winner of the 31st  Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 11. The formal presentations of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 13, 2026, in Atlanta.
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Season tickets for the upcoming campaign may be purchased online at goduke.com/footballtix or by calling the Duke Athletics Ticket Office at 919-681-BLUE (2583).
Â
Duke 2025 NCFAA Watch Lists Selections
Maxwell Award:Â Darian Mensah
Outland Trophy:Â Brian Parker II
Nagurski Trophy:Â Chandler Rivers
Thorpe Award: Terry Moore & Chandler Rivers
Hornung Award:Â Peyton Jones
Wuerffel Trophy:Â Chandler Rivers
Doak Walker Award:Â Jaquez Moore
Davey O'Brien Award: Darian Mensah
Rimington Trophy: Matt Craycraft
Chuck Bednarik Award: Terry Moore & Chandler Rivers
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To stay up to date with Blue Devils football, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFootball".
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#GoDuke
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