Anunike, Brown & Edwards named ACC Players of the Week
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Blue Devils defensive end Kenny Anunike, linebacker Kelby Brown, and safety DeVon Edwards all received Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Week honors earlier in this week following Duke’s recent 38-20 win over the NC State Wolfpack.
Even while celebrating their seventh victory of the season, the first time the program has reached that plateau since 1994, the Blue Devils have been busy on the practice field and will have their hands full on Senior Day at Wallace Wade Stadium when they take on the No. 23 Miami Hurricanes on Saturday.
The matchup with the Hurricanes will be a clash of two ACC Coastal Division contenders, as both Duke and Miami boast matching 3-2 conference records, with the Blue Devils trailing Miami by two games for the division lead.
Both teams will kickoff against one another for the eleventh time with Miami holding the decisive edge in the all-time series by a 9-1 count, including a high-scoring 52-45 victory last year.
Duke’s lone series win came back in 1976 when the Blue Devils claimed a 20-7 victory during the two teams’ first-ever meeting.
Against NC State, the Duke defensive trio’s conference recognitions were well-deserved as a result of their exceptional play which was led by Anunike who logged a career-high 11 tackles, including one for a loss.
Brown posted 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one quarterback-hurry, while Edwards made 10 tackles and scored three touchdowns – a 100-yard kickoff return and interception returns of 25 and 45 yards.
With the three selections, Duke has now received 11 ACC Player of the Week awards, which now includes the first of Anunike and Edwards’ careers, while Brown earned his second this season.
For his exceptional performance, Edwards also received Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week, Hornung Award Honor Roll and CFPA National Defensive Performer and Defensive Back of the Week honors.