Duke releases All ACC Candidate Hopeful list

The following is a press release from GoDuke.com and Duke Sports Information.  The release is for the Blue Devils they feel are worthy of All ACC consideration to voters.

Kenny Anunike, Duke

Defensive End

6-5, 260, R-Sr. (6)

Galena, Ohio (Olentangy)

** 61 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 6.0 sacks, 2 PBUs

** Ranks 2nd among ACC DEs in total tackles behind Kareem Martin of UNC

** In the ACC, ranks 6th in tackles for loss per game (1.23) and 12th in sacks per game (0.55)

** ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week following win over N.C. State

Kelby Brown, Duke

Linebacker

6-2, 230, R-Jr.

Matthews, N.C. (Charlotte Christian)

** 94 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 INT, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 caused fumbles, 6 QB pressures, 1 PBU

** Leads the ACC in tackles per game in league games

** Three-time ACC Linebacker of the Week

** National Defensive Player of the Week following 14-tackle, 1-INT outing in win over No. 16 Virginia Tech

Jeremy Cash, Duke

Safety

6-2, 210, R-So.

Miami, Fla. (Plantation)

** 91 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4 INTs, 4 PBUs, 2 caused fumbles, 2 QB pressures & 1 fumble recovery

** In the ACC, ranks 5th in tackles per game, 4th in interceptions per game and 9th in fumble recoveries per game

** Recorded 5+ tackles in all 11 games and 10+ tackles in four weeks

Ross Cockrell, Duke

Cornerback

6-0, 185, R-Sr.

Waxhaw, N.C. (Latin)

** Two-year team captain and unquestionably the leader of a 2013 Duke team that has already tied the school record for most wins in a season (9) while clinching at least a share of the ACC’s Coastal Division championship

** 35 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INTs & 12 PBUs

** Leads the ACC in both total passes defended per game (1.50) and PBUs (12)

** Has directed a Duke five-man secondary that has had four first-time starters around him while playing two additional true freshmen in key reserve roles

** During Duke’s current 7-game winning streak, has had crucial plays & games:

>> Interception of Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas in the end zone to preserve a 3-0 Duke lead in the 13-10 victory over the No. 16 Hokies

>> Career-high FIVE PBUs in Duke’s 48-30 win over No. 24 Miami

>> Sealed Duke’s 28-21 road win over Wake Forest with a game-clinching interception of Deacon QB Tanner Price with 2:30 left in the fourth period

** Is Duke’s all-time leader in total passes defended with 53 (12 INTs & 41 PBUs)

** 2012 First team All-ACC (by both coaches & media) and HM All-America (Sports Illustrated)

Jamison Crowder, Duke

Wide Receiver

5-9, 175, Jr.

Monroe, N.C. (Monroe)

** 83 receptions, 1,077 yards, 5 TDs

** 23 punt returns, 362 yards, 15.7 avg., 2 TDs

** In the ACC, ranks 1st in receptions per game (7.5), 2nd in receiving yards per game (97.9), 2nd in all-purpose yards per game (136.4) and 2nd in punt return average (15.7)

** Two-time ACC Receiver of the Week

** Two-time ACC Special Teams Player of the Week

** Has matched the school’s single-season record with six 100-yard receiving games

** Sits just two catches shy of the school’s single-season record of 85 set last year by Conner Vernon

** One of just two players in Duke history with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons

Braxton Deaver, Duke

Tight End

6-5, 250, R-Jr.

Charlotte, N.C. (Providence)

** 29 receptions, 402 yards, 4 TDs

** Among ACC TEs, ranks 2nd in TD receptions, 3rd in receptions and 3rd in receiving yardage

** Top game (3 receptions, 96 yards & 2 TDs) came vs. Virginia as Duke rallied from 22-0 deficit to win, 35-22

** Has caught 2+ passes in all 11 games to date

Ross Martin, Duke

Kicker

5-9, 185, So.

Solon, Ohio (Walsh Jesuit)

** 75 points on 9-12 FGs & 48-48 PATs

** Set school single-season record for PATs

** ACC Specialist of the Week after booting two 50+ field goals in 13-10 win over No. 16 Virginia Tech

** Field goal opportunities decreased as Duke is one of two teams nationally to convert 100% of Goal-To-Go chances into TDs (22-of-22)

Will Monday, Duke

Punter

6-4, 210, R-So.

Flowery Branch, Ga. (Flowery Branch)

** 56 punts, 2,409 yards, 43.02 avg., 18 inside 20 vs. 4 touchbacks

** Ranks 3rd in the ACC in punting average

** Ranks 2nd the ACC in punts downed inside the 20 yardline-to-touchback ratio

Perry Simmons, Duke

Offensive Tackle

6-5, 300, R-Sr.

Raleigh, N.C. (Sanderson)

** Has started 47 consecutive games at right tackle – the longest active streak in the ACC

** ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week following 35-7 win over Navy

** Duke ranks 2nd in the ACC in sacks allowed per passing attempt in league play

** Duke is one of just two teams nationally to have converted 100% of its GOAL-TO-GO opportunities into TDs

** Helped protect QBs Anthony Boone & Brandon Connette, who have combined to complete 223-of-346 (.645) passes for 2,631 yards with 21 TDs & 15 INTs while rushing for an additional 503 yards & 17 TDs

** All four of Duke’s RBs average 5.0+ yards per carry and have combined for 1,442 rushing yards

** All-ACC selection in 2012

** Academic All-America selection in 2012

Laken Tomlinson, Duke

Offensive Guard

6-3, 320, R-Jr.

Chicago, Ill. (Lane Technical)

** Has started 35 consecutive games at right guard

** Duke ranks 2nd in the ACC in sacks allowed per passing attempt in league play

** Duke is one of just two teams nationally to have converted 100% of its GOAL-TO-GO opportunities into TDs

** Helped protect QBs Anthony Boone & Brandon Connette, who have combined to complete 223-of-346 (.645) passes for 2,631 yards with 21 TDs & 15 INTs while rushing for an additional 503 yards & 17 TDs

** All four of Duke’s RBs average 5.0+ yards per carry and have combined for 1,442 rushing yards

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NOTING THE 2013 DUKE BLUE DEVILS

** 9-2 Overall, 5-2 ACC

** Ranked No. 24 in both the Associated Press & USA Today/Coaches national polls

** Cracked the BCS standings for the first time in program history this week – No. 24

** Current 7-game winning streak – Duke’s longest since winning the first seven games of the 1994 season

** Matched school record for victories – standard set by the 1933, 1936, 1938 & 1941 teams

** Clinched at least a share of the ACC’s Coastal Division championship – has the opportunity to win the title outright with win at UNC this week

** Division crown will mark the first for Duke football since the 1989 squad tied Virginia for the conference title

** Duke has rallied from double digit deficits to win three times this year: Virginia (trailed 22-0), Miami (trailed 17-7) & Wake Forest (trailed 14-0)

** Will play in consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history

** Duke has won 4+ home games and 4+ away games in a season for just the third time in school history, joining the 1939 & 1941 teams

** Cracked the Associated Press national top 25 poll for the first time since 1994

** Won multiple games over ranked opponents for the first time since 1971

** Won a road game over a ranked opponent for the first time since 1971

** Won a road game over a ranked ACC opponent for the first time since 1959

** Under Coach Cutcliffe, Duke won just 1 of its first 20 games in November (2008-12) --- Duke is 3-0 in November in 2013

** Team was picked to finish 7th (last) in the Coastal Division at the annual ACC Kickoff media event in July

** Other preseason projections:

>> Athlon Sports: 5-7 overall, 2-6 ACC … Last (7th) in Coastal Division … National rank: 73rd

>> Lindy’s: ACC pick: Last (7th) in Coastal Division … National rank: 82nd

>> USA Today: 4-8 overall, 1-7 ACC … Last (7th) in Coastal Division

NOTING THE BLUE DEVIL OFFENSE

** QBs Anthony Boone & Brandon Connette have combined to complete 223-of-346 (.645) passes for 2,631 yards with 21 TDs & 15 INTs while rushing for an additional 503 yards & 17 TDs – both have missed game action due to injury in 2013

** First Duke offense to compile 20+ rushing TDs and 20+ passing TDs in a season

** WR Jamison Crowder has caught 83 passes for 1,077 yards while four Duke receivers – including Crowder – have caught 4+ TD passes

** All four of Duke’s RBs average 5.0+ yards per carry and have combined for 1,442 rushing yards

NOTING THE BLUE DEVIL DEFENSE

** Allowed a total of 34 points in the 4th quarter through 11 games this season

** Allowing 22.8 points per game (5th-best in the ACC) – down from an ACC-worst 36.0 last year

** After ranking LAST in the ACC in red zone defense (.913) in 2012, currently ranks 4th in the ACC this year (.765)

** Allowing 390.4 yards per game – down from 469.2 a season ago which ranked 11th out of 12 teams in the ACC

** LBs David Helton (9.5) and Kelby Brown (9.4) rank 1-2 in the ACC in tackles per game

** CB Ross Cockrell leads the ACC in total passes defended per game (1.40)

** Has had two National Defensive Player of the Week selections by the Walter Camp Foundation in LB Kelby Brown (14 tackles & 1 INT vs. Virginia Tech) and S DeVon Edwards (10 tackles & 2 INTs for TDs vs. N.C. State)

NOTING THE BLUE DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS UNITS

** One of two teams with Miami to rank among the ACC’s top 5 in Net Punting, Punt Return Average, Kickoff Coverage & Kickoff Return Average

** Jamison Crowder is averaging 15.7 yards per punt return and has two returns for TDs this year

** DeVon Edwards is averaging 29.9 yards per kickoff return and has one return for a TD this year

** In Duke’s 13-10 win at No. 16 Virginia Tech, Ross Martin booted two field goals of 50+ yards (51 & 53)