Three Blue Devils granted medical redshirts

Three Blue Devils who had their seasons shortened due to injury received some good news on Tuesday.

The ACC granted Kenny Anunike, Lee Butler and Brandon Connette medical hardship waivers. Without the waiver, Anunike and Butler would have exhausted their collegiate eligibility.

Anunike, the tight end converted defensive end, began the year with a bang notching four sacks in the team’s first four games. He led the ACC in sacks prior to injuring his knee against Tulane, which rendered him unable to play the rest of the season.

Butler also played four games this season before a season-ending leg injury against Tulane. The rising redshirt senior had a career-best game against Stanford this season, highlighted by a 76-yard interception that he returned for a touchdown. Butler has played both safety and defensive back in his time at Duke, while also returning punts on special teams.

Connette, who will have three years of eligibility remaining as a rising redshirt sophomore, was the third-wheel in the Blue Devil quarterback rotation this season. He played two games this season, before injuring his shoulder at Stanford and remaining on the sidelines for the rest of the season.