Despite the fact that the Duke football season hasn’t come to an end yet (that will happen on December 27th in the 11th annual Belk Bowl against Cincinnati), the team has been racking up some awards.
Matt Lubick was named the top receivers coach in the country by FootballScoop. In his third season at Duke, he has coached three receivers that form the only trio in the nation to have 60-plus receptions each (Conner Vernon, Jamison Crowder, and Desmond Scott). These three, along with quarterback Sean Renfree, are a big reason why Duke is heading to a bowl game for the first time since 1994.
Duke coach David Cutcliffe, who was named the ACC’s Coach of the Year, called Lubick the best recruiter he has ever worked with.
Here is what Vernon had to say about Coach Lubick, in helping him become the ACC’s all-time leading receiver:
”Coach Lubick is really big on fundamentals and he’s crafted my game monumentally from that standpoint,” Vernon said. “He’s a phenomenal coach and a great teacher, but overall a he’s better person than all of that. He’s always putting players before him in every situation. He’s always looking out for us to make sure we’re up to par in school and not just in athletics. He’s more of a mentor than a coach. I don’t really like to call him a coach because he means a lot more to me than just football.”
Kicker Ross Martin was named to the Freshman All-American team by both CBSCollegeSports.com and Sporting News. He is just the seventh Blue Devil to earn that honor. Four of those honors have come in the last five years.
Martin has had the best season of any Blue Devil kicker. He has made 18-of-20 field goals and all 44 of his extra points to total 98 points on the season. With just the bowl game remaining in his first season at Duke, he has already set school records in PATs. His points are second most in school history.
He also received honorable mention All-American honors by Sports Illustrated. Cornerback Ross Cockrell joined him on that list.
Cockrell is a co-captain and leads the ACC in interceptions with five and third in passes defended (17). In the 12 games this season, he has 63 tackles, four tackles for a loss, and 12 pass breakups.
He was also a first team All-ACC selection by both the media and the coaches. He has also scored two touchdowns this season, one after blocking a field goal and taking it 75 yards for the score against FIU and the other on an interception return of 32 yards versus NC Central.
