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Photo by: Duke Athletics
10/26/2026 3:05:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke linebacker Nick Morris Jr. was named the Defensive Player of the Week for the Shriners Children's East-West Bowl on Monday. The organization selects weekly offensive and defensive standouts who are all-star game eligible and display the most NFL traits that week.
Morris Jr. booked a season-high and team-best 11 tackles, including 1.0 tackle for loss, in helping the Blue Devils to a 19-16 victory at Virginia. Morris Jr. tallied seven tackles in the first half before adding four stops in the second. Of Morris Jr.'s 11 tackles, none was on a gain of longer than eight yards and nine held the Cavaliers to gains of four yards or fewer. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Morris Jr. dropped Jekail Middlebrook for a two-yard loss.
As Duke climbed back from a 13-10 deficit in the fourth quarter, Morris Jr. helped hold the Cavaliers to one-of-five on third down in the final frame. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Morris Jr. tallied the second-highest total defense grade (84.6) among ACC linebackers during the week. Morris Jr.'s rush defense PFF grade (84.7) was the highest among ACC linebackers with more than 40 defensive snaps played. His PFF key play number of 17 was also tied for the second most in the league during the week.
Duke (5-2, 2-2 ACC) returns home to welcome Boston College (4-3, 2-2 ACC) for a 12 p.m. Halloween tilt inside Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.
#GoDuke
Morris Jr. booked a season-high and team-best 11 tackles, including 1.0 tackle for loss, in helping the Blue Devils to a 19-16 victory at Virginia. Morris Jr. tallied seven tackles in the first half before adding four stops in the second. Of Morris Jr.'s 11 tackles, none was on a gain of longer than eight yards and nine held the Cavaliers to gains of four yards or fewer. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Morris Jr. dropped Jekail Middlebrook for a two-yard loss.
As Duke climbed back from a 13-10 deficit in the fourth quarter, Morris Jr. helped hold the Cavaliers to one-of-five on third down in the final frame. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Morris Jr. tallied the second-highest total defense grade (84.6) among ACC linebackers during the week. Morris Jr.'s rush defense PFF grade (84.7) was the highest among ACC linebackers with more than 40 defensive snaps played. His PFF key play number of 17 was also tied for the second most in the league during the week.
Duke (5-2, 2-2 ACC) returns home to welcome Boston College (4-3, 2-2 ACC) for a 12 p.m. Halloween tilt inside Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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