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2013 Top 25 player countdown: No. 21

No. 21. Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke

Previous ranking: Not ranked.

Making the case for Crowder: He’s an extremely physically gifted receiver and has a great combination of speed, elusiveness and good hands. Crowder was named to the preseason watch list for the prestigious Biletnikoff Award, and his leadership will be relied upon heavily this fall as the Blue Devils try to replace record-setter Conner Vernon. In 25 career games (13 starts), Crowder has caught 90 passes for 1,237 yards and nine touchdowns. He has also returned 43 kickoffs for 904 yards and returned 18 punts for 188 yards. He enters this fall with 2,384 all-purpose yards. He is a big-play threat with five touchdown receptions greater than 50 yards, tied for the most at Duke.

He had a great game against Miami last year with a career-best 272 all-purpose yards. His 99-yard reception against the Canes last year still stands as the longest in ACC history. He is the only returning receiver in the conference to have over 75 receptions, 1,000-plus receiving yards, an average of 14 yards per reception and eight or more touchdown catches last year. In a conference that is filled with talented wide receivers, Crowder has been good enough to separate himself as one of the best.

The countdown

  • No. 25 Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

  • No. 24 Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

  • No. 23 Nikita Whitlock, NG, Wake Forest

  • No. 22 Jerome Smith, RB, Syracuse