National Football Foundation

David Helton’s exceptional accomplishments rank him among the best student-athletes in Duke history.
 
Boasting an impressive academic résumé, Helton was a 2014 First Team Academic All-American and two-time First Team Academic All-District selection.
 
He maintained a 3.64 GPA while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in theater. His numerous accolades included the 2014 Jim Tatum Award as the top senior football student-athlete in the ACC, three Academic All-ACC selections and three-time membership on the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
 
The Chattanooga, Tennessee, native played a key role in Duke’s defense, collecting honors as a First Team All-ACC selection in 2014 and leading the conference in tackles in both his junior and senior seasons. He finished his career ranked 10th in Duke history with 347 career tackles.
 
A finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Helton led Duke to a 9-4 record and the Blue Devils’ third consecutive bowl appearance in 2014. In 2013, he helped lead Duke to a school-record 10 wins, an ACC Coastal Division title and the school’s first-ever ACC Championship Game appearance.
 
Helton’s commitment to excellence extended to his work as a leader in the community, and his extensive volunteer work included the Durham Rescue Mission and participating in an annual trash clean-up initiative on campus.
 
In 2012, Helton raised more than $45,000 for his roommate’s recovery following a tragic jet-skiing accident through the Blair Holliday Fund, a non-profit T-shirt company.
 
After graduating from Duke in 2015, Helton served in various financial and business operations roles. He is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.