(Photos) Blue Devils’ Edwards earns national honor

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Blue Devils redshirt freshman safety DeVon Edwards was named the National Defensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation following the Blue Devils’ 38-20 win over NC State on Saturday.

Edwards made 10 total tackles, returned two interceptions for touchdowns and added a 100-yard kickoff return for a third score as the Blue Devils won their fifth consecutive game of the season.

Edwards, from Convington, Ga., established Duke freshman single-game records for longest kickoff return, total points (18), highest kickoff return average (49.33 on three returns) and most interception returns for touchdowns.

With Duke leading 24-20 late in the fourth quarter, Edwards returned interceptions 25 and 45 yards for touchdowns just 16 second apart to help seal the victory for the Blue Devils.

He became the first Duke player to return two interceptions for touchdowns since Leon Wright did it against Army in 2009, and the first Blue Devil to return a kickoff for a score since Jabari Marshall did so against Connecticut in 2007.

Brown is the fourth Duke player and second this season, following linebacker Kelby Brown, to earn Walter Camp Player of the Week honors.