Duke head football coach Manny Diaz announced Friday that 13 student-athletes have agreed to join the Blue Devil gridiron program as postgraduate transfers.
The class includes seven offensive linemen, two cornerbacks, two linebackers and two running backs.
A total of 12 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 Diakite (CB | Northampton, Pa. | Robert Morris University), Bruno Fina (OL | Tucson, Ariz. | UCLA), Zachary Franks (OL | Baltimore, Md. | Northwestern University), Alex Howard (LB | Cincinnati, Ohio | Youngstown State University), Caleb Krings (OL | Fayetteville, N.C. | Elon University), Ozzie Nicholas (LB | Encinitas, Calif. | Princeton University), James Pogorelc (OL | Centreville, Va. | Stanford University), Micah Sahakian (OL | Mount Prospect, Ill. | Cornell University), Eric Schon (OL | Barrie, Ontaria, Canada | College of the Holy Cross), Star Thomas (RB | Homer, La. | New Mexico State University), Al Wooten II (RB | Memphis, Tenn. | Mercer University).
The group joins previously announced transfers in DT Kendy Charles, WR Javon Harvey, OL Jack Purcell, DT Will Seiler, and QB Maalik Murphy, who enrolled at Duke in January.
NEWCOMERS
Michael Barr (OL | 6-3 | 315 | Havertown, Pa. (Haverford School) | Lafayette University)
- Three-year member of the football program at Lafayette (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 recipient
- 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 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 the football program at Rice (2019-20-21-22-23)
- Saw action in 35 career games (20 starts), registering 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 the defensive backs with a 79.8 coverage grade 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 on December 28, 2000
- Son of Terrance Devones and Stacie Williams
Diassa Diakite (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), registering 46 tackles, one INT and four PBU
- Secured 2+ tackles in 14 games, including a career-high five tackles on three occasions against Saint Francis (PA), Gardner-Webb and Bryant in 2023
- Attended The Lawrence School (N.J.) and was coached by Harry Flaherty
- Team captain as a senior
- Named two-time All-MAPL selection 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, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic) | UCLA)
- Four-year member of the football program at UCLA (2020-21-22-23)
- 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
- Created holes for the Bruins’ offensive to register six 200+ yard rushing games and six with 150+ rushing yards in 2023
- Attended Salpointe Catholic and played for coach Dennis Bene
- Helped the Lancers reach the semifinal round of the 2019 AIA Open Division playoffs
- Born on March 15, 2002
- Son of John and Melissa Fina
Zachary Franks (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 victory over Utah in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
- Participated in two bowl games (2020 Cheez-It Citrus and 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas)
- 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 football program at Youngstown State (2019-20-21-22-23)
- Saw action in 40 career games (16 starts), registering 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
- Posted 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, N.C. (Cape Fear) | Elon University)
- Four-year member of the football program at Elon (2020-21-22-23)
- Saw action in 39 career games (36 starts) mostly at guard
- Helped Elon to 21 wins during career, including 17 CAA victories and an appearance in the 2022 NCAA FCS Championship playoffs
- According to Pro Football Focus in 2022, played the third-most snaps (778) at left guard nationally among teams that played 12 or fewer games and ranked No. 20 in the country among all offensive guards in run blocking
- Attended Cape Fear and played for coach Jake Thomas
- Four-year letterwinner, earning three-time all-conference honors and two-time all-region nods
- Born on April 29, 2002
- son of Pete and Marsha Krings
Ozzie Nicholas (LB | 602 | 232 | Encinitas, Calif. (Los Costa Canyon) | Princeton University)
- Four-year member of the football program at Princeton (2020-21-22-23)
- Saw action in 38 career games (17 starts), registering 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 (Pro Football Focus, 1st and Stats Perform, 3rd) and two-time All-Ivy League selection (2023 – 1st and 2022 – 2nd), recording the third-best defensive grade (90.5) in 2023 according to Pro Football Focus
- Registered double-figure tackles in eight career games, including a career-high 15 tackles on three occasions 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 L.J. 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 a mark of 88.6 percent in 2023
- Earned first career start against Hawaii in 2023
- Attended Chantilly and played for coach Sean Curry
- Named two-time all-conference selection (2018 & 2019) as well as all-region and all-NOVA in 2019
- Born on February 13, 2002
- Son of Scott and Patricia Pogorelc
Micah Sahakian (OL | 6-5 | 330 | Mount Prospect, Ill. (Prospect) | Cornell University)
- Four-year member of the football program at Cornell (2020-21-22-23)
- Saw action in 30 career games (19 starts) mostly at tackle
- Two-time All-Ivy League selection (2022 – HM and 2023 – 2nd) and served as Cornell’s offensive team captain during final season
- Anchored the Big Red offensive line in 2023 that allowed the third-fewest sacks in the Ivy League (1.30 spg) and ranked 19th nationally
- Attended Prospect and played for 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
Eric Schon (OL | 6-2 | 300 | Barrie, Ontaria, Canada (St. Francis [N.Y.] HS) | College of the Holy Cross)
- Four-year member of the football 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)
- Created hole for the Crusaders’ offense to rank in the top-10 nationally in consecutive seasons in scoring offense (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])
- Attended 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 selection
- Posted 50+ rushing yards on 16 occasions, 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
- Four-year all-conference selection as a running back, 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, Tenn. (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), rushing 311 times for 1,370 yards (4.41) with 11 TDs and recording 18 receptions for 161 yards (8.94) with two scores
- Posted 50+ rushing yards on 12 occasions, including a career-best 164 yards on 12 carries against VMI on September 30, 2023
- Helped Mercer to 28 victories in four years, including the program’s first appearance in the NCAA FCS Championship and a final national rank 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
Per Release
