Football adds 13 transfers to 2024 squad

DURHAM Duke head football coachManny Diazannounced Friday that 13 student-athletes have agreed to join the Blue Devil football program as post-graduate transfers.

The class consists of seven offensive linemen, two cornerbacks, two linebackers and two running backs.

A total of twelve states and Canada are represented in the group, with two from Pennsylvania and one each from Arizona, California, Canada, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

The class consists of: Michael Barr (OL | Havertown, Pa. | Lafayette University), Tre'Shon Devones (CB | Duncanville, Texas | Rice University), Diassa Diakiet (CB | Northampton, Pa. | Robert Morris University), Bruno Fina (OL | Tucson, AZ | UCLA), Zachary Franken (OL | Baltimore, Md. | Northwestern University), Alex Howard (LB | Cincinnati, Ohio | Youngstown State University), Caleb Krings (OL | Fayetteville, NC | Elon University), Ozzie Nicholas (LB | Encinitas, California | Princeton University), James Pogorelc (OL | Centreville, Va. | Stanford University), Micha Sahakian (OL | Mount Prospect, Illinois | Cornell University), Erik Schon (OL | Barrie, Ontario, Canada | College of the Holy Cross), Star Thomas (RB | Homer, La. | University of New Mexico), Al Wooten II (RB | Memphis, Tenn. | Mercer University).

The group joins previously announced transfers in DT Kendy CharlesWR Javon HarveyOL Jack PurcellD.T Will Seilerand QB Malik Murphywho enrolled at Duke in January.

NEWCOMERS
Michael Barr (OL | 6-3 | 315 | Havertown, Pa. (Haverford School) | Lafayette University)

• Three-year member of Lafayette's soccer program (2021-22-23)
• Saw action in 32 career games (26 starts) at center, guard and tackle
• 2023 Team Captain and All-Patriot League First Team Winner
• Led Lafayette to a 9-3 record in 2023 with an appearance in the NCAA FCS playoffs
• Attended Haverford School and played for coach Brian Martin
• Lettered for three seasons and earned All Inter-AC First Team honors as a senior
• Born on August 26, 2002
• Son of Michael and Laura Barr

Tre'Shon Devones (CB | 5-11 |187 | Duncanville, Texas (Duncanville) | Rice University)

• Five-year member of Rice's football program (2019-20-21-22-23)
• Saw action in 35 career games (20 as starters), recording 76 tackles, 2.5 TFL, two INTs, 14 PBUs, two fumble recoveries and one caused fumble
• Recorded 2+ tackles on 18 occasions, including a career-high eight tackles against Texas State in the 2023 First Responder Bowl
• Was the highest rated Owl defensive starter by Pro football focus (77.1) and led defensive backs with a coverage grade of 79.8 in 2023
• Attended Duncanville and played for coach Reginald Samples
• Three-time all-district selection and helped lead the Panthers to the 6A DI state title game as a senior and an appearance in the All-District 7-6A playoffs as a sophomore and junior
• Born December 28, 2000
• Son of Terrance Devones and Stacie Williams

Diassa Diakiet (CB | 6-0 | 190 | Northampton, Pa. (The Lawrenceville School) | Robert Morris University)

• One-year member of the football program at Robert Morris (2023) and four-year member at Harvard (2019-20-21-22)
• Saw action in 27 career games (10 starts), recorded 46 tackles, one INT and four PBU
• Made 2+ tackles in 14 games, including a career-high of five tackles on three occasions against Saint Francis (PA), Gardner-Webb and Bryant in 2023
• Attended Lawrence School (NJ) and was coached by Harry Flaherty
• Team captain as a senior
• Named an All-MAPL selection twice as a junior and senior
• Born on June 16, 2001
• Son of Amadou and Fatoumata and Fatoumata Diakite

Bruno Fina (OL | 6-5 | 300 | Tucson, Arizona (Salpointe Catholic) | UCLA)

• Four-year member of the football program at UCLA (23-21-22-2020)
• Saw action in 19 career games (13 starts) at tackle
• Helped the Bruins lead the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game (197.9) in 2023
• Holes have been created for the Bruins' offense to record six games with 200+ yards rushing yards and six games with 150+ rushing yards in 2023
• Attended Salpointe Catholic and played for coach Dennis Bene
• Helped the Lancers reach the semifinals of the 2019 AIA Open Division playoffs
• Born on March 15, 2002
• Son of John and Melissa Fina

Zachary Franken (OL | 6-5 | 320 | Baltimore, Md. (The Gilman School) | Northwestern University)

• Five-year member of the football program at Northwestern (2019-20-21-22-23)
• Saw action in 18 career games (2 starts) with the Wildcats
• Helped Northwestern to an 8-5 record in 2023 and a 14-7 win over Utah in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
• Participated in two bowl games (Cheez-It Citrus 2020 and SRS Distribution Las Vegas 2023)
• Attended the Gilman School and played for coach Nick Bach
• Four-year letterwinner, earning All-MIAA and All-Metro Baltimore City honors
• Born on March 8, 2000
• son of David and Kimberley Franks

Alex Howard (LB | 6-2 | 235 | Cincinnati, Ohio (Mt. Healthy) | Youngstown State University)

• Five-year member of the Youngstown State football program (2019-20-21-22-23)
• Saw action in 40 career games (16 starts), recorded 142 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 6.0 sacks, one INT, three PBU, three QB pressures, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble
• Earned honorable mention All-MVFC honors in 2023
• Has recorded 5+ tackles on 15 occasions, including a career-high 11 stops against Illinois State in 2022
• Attended Mt. Healthy and played for coach Arvie Crouch
• Was a two-time Division III All-Southwest District recipient and All-Southwest Ohio Conference honoree
• Born on March 28, 2001
• son of Heather West

Caleb Krings (OL | 6-3 | 315 | Fayetteville, NC (Cape Fear) | Elon University)

• Four-year member of the Elon soccer program (2020-21-22-23)
• Saw action in 39 career games (36 starts), mostly at guard
• Helped Elon to 21 career wins, including 17 CAA wins and an appearance in the 2022 NCAA FCS Championship playoffs
• According to Pro football focus played the third-most snaps (778) at left guard nationally in 2022 among teams that played 12 or fewer games and ranked No. 20 in the nation among all offensive guards in run blocking
• Attended Cape Fear and played for coach Jake Thomas
• Four-year letter winner, three-time all-conference winner and two-time all-region nod
• Born on April 29, 2002
• son of Pete and Marsha Krings

Ozzie Nicholas (LB | 602 | 232 | Encinitas, California (Los Costa Canyon) | Princeton University)

• Four-year member of the Princeton football program (2020-21-22-23)
• Saw action in 38 career games (17 starts), recorded 179 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, one INT, four PBU, eight QB pressures, one fumble recovery and three caused fumbles
• Was an FCS All-America honoree in 2023 (Focus on professional football1 one Statistics perform3rd) and two-time All-Ivy League selection (2023 1st and 2022 2nd), with the third-best defensive rating (90.5) in 2023 per Focus on professional football
• Recorded double-digit tackles in eight career games, including 15 career tackles three times against Bryant (2023), Yale (2023) and Pennsylvania (2022)
• Attended La Costa Canyon and played for coach Sean Sovacool
• Team captain and two-time first-team all-league
• Born on November 14, 2001
• son of Blair and LJ Nicholas

James Pogorelc (OL | 6-8 | 310 | Centreville, Va. (Chantilly) | Stanford University)

• Four-year member of the football program at Stanford (2020-21-22-23)
• Saw action in 12 career games (2 starts) at tackle
• Helped Stanford finish fifth in the Pac-12 in red zone offense with an 88.6 percent mark in 2023
• Earned his first career start against Hawaii in 2023
• Attended Chantilly and played for coach Sean Curry
• Named all-conference selection twice (2018 and 2019), as well as all-region and all-NOVA in 2019
• Born on February 13, 2002
• Son of Scott and Patricia Pogorelc

Micha Sahakian (OL | 6-5 | 330 | Mount Prospect, Illinois (Prospect) | Cornell University)

• Four-year member of the football program at Cornell (2020-21-22-23)
• Saw action in 30 career games (19 starts), primarily at tackle
• Two-time All-Ivy League selection (2022 HM and 2023 2nd) and served as Cornell's offensive team captain during his final season
• Was the anchor of the Big Red offensive line in 2023 that allowed the third-fewest sacks in the Ivy League (1.30 spg) and ranked 19th in the nation
• Attended and played for Prospect coach Dan DeBoeuf
• Helped the Knights to an 8-3 record and an appearance in the second round of the state playoffs
• Born on May 16, 2002
• Son of Rafi and Diana Sahakian

Erik Schon (OL | 6-2 | 300 | Barrie, Ontario, Canada (St. Francis [N.Y.] HS) | College of the Holy Cross)

• Four-year member of the soccer program at Holy Cross (2020-21-22-23)
• Saw action in 38 career games (24 starts), mostly at guard
• Two-time All-Patriot League selection (2022 1st and 2023 2nd)
• A hole has been created for the Crusaders' offense to rank in the top 10 in the country in scoring offense in consecutive seasons (No. 8 in 2022) [37.4 ppg] and No. 6 in 2023 [36.9 ppg]) and rushing offense (No. 6 in 2022) [245.1 ypg] and No. 3 in 2023 [264.2 ypg])
• Visited St. Francis [N.Y.] High School and played for coach Jerry Smith
• Named First Team All-Western New York and First Team All-Monsignor Martin Athletic Association
• Born on February 15, 2002
• Son of Eric and Gabriela Schon Sr.

Star Thomas (RB | 6-0 | 225 | Homer, La. (Homer) | New Mexico State University)

• Two-year member of the football program at New Mexico State (2022-23) and two-year member at Coffeyville Community College (2020-21)
• Saw action in 42 career games (14 starts), rushing 380 times for 2,143 yards (5.64) with 20 TDs and recording 42 receptions for 387 yards (9.21) with five scores
• 2023 Second Team All-Conference USA and 2021 First Team Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) All-Conference selections
• Posted 50+ rushing yards 16 times, including a career-best 227 yards on 20 carries against Butler Community College on October 2, 2021
• Attended Homer and played for coach Richie Casey
• Selected all-conference as a running back for four years, earning all-state honors as a junior and senior
• Born on October 9, 2001
• Son of Jacqueline Thomas

Al Wooten II (RB | 6-0 | 225 | Memphis, Tennessee. (Christian Brothers) | Mercer University)

• Four-year member of the football program at Mercer (2020-21-22-23)
• Saw action in 36 career games (24 starts), running 311 times for 1,370 yards (4.41) with 11 TDs and recording 18 receptions for 161 yards (8.94) with two scores
• Has 50+ rushing yards 12 times, including a personal best of 164 yards on 12 carries against VMI on September 30, 2023
• Helped Mercer to 28 wins in four years, including the program's first appearance in the NCAA FCS Championship and an eventual national ranking of No. 17 in 2023
• Attended Christian Brothers and played for coach Thomas McDaniel
• Three-time all-region and two-time all-state selection
• Born on October 2, 2001
• son of Al and Vera Wooten

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