Duke’s recent success on the recruiting trail has reflected a change in the Blue Devil football program.
The recent inclusion of several Duke players on national award watch lists should only give the Blue Devils more confidence as the season draws nearer.
Nine of Duke’s most talented players—redshirt seniors Anthony Boone, Kelby Brown, Braxton Deaver and Laken Tomlinson, senior Jamison Crowder, redshirt juniors Jeremy Cash, Will Monday and Matt Skura and redshirt sophomore DeVon Edwards—were recently honored by some of college football’s most prestigious award selection committees.
Boone and Crowder were included on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is annually presented to the nation’s top player by the Maxwell Football Club.
Boone has a chance to have a special year in his final season under center for the Blue Devils. The 6-foot, 225-pound quarterback showed he was one of the better passers in the nation last year, and will look to build on his 454-yard, four-touchdown performance in Duke’s Chick-fil-A Bowl loss to Texas A&M.
Boone's quick release and efficiency as a passer also got him on the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award and the Manning Award, which go to the nation's best quarterback.
Crowder also has a lot to build on after reeling in an ACC single-season record 108 receptions for 1,360 yards and eight touchdowns a season ago. The Monroe, N.C., native was one of the most electric players in the nation—four of his touchdown catches came from more than 50 yards out. His work as a receiver landed him on the Biletnikoff Award watch list as one of the top wideouts in the nation, as well as the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year watch list.
Crowder’s prowess on special teams also landed him on the Hornung Award watch list. The award goes to the most versatile college football player in the country, as selected by the Louisville Sports Commission.
Crowder—an All-American punt returner last season—returned 25 punts for 402 yards and two touchdowns last year, and was joined on the watch list for the Hornung Award by the Blue Devils’ kick returner, Edwards.
Edwards made 64 tackles and picked off three passes last season as a defensive back, in addition to ranking third in the nation with a 30.21-yard kickoff return average. The Covington, Ga., native provided some of Duke’s top plays of the season with his two interceptions returned for touchdowns and kickoff return for a touchdown in the second half of Duke's 38-20 win against N.C. State.
Although they are not known for playing special teams like Crowder and Edwards, Brown and Cash also have plenty of motivation to raise their level of play this season. The pair was named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation’s best defensive player and is also presented by the Maxwell Football Club.
Brown is the leader of the Blue Devil defense, and took home first-team All-ACC honors after posting 114 tackles last year from his linebacker position. The Charlotte native’s ability to wreak havoc everywhere on the field makes him a top priority for opposing offenses.
Because of his strong performance last year, Brown was also named to the Dick Butkus Award watch list as one of the top linebackers in the country, as well as the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award. The Rotary Lombardi Award goes to the top lineman or linebacker in college football.
Cash—a transfer from Ohio State—made 121 tackles last year and was a second-team All-American in his first season playing for Duke. The Miami product has a knack for blitzing from the safety position and registered 9.5 tackles for loss in 2013. His work has put him on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list for the top defensive back in the nation.
Brown and Cash are also on the watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the nation's top defensive player as chosen by the FWAA All-America Committee.
The FWAA All-America Committee also selects the winner of the Outland Trophy, which goes to the nation's best interior lineman. Tomlinson is on the watch list for the award after earning First-Team All-ACC honors last year as one of the top offensive guards in the country. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Chicago native is entering his fourth season as a starter at right guard.
Tomlinson also joined his heralded teammate Brown on the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award.
Along with Tomlinson, Skura anchors the Blue Devil offensive line as the center, and had a big hand in helping Duke set single-season offensive records in points, first downs and yards last season. The redshirt junior was named to the watch list for the Rimington Award, given to the nation’s top center.
At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, Skura’s ability to generate a strong push in the running game and still protect Boone allows the Blue Devils to have more flexibility with their play-calling and incorporate more screens and misdirection plays to keep defenses off balance.
Deaver was named to the Mackey Award as one of the top tight ends in the country. A 2013 third-team All-ACC performer, Deaver hauled in six passes for 116 yards in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and can play every single down at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds.
Monday was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list. The award is presented to the nation's top punter at the end of the year. As a redshirt freshman, Monday garnered first-team All-ACC honors after leading the conference in yards per punt. In 2013, he averaged 42.7 yards per punt, good for fifth in the ACC.
All of the Duke players honored thus far will look to live up to the hype when the season kicks off August 30 against Elon at Wallace Wade Stadium.
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