Damon Duval
Encyclopedia
Damon Duval is a professional Kicker
and Punter for the Edmonton Eskimos
of the Canadian Football League
. Raised by his mother, Cynthia, Damon attended Central High School in Harrison, Tennessee
. At age 13, he played professional soccer in the United States Indoor Soccer League as a Striker
for the Chattanooga Express
. Not only was he the youngest player ever signed in the USISL league, he also was the Leading Scorer in the seasons he played. Additionally, he was a Striker
on both the United States Olympic Development Team and the United States National Soccer Team
.
for the Auburn Tigers
and is considered one of the best kickers and punters in Auburn University
history. During his career, Duval amassed over 9,000 punting yards for an average of 44 yards per punt. His 60.8% field goal success rate helped Auburn to a 29-19 record during his four seasons with the team, including appearances in the 2000 Citrus Bowl
and 2001 Peach Bowl. Duval is perhaps best known for making a 44 yard game winning kick with 10 seconds left in the rain against the #1 ranked Florida Gators
on October 13, 2001 (one of three game winning field goals for the Tigers in 2001).
Duval graduated from Auburn as a fifth year senior with degrees in Health Promotion and Business. During his career, he was selected to the Coaches' All-SEC team as both a kicker and a punter, becoming the first player to ever be named to the team at two different positions. Duval was also named to the Walter Camp
and American Football Coaches Association
All-America
team as a kicker and was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award
.
, Duval was not drafted into the National Football League
but did sign as an unrestricted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars
. He was waived by Jacksonville on June 19, 2003 and later signed with the Atlanta Falcons
. He was waived by Atlanta on August 29, 2004 and subsequently left the NFL to sign with the Montreal Alouettes
of the Canadian Football League
. Duval made an immediate impact on the CFL, leading the league in scoring his rookie season (2005) with 191 points and proved to be very reliable kicking field goals. His 2005 CFL highlight came in the 93rd Grey Cup
when he made a 27 yard field goal with no time left to force overtime. Continuing his 2005 success, Duval led the league in field goal percentage with 86.4% in 2006 which led to his making the 2006 All Star team. He also finished second in kicking points (201), punting average (45.4 yards) and kickoff average (61.1 yards). Duval's strong play helped Montreal reach the 94th Grey Cup
by kicking a game sealing field goal in the Division finals. Unfortunately, his team fell short again despite Duval's 43 yard field goal in the second quarter.
On November 7th, 2009 he set the record for points in the CFL regular season with 242, again with the Montreal Alouettes.
In the 2009 Grey Cup Championship
November 29, Duval's field goal on the game's final play gave the Alouettes a 28-27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
, capping a remarkable Montreal comeback. Duval helped the Alouettes win back-to-back Grey Cups with the team's second straight win in 2010
.
After the 2010 season
, Duval became a free agent
and he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos
on June 6, 2011.
' receiver, Brad Smith
, and the daughter of the Montreal Alouettes
' president, Larry Smith.
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
and Punter for the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. Raised by his mother, Cynthia, Damon attended Central High School in Harrison, Tennessee
Harrison, Tennessee
Harrison is a census-designated place in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,769 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. At age 13, he played professional soccer in the United States Indoor Soccer League as a Striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for the Chattanooga Express
Chattanooga Express
Chattanooga Express were a soccer club that competed in the USISLfrom 1992 to 1997. The club originally started in 1992 as the Chattanooga Railroaders in the USISL. They became the Chattanooga Express in 1993. The club played in both the indoor and outdoor USISL leagues through 1996...
. Not only was he the youngest player ever signed in the USISL league, he also was the Leading Scorer in the seasons he played. Additionally, he was a Striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
on both the United States Olympic Development Team and the United States National Soccer Team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
College career
Damon signed to play college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
and is considered one of the best kickers and punters in Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
history. During his career, Duval amassed over 9,000 punting yards for an average of 44 yards per punt. His 60.8% field goal success rate helped Auburn to a 29-19 record during his four seasons with the team, including appearances in the 2000 Citrus Bowl
Citrus Bowl
The Florida Citrus Bowl is a stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA, built for football, which currently seats around 70,000 people....
and 2001 Peach Bowl. Duval is perhaps best known for making a 44 yard game winning kick with 10 seconds left in the rain against the #1 ranked Florida Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
on October 13, 2001 (one of three game winning field goals for the Tigers in 2001).
Duval graduated from Auburn as a fifth year senior with degrees in Health Promotion and Business. During his career, he was selected to the Coaches' All-SEC team as both a kicker and a punter, becoming the first player to ever be named to the team at two different positions. Duval was also named to the Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
and American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
team as a kicker and was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
.
Pro career
Despite being one of the top kickers available in the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
, Duval was not drafted into the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
but did sign as an unrestricted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was waived by Jacksonville on June 19, 2003 and later signed with the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was waived by Atlanta on August 29, 2004 and subsequently left the NFL to sign with the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. Duval made an immediate impact on the CFL, leading the league in scoring his rookie season (2005) with 191 points and proved to be very reliable kicking field goals. His 2005 CFL highlight came in the 93rd Grey Cup
93rd Grey Cup
The 93rd Grey Cup game was held on November 27, 2005, at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes, to decide the winner of the 2005 season of the Canadian Football League. The Eskimos prevailed over the Alouettes in a 38-35 overtime...
when he made a 27 yard field goal with no time left to force overtime. Continuing his 2005 success, Duval led the league in field goal percentage with 86.4% in 2006 which led to his making the 2006 All Star team. He also finished second in kicking points (201), punting average (45.4 yards) and kickoff average (61.1 yards). Duval's strong play helped Montreal reach the 94th Grey Cup
94th Grey Cup
The 94th Grey Cup game took place on November 19, 2006, at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.The game decided the championship of the 2006 Canadian Football League season...
by kicking a game sealing field goal in the Division finals. Unfortunately, his team fell short again despite Duval's 43 yard field goal in the second quarter.
On November 7th, 2009 he set the record for points in the CFL regular season with 242, again with the Montreal Alouettes.
In the 2009 Grey Cup Championship
97th Grey Cup
The 97th Grey Cup was played on November 29, 2009, at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, and decided the Canadian Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Montreal Alouettes came from behind to defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-27, on a 33-yard field goal by Damon Duval as time ran...
November 29, Duval's field goal on the game's final play gave the Alouettes a 28-27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, capping a remarkable Montreal comeback. Duval helped the Alouettes win back-to-back Grey Cups with the team's second straight win in 2010
98th Grey Cup
The 98th Grey Cup was a Canadian football game played between the Eastern Division champion Montreal Alouettes and Western Division champion Saskatchewan Roughriders to decide the champion of the Canadian Football League for the 2010 season...
.
After the 2010 season
2010 Montreal Alouettes season
The 2010 Montreal Alouettes season is the 44th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 56th overall. The Alouettes won their 7th Grey Cup championship, 21–18 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, becoming the first team to repeat as Grey Cup champions since the 1996 and 1997...
, Duval became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
on June 6, 2011.
Personal life
Duval is married to Ashley Smith. She's the sister of the Edmonton EskimosEdmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
' receiver, Brad Smith
Brad Smith (Canadian football)
Bradley Smith is a professional Canadian football wide receiver and slotback for the Edmonton Eskimos...
, and the daughter of the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
' president, Larry Smith.