WRAL Sports Fan

Duke

Four Blue Devils named to Academic All-District III Team

Nov 8, 2012

Durham, N.C. — Duke quarterback Sean Renfree, offensive linemen Dave Harding and Perry Simmons, and cornerback Ross Cockrell were named to the Academic All-District III Team, as announced on Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Duke was one of only four FBS schools in the nation with at least four players on the Academic All-District Team and led all District III schools in total selections. Duke also had the most selections of any ACC institution.

Renfree is a redshirt senior in graduate school who boasts a 3.81 grade point average in his graduate program after posting a 3.39 GPA as an undergrad. Renfree, currently pursuing a post-graduate degree in humanities, is a three-year starter at Duke who owns career totals of 8,477 passing yards, 44 touchdown passes, 801 completions and a 64.3 completion percentage – all marks that rank among Duke’s all-time top five. Renfree, a native of Scottsdale, Ariz., has also received national recognition this year with honors including the AFCA Good Works Team, NFF Scholar-Athlete Award and a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.

Simmons is a redshirt junior offensive tackle who owns a 3.87 grade point average in civil engineering. A three-year starter who has made 33 consecutive starts, Simmons is a key blocker for a Duke offense that has allowed just 1.40 sacks per game. Simmons, who hails from Raleigh, N.C., is a three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll and a two-time selection on the All-ACC Academic Football Team.

Harding is also a redshirt junior on the offensive line, splitting time between left guard and center during his career. Harding, a native of Orlando, Fla., owns a 3.46 grade point average as a public policy major and has played a key role in helping Duke average 30.7 points per game, which ranks as the third highest average in school history. Harding has played over 2,000 snaps during his three seasons at Duke.

Cockrell, a redshirt junior, is among the top defensive backs in the nation, ranking among the top 10 in the nation with 16 passes defended and five interceptions this season. A native of Waxhaw, N.C., Cockrell owns a 3.32 grade point average as a public policy major. Cockrell is also Duke’s third leading tackler and leads the ACC in passes defended, interceptions and pass breakups.
The Blue Devils, who at 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the ACC are eligible for a bowl for the first time since 1994 and are also in the hunt for the ACC Coastal Division title, return to action on Saturday, Nov. 17, against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Ga.