Former Duke football wide receiver Conner Vernon sat down with The Chronicle to discuss his performance at Pro Day, the NFL Draft and his successful career with the Blue Devils.
Conner Vernon sits down for exclusive interview
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Video from Duke football players at Pro Day
At least 18 NFL scouts came to Duke football’s Pascal Fieldhouse to watch seven Duke football players show their skills in hopes of either getting selected in April’s NFL Draft. Headlining the crew was wide receiver Conner Vernon, who broke a host of ACC records this season and is expected to be Duke’s first draft pick since 2004.
Vernon slipped on one of his routes but also made an incredibly acrobatic diving catch in which he was fully extended.
Here are some videos of different Blue Devils going through drills with the scouts.
Vernon running a positional drill with a Broncos scout, who was running the skill position drills:
Another Vernon route:
Duke long snapper Jackson Anderson, who head coach David Cutcliffe said didn’t have a bad snap in four years:
Former Duke WR/DB Johnny Williams, who graduated last year, doing the 60-yard shuttle:
Duke DB Tony Foster running a slant:
Twitter reacts to Conner Vernon’s NFL Combine performance
In a weekend filled with Duke basketball, former Blue Devil wide receiver Conner Vernon took his next step toward an NFL career when he worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine Sunday in front of coaches, executives and scouts.
Here were Vernon’s official statistics from his workouts at the Combine:
- Official 40-yard dash time: 4.68 seconds
- Vertical jump: 32.5 inches
- Broad jump: 125 inches
- Three-cone drill: 6.93 seconds
- 20-yard shuttle time: 4.22 seconds
- 60-yard shuttle time: 11.34 seconds
Although Vernon’s workouts did not seem to blow anyone away, the former Duke receiver garnered extensive praise on Twitter for his work in the Combine’s on-field drills. Here’s what some people had to say about Vernon’s performance:
Former Blue Devil pitcher and current Toronto Blue Jay Marcus Stroman shared his excitement for his former classmate’s participation at the NFL Combine.
About to watch my #DUKE brah Conner Vernon run the 40 yard dash in the #NFLcombine! — Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo7) February 24, 2013
The NFL Draft website RosterWatch.com commented on Vernon’s route-running ability and soft hands throughout his combine drills.
5. Conner Vernon has the dirtiest inside cut of any WR on dig routes. Here, on tape, & in Mobile. Ball is silent when hitting his hands, too — RosterWatch (@RosterWatch) February 25, 2013
Dion Caputi, a writer for National Football Post, commented on Vernon’s calm, cool and collected demeanor on the field.
#Duke‘s Conner Vernon has a wide catch radius and looks extremely comfortable plucking away from his frame. Impressing with each drill. — Dion Caputi (@nfldraftupdate) February 24, 2013
Vernon’s on-field work even drew some praise from NFL Network analyst and hall-of-famer Michael Irvin.
#NFL Network analyst & Pro FB HOFer Michael Irvin on #Duke WR @connerrvernon — “That’s a natural-catching guy right there.” #NFLCombine — Duke Football (@Duke_FB) February 24, 2013
Bryan Broaddus, a football analyst and scout for the Dallas Cowboys, called Vernon one of the standout players of Sunday’s workouts.
“@mrcrue2009: @bryanbroaddusConner Vernon from Duke stood out to me today. Natural catcher.” Best trait is his hands. Did show up Sunday.
— Bryan Broaddus (@BryanBroaddus) February 25, 2013
Duke’s Conner Vernon generating buzz at the Senior Bowl
Former Blue Devils wide receiver Conner Vernon is in Mobile, Ala. this weekend to compete in the 64th annual Senior Bowl, which will be played Saturday at 4 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama. The ACC’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards has been been one of the hot topics of conversation during Senior Bowl practices. Here is just some of what writers around the country have been saying about him:
The Raleigh News & Observer’s Laura Keeley weighed in on Vernon’s official height and weight measurements, revealing that the senior’s measurement in the Duke media guide was a little bit generous.
WR Conner Vernon measured 6′ 1/4 inches & 193 pounds at the senior bowl. (cbsprt.co/UM6kbx) listed in #Duke‘s media guide as 6’1″, 200
— Laura Keeley (@laurakeeley) January 21, 2013
CBSSports.com’s Andrew Mason, who covers the Denver Broncos, mentioned Vernon’s connection to current Bronco signal-caller and future hall-of-famer Peyton Manning.
Name to remember: Duke WR Conner Vernon (6-0.2, 193 at the weigh in). Played for longtime Manning mentor David Cutcliffe. Potential slot WR.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 21, 2013
Mason later added in his notes from Monday’s Senior Bowl practice that Vernon did not appear completely up to form.
His cuts weren’t as sharp as they could be, and at one point he was castigated by Lions wide receivers coach Tim Lappano for tipping off his changes of direction. “I don’t want to see turn signals!” barked Lappano.
Alex Dunlap, featured columnist for Bleacher Report, ranked Vernon the 16th-best player at this year’s Senior Bowl.
Conner Vernon says his best route is the dig, and he’s right. The dig is the opposite of an out route and breaks at a 90-degree angle to the inside. Vernon gets upfield with a great burst and seems comfortable fighting off the press before breaking inside on the dagger.
When he does, he goes into his cut with a deliberate initial upfield move that gets the cornerback’s hips turned incorrectly to the outside before breaking in. He has a suddenness in his change-of-direction that is an attribute most scouts believe is unteachable.
Vernon played outside at Duke, but scouts generally believe he projects best as a slot WR in the NFL. Vernon has an advanced understanding of concepts that will impress NFL teams.
CBSSports.com’s Dave Richard was less impressed, however. When asked to analyze three players whose draft stocks were trending up and three whose stocks were trending down at this year’s Senior Bowl, Richard listed Vernon as the third player trending down, but did not have much negative to say about the former Blue Devil wideout.
It was a close call between Vernon and Kansas State’s Chris Harper for the third spot, which frankly shouldn’t mean something negative. Both players were good, not great. In the case of Vernon, his best catch Wednesday was out of bounds, and on another play he dropped a pass from Tyler Wilson. He doesn’t have much speed or quickness to him, just a set of decent hands (drops aside) on a good-sized body. Harper just seems to have a little more potential.
A number of NFL draft bloggers have given Vernon positive reviews throughout the week. Here’s nepatriotsdraft.com’s Mike Loyko, who blogs about the New England Patriots, on the second day of Senior Bowl practice.
I thought Duke’s Conner Vernon showed well today. He looked quick, ran well and seperated from coverage pretty well. After seeing him live and in person I think he can be a very good slot receiver. Vernon told me his favorite route to run is the dig route and he did a lot of that today. In change of direction drills he was one of the receivers who stood out to me.
John Congemi, who writes for The Finsiders, a Miami Dolphins blog, likened Vernon to former Dolphin receiver Wes Welker, a comparison that ESPN College Football Analyst and NFL Draft Expert Mel Kiper, Jr. made when The Chronicle spoke with him last December.
He has every trait that Wes Welker possesses and didn’t drop any pass that came his way this week.
Andrew Garda, who covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report and writes for cheeseheadtv.com, a Green Bay Packers blog, gave Vernon some positive reviews following the first day of Senior Bowl practice.
The last receiver to note was Duke’s Conner Vernon.
Yes, Duke has a player in the Senior Bowl and he is worth noting.
During individual position drills, Vernon didn’t look sharp. He didn’t look bad, he just didn’t look as good as [Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan] Swope.
Then the defensive backs stepped in and Vernon woke up. Vernon made some incredible grabs, ran outstanding routes and just flat out muscled the ball away from the defenders on a consistent basis.
Of the receivers, he was the most surprising to me and the guy who got me most excited on offense.
Vernon was impressive in yesterday’s final Senior Bowl catches, making what FOX Sports Football Recruiting Analyst John Garcia, Jr. said was that catch of the day.
#Duke WR Conner Vernon has the one-handed catch of the day, but #UGA WR Tavarres King has stolen the show in 1on1s with his burst/quickness — John Garcia Jr. (@JohnGarcia_Jr) January 24, 2013
Jared Tokarz of whosnextfootball.com was also impressed by Vernon’s route-running ability, adding that the receiver should be on many NFL team’s draft radars.
#SeniorBowl#Duke WR Conner Vernon @cvernon02 Smooth routes,great hands,good change of direction. This sleeper would be a solid pickup day 2 — NFL Draft Insider (@NFLDraftInsider) January 24, 2013
Vernon also opened up with the Austin Chronicle’s and syndicated ESPN Radio host Alex Dunlap about some of his off-the-field hobbies.
The Duke WR Connor Vernon-great change of direction, burst outta cuts. Told me he wrote a screenplay this yr- ‘like Superbad, but in Miami’
— Alex Dunlap (@AlexDunlapNFL) January 22, 2013
Sean Renfree named Duke football MVP
Redshirt senior quarterback Sean Renfree received the Carmen Falcone Most Valuable Player Award at Duke’s annual football banquet Friday evening. Renfree led the Blue Devils to their first bowl appearance since 1994, completing 67.3 percent of his passes for 3,113 yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions during the 2012 season. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native is currently rehabbing from an injury he suffered in Duke’s Belk Bowl loss to Cincinnati Dec. 27, 2012. He had surgery the following day to repair a torn pectoral muscle.
A two-year captain, Renfree received a number of conference and national honors during his final season at Duke, being named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and receiving the ACC’s Jim Tatum Award and Pop Warner National College Football Award. He is also a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award and was named to the AFCA’s Good Works Team.
Renfree also earned Duke’s MVP award in 2010, becoming just the sixth player in program history to receive the honor twice. The Blue Devils honored a host of their most accomplished players with awards last night, here are some of the highlights:
- Long snapper Jackson Anderson received the Bell Keziah Award for outstanding special teams play. He helped freshman kicker Ross Martin earn honorable mention All-America honors and redshirt freshman punter Will Monday earn All-ACC honors this season.
- Defensive end Kenny Anunike earned the Frances Cutcliffe Spirit of Perseverance Award.
- Cornerback Ross Cockrell received the Willis Aldridge Award as the team’s top defensive back after leading the conference with five interceptions.
- Wide Receiver Jamison Crowder received the Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award.
- Running back Jela Duncan earned the Bob Pascal Award as the team’s top offensive back.
- Linebacker C.J. France, quarterback Thomas Sirk and guard Laken Tomlinson received the Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award for their year-round commitment to strength and conditioning.
- Defensive end Justin Foxx received the Mike McGee award as Duke’s top defensive lineman.
- Center Brian Moore received the Dan “Tiger” Hill Award as Duke’s top offensive lineman.
- Wide receiver Conner Vernon received the Clarkston Hines Award as the team’s top wide receiver after setting a school record with 85 receptions during his senior season.
Conner Vernon to represent Duke football in the Senior Bowl
Senior wide receiver Conner Vernon has accepted an invitation to play in the 64th annual Senior Bowl, which will take place Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. The game will be held at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., on the campus of the University of South Alabama.
Vernon will be the 21st Duke player to participate in the Senior Bowl, and the first Blue Devil to suit up since defensive tackle Chris Combs was selected following the 1999 season. In addition to setting the ACC records for most career receptions and receiving yards during his senior season, Vernon served as a team captain and led Duke to its first bowl appearance since 1994, catching a school-record 85 passes for 1,074 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the Blue Devils in their 48-34 loss to Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl with 10 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown.
The Senior Bowl, which will be televised on the NFL Network, will allow Vernon to compete against the top talent in college football for a number of NFL scouts and represent Duke’s up-and-coming football program. By competing in one of the game’s most prestigious showcases, Vernon will hope to improve his stock for April’s NFL Draft, where he could be the first Blue Devil selected since 2004.