Duke Football: Two defenders named to Preseason All-ACC

On Tuesday, the Preseason All-ACC was announced which included two players on Duke football’s defense.

Entering 2018, Duke football is expected to have one of the better defenses in the ACC. This will be due in large part to linebacker Joe Giles-Harris and cornerback Mark Gilbert, two players who were named to the Preseason All-ACC team.

Giles-Harris is a redshirt junior and considered one of the top linebackers in college football. He was named to the Bednarik Award watch list, along with Gilbert, earlier this year. He has been a key piece to this Blue Devils’ defense over the past two years with over 100 tackles each season. In his career, he also has 8.5 sacks, six passes defended, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Giles-Harris also received two votes for Preseason ACC Player of the Year. If he were to win the award, he would be the first defensive player to do since 2001 when Maryland linebacker E.J. Henderson won the award.

The other key player on this defense is cornerback Mark Gilbert, a player who broke out last year and showed the potential he has as a shutdown corner. He played 16 games last year and finished with 35 total tackles, 15 passes defended, and six interceptions.

The Blue Devils defense will look to these two players to set the tone for them in 2018. Both of these players are expected to be some of the top players in next year’s NFL Draft. CBS Sports’ Will Brinson did a mock draft shortly after the 2018 NFL Draft and both players were in the first round.

The first player selected was actually Gilbert, who would stay in state with the Carolina Panthers. Meanwhile Giles-Harris would go to the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the first round.

Next: Duke Football: Top 4 games of the 2018 season

If head coach David Cutcliffe hopes to bounce back from a 3-5 conference record last year, the play of Joe Giles-Harris and Mark Gilbert will be key.