Senior wide receiver Conner Vernon has accepted an invitation to play in the 64th annual Senior Bowl, which will take place Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. The game will be held at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., on the campus of the University of South Alabama.
Vernon will be the 21st Duke player to participate in the Senior Bowl, and the first Blue Devil to suit up since defensive tackle Chris Combs was selected following the 1999 season. In addition to setting the ACC records for most career receptions and receiving yards during his senior season, Vernon served as a team captain and led Duke to its first bowl appearance since 1994, catching a school-record 85 passes for 1,074 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the Blue Devils in their 48-34 loss to Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl with 10 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown.
The Senior Bowl, which will be televised on the NFL Network, will allow Vernon to compete against the top talent in college football for a number of NFL scouts and represent Duke's up-and-coming football program. By competing in one of the game's most prestigious showcases, Vernon will hope to improve his stock for April's NFL Draft, where he could be the first Blue Devil selected since 2004.
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