Conner Vernon is one of many Blue Devils to pick up a few postseason awards. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

A one-stop rundown of all the Duke postseason awards:

CB Ross Cockrell—honorable mention All-American (Sports Illustrated), first-team coaches' All-ACC team, first-team coaches' All-ACC team, first team All-ACC

K Ross Martin—honorable mention All-American (Sports Illustrated), Freshman All-American (Sporting News, CBSCollegeSports.com), honorable mention coaches All-ACC team, honorable mention All-ACC

QB Sean Renfree—Jim Tatum Award (top senior ACC football senior-athlete),  National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, Pop Warner National College Football Award, AFCA’s Good Works Team, Senior CLASS Award finalist, East West Shrine Game participant

David Cutcliffe was voted ACC Coach of the Year by the other league coaches. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

Mirroring the media's selection one week ago, the ACC coaches voted Duke's David Cutcliffe Coach of the Year. Cutcliffe received seven of 12 possible votes.

Cutcliffe, in his fifth year at Duke, took over a program with 10 total wins in the eight seasons before he arrived. Since he came to Durham prior to the 2008 season, Duke is 21-39 (.350) and, this year, competed for the ACC Coastal Division title until the penultimate week of the regular season, finishing 6-6 and earning a berth in the Belk Bowl against Cincinnati. 

Cornerback Ross Cockrell, punter Will Monday and wide receiver voted for an All-ACC football team, as well as Players of the Year, Rookies of the Year and a Coach of the Year award. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players and cast ballots for two points for first-team and one point for second-team selections. were also named first-team all-ACC by the coaches. Vernon was one of three players chosen for the first team that the media picked for the second-team. 

While Conner Vernon may have briefly doubted Duke could make a bowl, the 2012 Blue Devils have made that dream a reality. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

DURHAM—When asked what his first choice was for a bowl destination, cornerback Ross Cockrell said Miami.

While an ACC title and a trip to the Orange Bowl would have been nice, Duke players are plenty satisfied with Charlotte's Belk Bowl as a consolation prize.

"I’m excited to be in a pro stadium, in a pro locker room and see what that’s like," Cockrell said of the venue, the Carolina Panthers' Bank of America Stadium. "At the end of the day, it’s still a football game, and we have to go out and do what we have to do."

Duke punter Will Monday was one of two Blue Devils to receive first-team all-ACC honors. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

For the first time since 2003, Duke had two players selected for the first-team all-ACC squad. Overall, nine Blue Devils received all-ACC honors

CB Ross Cockrell and P Will Monday both made the first team. Cockrell, a redshirt junior and co-captain, leads the ACC with five interceptions, and he ranks third in total passes defended (17). In 12 games, he has amassed 63 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, and 12 pass breakups. Monday, a redshirt freshman, leads the ACC and ranks 14th nationally in punting average at 44.12 yards per punt. 

Here are two feature stories from earlier in the year, one on Cockrell and the other on Monday. 

For the third year in a row, Duke WR Conner Vernon was a second-team all-ACC selection. This year, he has caught a team-best (and school single-season record) 75 passes for 955 yards and seven touchdowns. Earlier this season, Vernon became the ACC’s all-time leader in both pass receptions and receiving yardage with 273 catches for 3,630 yards. In 2009, Vernon was on the freshmen all-ACC team. 

Vernon received 51 votes this year—two fewer than Boston College, WR Alex Amidon, who made the first team ahead of him. Amidon has 78 catches for 1,210 yards on the year. 

Now that he's had success, Duke cornerback Ross Cockrell can laugh off memories of his struggles.

DURHAM—Two years ago, on a nearly every-week basis, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe told the media that Ross Cockrell was going to be a great football player.

And every time, the reporters would pause, put their hand to their mouth or reveal whatever was their personal tell that indicated disbelief.

But now, two years later, a question was posed to Cutcliffe: is Ross Cockrell the best cornerback in the ACC?

Ross Cockrell is both the statistical and vocal leader for Duke's defense. Credit: TAKAAKI IWABU 

Duke CB Ross Cockrell, who leads the nation is total passes defended and pass breakups, was named the ACC defensive back of the week Monday after his performance last week against NC Central.

Cockrell, a redshirt junior, added two pass breakups and two interceptions against the Eagles, giving him nine total passes defended for the season, which ties him with Stanford's Jordan Richards for the highest in the nation. His second interception, which he took 32 yards for a touchdown, marked the second time he has scored this season (he returned a blocked field goal for a score against FIU in week one).

"I do enjoy scoring touchdowns," Cockrell said after the 54-17 win over NC Central. "On the second interception, everyone got up and blocked. It was a team effort."

Duke redshirt freshman Kyler Brown (56) picks off a pass in the fourth quarter. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD-cseward@newsobserver.com

Duke head coach David Cutcliffe holds weekly Sunday teleconferences during the season in which he looks back at the previous game and will talk a bit about the game to come. Here are a few highlights from today’s look at the 46-26 win over Florida International and a few thoughts on Stanford. Duke is currently a 14.5 underdog for its road game against the Cardinal.

DURHAM – Duke coach David Cutcliffe said he’s not trying to create a kicking controversy, but after watching Friday night’s scrimmage, “there will be competition.”

Returning starter Will Snyderwine made only one of three field goals – making one from 32 yards, but missing from 30 and 38 – while senior Nick Maggio connected from 20 yards out, and missed from 55.