Six different Duke athletes named to preseason award watch lists

Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

College football is slowly approaching and with that preseason award watch lists are being released. As of this time, several different Duke athletes have been named to the various lists: Hornung Award watch list, Bednarik Award watch list, Maxwell award list and the Mackey Award watch list.

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Two Duke athletes were named to the Hornung Award watch list. Senior wide receiver Jamison Crowder and redshirt sophomore safety/cornerback DeVon Edwards have been potentially scouted for an award presented to the most versatile player in the nation. The watch list is comprised of 22 seniors, 12 juniors and 13 sophomores.

Crowder earned All-American status as a punt returner last season and was one of the best receivers in the nation. He returned 25 punts for 402 yards and two touchdowns. On offense, he broke an ACC single-season record of 108 receptions for 1,360 yards and eight touchdowns. Over his career he has 198 receptions for 2,597 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was named as a preseason All-America selection by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News and USA Today for the upcoming season.

Edwards earned All-America honors for his work as a return specialist last season. He finished third in the nation in kickoff return average (30.21). On defense, he notched 64 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups.

Two Duke athletes were named to the Bednarik Award watch list. Redshirt senior linebacker Kelby Brown and redshirt junior safety Jeremy Cash have been looked at as possible recipients of an award that is given to the top defensive player in the nation.

Brown was named to the first team All-ACC last season after notching 114 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups and eight quarterback pressures. He was awarded as ACC Linebacker of the Week three times.

Cash earned second team All-America honors last season after posting 121 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumbles and two quarterback hurries. He finished second in the ACC with 121 total tackles.

Two Duke athletes were named to the Maxwell Award watch list. Redshirt senior quarterback Anthony Boone and Crowder were selected to the preseason watch list for the top player in the country.

Boone completed 206-of-322 (.640) passes for 2,260 yards with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while posting 214 rushing yards on 66 attempts and added five rushing touchdowns. He was ranked in the ACC in several categories: third in completions per game (18.73), third in pass completion percentage, sixth in passing yards per game (205.5), sixth in total offensive yards per game (224,9) eighth in points responsible per game (10) and eighth in pass efficiency.

One Duke athlete was named to the Mackey Award watch list. Redshirt senior Braxton Deaver was looked at as a possible recipient for an award for the top tight end in college football.

He was a third team All-ACC selection after having caught 46 passes for 600 yards and four touchdowns, having the second best numbers in the ACC last season among tight ends.