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Vontez Duff |
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Named a third-team All-American by Associated Press in 02 and is a leading candidate for All-America awards again in 03
one of the most exciting players in college football with his defensive play and his special team prowess
second-team preseason All-America selection by Athlon
in his third season as a starting cornerback
boasts outstanding overall skills and top-notch speed
has a nose for the ball and is a playmaker for the Irish
extremely physical and is never fazed if he fails to make a play
became first player in Notre Dame history to return a kick, punt and interception for a touchdown in a single season
was two yards away from become the first player in NCAA history to return a kick, punt, interception and fumble for a touchdown in a season
will be the leader of the secondary as well as the overall defense
is sixth on the all-time Notre Dame total kick return list with 1,349 and is only 740 yards away from breaking Tim Browns all-time record
he also ranks sixth in all-time kickoff return yards at 984 (Brown is first at 1,613) and is only 25 returns away from breaking Browns record for career returns at 105
has returned three kicks for touchdowns in his career (Notre Dame record is six held by Allen Rossum, Tim Brown and Rocket Ismail).
AS A JUNIOR: Starting cornerback for second consecutive year for the Irish
named a third-team All-American by Associated Press
named preseason honorable mention All-America candidate by Street & Smiths
ranked eighth in the nation in kickoff return average with 27.94 yards per return
served as a game captain vs. Michigan and Boston College
recorded 36 tackles, including 31 solos, and seven pass break-ups in 2002
set a Notre Dame record for most kick returns in a season with 59
finished fourth on the single-season kickoff return list with 526 yards
played in a team-high 347:53 minutes and made 138 special teams appearances
had first career punt return for a touchdown vs. Maryland for 76 yards
also made four tackles vs. Maryland
recorded first career interception return for a touchdown (33-yard return) vs. Purdue
returned two kicks for TDs in two consecutive games
no Irish player has done that dating back to at least 1980 (records stop at that point)
also made career-high six tackles and broke up two passes vs. Purdue
made first career fumble recovery on a fumble forced by fellow starting cornerback Shane Walton vs. Michigan
first player in Irish history to return an interception, punt and kickoff in consecutive games for a touchdown
recorded five tackles and ran punt back 92 yards for a touchdown against Stanford, but was called back because of a penalty
recorded (then) season-long 42-yard kickoff return
also recorded three tackles and broke up a pass vs. Stanford
recorded three kickoff returns for 63 yards vs. Pittsburgh
had three kickoff returns for 74 yards vs. Air Force
also posted two tackles vs. Air Force, including first career tackle for a loss
made 30th career appearance for Irish vs. Florida State
recorded three tackles and recovered a fumble vs. Florida State
also returned two kickoffs for 44 yards vs. Florida State
returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown vs. Navy
returned only punt return 52 yards and tied a career-high with six tackles vs. USC
also broke up a pass vs. USC
first player in Notre Dame history to return a punt, interception, and kickoff for a touchdown in the same season.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Reserve cornerback to start 2001
moved into starting lineup beginning with fourth game of season vs. Pittsburgh
recorded two tackles vs. Nebraska
made two tackles vs. Michigan State and broke up third-down pass late in third quarter to keep game tied at 10
returned first kickoff of career for 30 yards vs. Michigan State
recorded a career-high four tackles vs. Texas A&M
made three tackles and a 10-yard kickoff return vs. West Virginia
had three kick returns for 89 yards, including a career-long kickoff return of 39 yards vs. USC
pulled in his first interception of the season vs. USC and had a pass breakup vs. the Trojans
pulled down another interception vs. Boston College and returned it 24 yards
tied his career-high with four tackles vs. Navy and recorded his longest career punt return for 12 yards
recorded an interception and broke up three passes vs. Stanford
had a career-long punt return of 17 yards vs. Stanford
recorded first career touchdown on career-high 96-yard kickoff return vs. Purdue
recorded a career-high five tackles vs. Purdue.
AS A FRESHMAN: Reserve cornerback in 2000
was only freshman to appear on defense in 2000 and one of just four to see action overall
joined linebacker Mike Goolsby and quarterback Matt LoVecchio as only rookies to earn monograms in 2000
played on special teams in each game, making 77 appearances
played in first career game vs. Texas A&M, making one special team appearance
made first career tackle vs. Stanford
made first career appearance at corner vs. Navy, recording a tackle
after just one defensive appearance for less than two minutes in first nine games, saw over 15 minutes of playing time vs. Rutgers after injury to starter Shane Walton
had first career interception in fourth quarter vs. Scarlet Knights.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Rated 12th on The Sporting News list of top 101 prospects
61st on Chicago Sun-Times list of top 100 prospects
named to list of top 100 national prospects by Fort Worth Star-Telegram (one of 15 running backs) and Dallas Morning News (one of 12 running backs)
rated one of top 100 players in Texas by Houston Chronicle (one of 18 running backs)
carried 194 times for 1,145 yards and 12 touchdowns as senior in 99, also catching two passes for six yards
two of his eight punt returns went for scores and he also threw for two TDs out of the backfield (he threw for three as junior)
earned three letters in football as running back, receiver and quarterback at Copperas Cove High School in Copperas Cove, Texas
helped team to 9-2 mark in 99, including district title and first-round state playoff loss
rushed for 2,256 yards and scored 26 TDs as junior in 98 while serving as team captain and helping squad to conference title
set school records for most rushing yards and carries in a game and for longest punt and kickoff returns
chosen for California-Texas Shrine all-star game where he was named most valuable player after rushing for 109 yards on 22 carries
tied that game at 7-7 in the third quarter with a three-yard touchdown run
helped Bulldogs to Texas Class 5-A state playoffs in 98 for first time in 37 years
played free safety on defense
also a standout in basketball and track, earning four letters in track as sprinter and one in basketball as guard
has run a 10.5 100 meters and long-jumped 23 feet
full name is Vontez Douglas Duff
oldest of four children
born March 8, 1982 in Kentucky
enrolled in College of Arts and Letters, majoring in sociology.
| | G-GS | Solo | Asst. | Tot. | PBU | Int.-Yds. |
| 2000 | 11-0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1-4 |
| 2001 | 11-8 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 6 | 3-37 |
| 2002 | 13-13 | 31 | 5 | 36 | 7 | 1-33 |
| TOTAL | 35-21 | 48 | 17 | 65 | 14 | 5-74 |
| | KOR | Yds | Avg | TD | LR | PR | Yds | Avg. | LR |
| 2001 | 12 | 358 | 29.8 | 1 | 96 | 9 | 80 | 8.9 | 17 |
| 2002 | 19 | 526 | 27.7 | 1 | 92 | 40 | 385 | 9.6 | 76 |
| TOTAL | 31 | 884 | 28.5 | 2 | 96 | 49 | 465 | 9.5 | 76 |
