No. 7. Matt Daniels, S, Duke 2011 stats: He led Duke and ranked third in the ACC in tackles per game (10.5) and finished the year with 126 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 14 pass break-ups and one caused fumble. He was the team leader in both interceptions and pass breakups. Previously ranked: Not ranked. Making the case for Daniels: Don’t be fooled by the fact he wore a Duke uniform. Despite the team’s 3-9 finish, Daniels was one of the best defensive backs in the country. He was just one of three players in the league to average double figures in tackles -- and he did it against the likes of Stanford (13), Florida State (14), Virginia Tech (13) and Miami (11) -- and he was third in the league balloting for the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year. His 14 pass breakups were the second-most in a single season in school history. His 126 tackles were the most for a Duke defensive back since Terrell Smith had 140 in 2003. No. 8 Andre Branch, DE, Clemson No. 9 Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson No. 10 Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina No. 11 Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech No. 12 Blake DeChristopher, OT, Virginia Tech No. 13 Shawn Powell, P, Florida State No. 14 Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina No. 15 Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina No. 16 Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech No. 17 Sean Spence, LB, Miami No. 18 Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State No. 19 Joe Vellano, DT, Maryland No. 20 Lamar Miller, RB, Miami No. 21 Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest No. 22 Terrell Manning, LB, NC State No. 23 Matt Conrath, DT, Virginia No. 24 Omoregie Uzzi, RG, Georgia Tech No. 25 Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State
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