College Notebook

Harkes named MAC Hermann Trophy finalist

Ian Harkes, a senior midfielder and captain on the 2016 Wake Forest men’s soccer team, has been named one of three finalists for the 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy.

Harkes is joined as a finalist by Florida Gulf Coast junior forward Albert Ruiz and Maryland sophomore transfer forward Gordon Wild. The three finalists were announced Wednesday after voting by NCAA Division I coaches concluded at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.

Harkes scored five goals and had four assists in 2016. The five goals were three more than his previous career high, and entering his senior season he had previously scored four goals in his first three seasons at Wake Forest. Harkes was a catalyst in leading the Demon Deacons to their second national championship appearance last week, scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime in the national semifinals against Denver on Friday.

During his senior campaign, Harkes was named ACC Midfielder of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP and NCAA Tournament Offensive Most Outstanding Player. It marks the first time in the ACC’s soccer history a player has earned all three awards in the same season.

This year’s winner will be announced Jan. 6 in conjunction with the 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy Banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

Duke: Redshirt freshman linebacker Joe Giles-Harris and redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Jones were named to the Campus Insiders 2016 Freshman College Football All-America Team, according to an announcement by the organization. Giles-Harris was a first team pick while Jones was an honorable mention selection.

ECU: Five junior college transfers have signed mid-year national letters-of-intent to play football for the Pirates, head coach Scottie Montgomery announced Wednesday. Inside linebacker Cannon Gibbs, defensive back Marcus Holton Jr., defensive lineman Tyree Owens, offensive lineman Dqmarcus Shaw, and tight end Eric Weber will join the ranks of the program and will formally enroll in January.

Duke: Seniors Sasha Karelov and Jordan Tucker collected 2016 AVCA Division I Honorable Mention All-America honors, the coaches’ association said Wednesday. The accolades are the first all-America citations for both Blue Devils. Karelov anchored the Blue Devil back row in 2016, leading the conference with 634 digs and a 5.42 digs-per-set average. Tucker ended the season with career bests in kills (387), kills per set (3.31) and hitting percentage (.358). She knocked down 10 or more kills 24 times and topped .300 hitting on 18 occasions in 2016.

UNC: Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Leath was named to the All-America Second Team on Wednesday, as selected by a committee of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The ACC Player of the Year is the fourth All-America selection in UNC history and the second ever to earn Second Team honors.

From news releases

This story was originally published December 14, 2016 at 11:30 PM with the headline "College Notebook."