Duke Blue Devils football on many lists

Cheryl Treworgy – TSN via PrettySporty.com
Cheryl Treworgy – TSN via PrettySporty.com
Cheryl Treworgy – TSN via PrettySporty.com

DURHAM, N.C. – It seems that the once overlooked Duke Blue Devils football team is on many people’s lists as the 2014 season approaches.

Blue Devils wide receiver Jamison Crowder was the latest player from the defending Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coastal Division-winning squad to be named to another preseason watch list on Friday.

Crowder and Duke quarterback Anthony Boone who was named to the Davey O’Brien Award list of contenders as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks on Wednesday, added to the numerous other award pools that both players and their teammates have been nominated to.

In addition to Crowder (Walter Camp Award, Fred Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award) and Boone, who was also named to the Maxwell Award watch list, Laken Tomlinson (Rotary Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, AFCA Good Works Team), Kelby Brown (Rotary Lombardi Award, Dick Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award), Jeremy Cash (Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award), Braxton Deaver (Mackey Award), Matt Skura (Rimington Award), DeVon Edwards (Paul Hornung Award), and Will Monday (Ray Guy Award) have all been recognized as worthy candidates for postseason awards.

As the ACC prepares to launch its 2014 ACC Kickoff media event in Greensboro on Sunday, Tomlinson and Brown will represent the Blue Devils’ 43 letterwinners who are intent on proving that Duke’s ascent towards the top of the conference with a 10-4 record and culminating in berths in the 2013 Dr Pepper ACC Championship game and Chik-fil-A Bowl was not due to one lone exceptional season of play.

Anthony Boone – Quarterback

Watch Lists: Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award

Boone completed 206-of-322 (.640) passes for 2,260 yards, 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in his first season as Duke’s starter in 2013.

He rushed for an additional five touchdowns and 214 yards on 66 carries.

Also a preseason All-ACC pick by Lindy’s Sports and Phil Steele, Boone has played in 33 games with 12 starts and is 10-2 in his career as Duke’s starting quarterback.

His only losses came at the hands of No. 1 Florida State in the ACC Championship game and to No. 21 Texas A&M in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Boone threw multiple touchdowns in five games in 2013, including a career-best 427-yard performance against Texas A&M in which he accounted for three passing touchdowns and one rushing score.

Jamison Crowder – Wide Receiver

Watch Lists: Walter Camp Award, Fred Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award

Crowder was an All-American punt returner as a junior as well as one of the top receivers in the nation.

He posted an ACC single-season record 108 receptions for 1,360 yards and eight touchdowns while returning 25 punts for 402 yards and two touchdowns on the way to earning Second Team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America, Sports Illustrated and Phil Steele.

A 2014 preseason All-America choice by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News and USA Today, Crowder is among the top deep threats in all of college football and last season grabbed four touchdown receptions of 50 yards or more.

He had four games with double figure receptions in 2013, including a career-best 12 receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown against Texas A&M in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

For his career, Crowder has caught 198 passes for 2,597 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Laken Tomlinson – Offensive Guard

Watch Lists: Rotary Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, AFCA Good Works Team

Tomlinson was an All-ACC First Team pick by the league’s head coaches in 2013 after anchoring a Duke offense that established school single-season records for total first downs (298), offensive yards (5,966) and points (459).

He was also named a preseason All-America Second Team selection by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, and is entering his fourth season as Duke’s starter at right guard.

Tomlinson has started 39 consecutive games and has played 3,032 career snaps for the second most among any active offensive lineman in the country.

In 2013, he was named to the ESPN.com All-Bowl Team for his performance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in which Duke’s offense posted 48 points in its 52-48 loss to Texas A&M.

Duke surrendered the second fewest sacks per pass attempt in the ACC this last season.

Kelby Brown – Linebacker

Watch Lists: Rotary Lombardi Award, Dick Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award

Brown earned First Team All-ACC honors in 2013 after posting 114 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 quarterback sack, two interceptions, two caused fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups and eight QB pressures.

A three-time ACC Linebacker of the Week selection last year, Brown enters the 2014 campaign as the ACC’s active leader in tackles with 242 and is one of just six active players nationally to have 200-plus tackles and 20.0-plus tackles for loss.

Jeremy Cash – Safety

Watch Lists: Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award

Cash’s selection comes on the heels of a 2013 season in which he earned Second Team All-America honors from USA Today.

He totaled 121 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, four pass breakups, two caused fumbles, two fumbles and two quarterback hurries in his first season as a Blue Devil.

Cash transferred to Duke from Ohio State following the 2011 season where he played as a true freshman for the Buckeyes.

After sitting out the 2012 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Cash made an immediate impact in the Duke secondary, finished second in the ACC with 121 total tackles en route to receiving ACC First Team accolades.

Braxton Deaver – Tight End

Watch Lists: Mackey Award

Deaver was a Third Team All-ACC choice in 2013 after hauling in 46 receptions for 600 yards and four touchdowns, all totals that ranked second among ACC tight ends.

He had multiple receptions in every game in 2013, including six for a career-high 116 yards in Duke’s 52-48 loss to Texas A&M in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

A preseason All-ACC Second Team pick by Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports and Phil Steele, Deaver also keyed Duke’s 35-22 comeback win against Virginia on October 19, scoring back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth quarter covering 47 and 24 yards to help Duke overcome a 22-0 deficit.

Deaver was also a selection to ESPN’s All-Bowl Team for his performance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Matt Skura – Center

Watch Lists: Dave Rimington Award

Skura returns as Duke’s starting center after starting all 14 games in 2013.

Skura was part of a Duke offensive line that ranked first in the ACC in fewest sacks allowed per passing attempt (27.8) and allowed the Blue Devils to score more than 25 touchdowns both on the ground and in the air for the first time in school history.

With Skura directing the offensive line, the Blue Devils established school single-season records for total first downs (298), offensive yards (5,966) and points (459) while helping Duke rank among the top half of the ACC in total offensive yards (426.1), scoring (32.8), rushing (178.0) and passing (248.1).

Additionally, Duke converted nearly 70 percent of its fourth down attempts and committed the 25th-fewest penalties per game in the nation.

DeVon Edwards – Safety/Cornerback

Watch Lists: Paul Hornung Award

Edwards earned All-America honors last season as a return specialist, garnering accolades from Walter Camp Foundation (2nd team), Athlon Sports (3rd team), Phil Steele (3rd team) and Sports Illustrated (Honorable mention) after finishing third nationally in kickoff return average (30.21).

As a safety, Edwards registered 64 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups and finished second in the balloting for ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA).

In addition, he earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting 10 tackles, returning two interceptions for touchdowns and taking back one kickoff for a touchdown in Duke’s win over N.C. State.

He later added another kickoff return for a touchdown in Duke’s ACC Coastal Division-clinching win at North Carolina.

Will Monday – Punter

Watch Lists: Ray Guy Award

Monday has held Duke’s punting duties since 2012 when he was a Freshman All-America selection.

He is a two-time All-ACC pick, including Second Team honors in 2013 after averaging 42.7 yards per punt with 14 boots of 50 yards or more and 21 downed inside the opponent 20-yard line.

Monday, who was also an All-ACC First Team pick as a redshirt freshman in 2012, ranks ninth on the ACC’s all-time punting list with an average of 43.65 yards per punt.

He is the ACC’s active leader in that category and is on pace to set Duke’s all-time record in punting average.