Chandler Rivers and Terry Moore have earned spots on the Preseason Media All-ACC First Team for the upcoming 2025 college football season
The recently released Preseason Media All-ACC First Team features two standout defenders from the Duke football program: senior cornerback Chandler Rivers and senior safety Terry Moore. Duke is among nine ACC programs with at least one representative on the list, though no Blue Devils made the offensive team. Clemson led all schools with 11 total selections.
Rivers, a Texas native, continues to collect recognition ahead of his senior campaign and is widely regarded as one of the premier defensive backs in the country. ESPN ranks him as the seventh-best defensive back nationally and second-best in the ACC. He’s also on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list, an award given to the top defensive player in college football.
Although Rivers received considerable second-round buzz for the 2025 NFL Draft, he chose to return for one more year at Duke. Some early 2026 mock drafts even project him as a potential top-10 pick. He’ll play a pivotal role in a Blue Devils defense aiming to remain among the nation’s elite, with Moore expected to be another cornerstone of that unit.
Moore, a 6-foot-1 safety, was ranked No. 49 overall by Pro Football Focus heading into 2025—a ranking that many believe undervalues his impact. In 2024, he led Duke in interceptions (4) and tied for the team lead in pass breakups (2).
Under head coach Manny Diaz, Duke is coming off a historic season—just the fourth in program history with nine or more wins. Their success was powered largely by a dominant defense, which finished second nationally in tackles for loss (116), fourth in sacks (43), and 26th in third-down defense (33.8%).
Despite being picked sixth in the ACC Preseason Media Poll, the Blue Devils are aiming to outperform those expectations, with Rivers and Moore leading the charge.
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