DURHAM, N.C. - Former Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. Crowder was the 105th overall pick in the draft, and the sixth selection in the fourth round.
“Jamison is another incredible example of a young man who has combined natural abilities with hard work to make his dreams come true,” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe. “Everyone sees his explosiveness and short space quickness, but it is his character that puts him in a very special category. We could not be happier for Jamison and his family to reach the goal of being a draft pick of the National Football League. He is more than deserving.
Crowder, a 5-9, 175-pound Monroe, N.C., product is Duke's second 2015 NFL Draft selection as Laken Tomlinson went to the Detroit Lions with the 28th overall pick. This marks the first time since 1982 that the Blue Devils have had two top-five round picks in the same year, and just the sixth time in the 102-season history of the program. Crowder is Duke's first wide receiver selected since Clarkson Hines went in the ninth round to the Buffalo Bills in 1990.
A two-time All-America selection and three-time All-ACC honoree, Crowder played in 52 career games with 40 starts and caught 283 passes for 3,641 yards (12.87 ypg) and 23 touchdowns. He added 65 punt returns for 869 yards (13.37 ypr) and four scores as well as 44 kickoff runbacks for 930 yards (21.14 ypr). Crowder recorded 16 career games with 100 or more receiving yards, including a personal-best 203-yard performance versus Miami in 2012.
He finished his career ranking tied for first in ACC and Duke history in pass receptions. A 2014 team captain, Crowder is second in ACC history in 100-yard receiving games, third in receiving yards, fourth in all-purpose yards (5,575) and tied for 14th in TD receptions.
Crowder closed his Duke career as one of two players in ACC history to post three 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2012-13-14), joining Hines (1987-88-89). Crowder also finished as the only player in ACC history to catch 100 or more passes in a season with 108 receptions in 2013.
During his final campaign, Crowder received first team All-ACC selections as both a wide receiver and return specialist by the league's head coaches and the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. He was the only player to receive first team all-conference honors at two positions. Against No. 15 Arizona State in the Hyundai Sun Bowl, Crowder returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter that brought Duke to within three points at 20-17. He also tallied seven receptions for 102 yards and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass in the game.
Duke has had draft picks in three consecutive years for the first time since 1998-2000. Quarterback Sean Renfree was a seventh round choice of the Atlanta Falcons in 2013 and Ross Cockrell went to the Buffalo Bills in the fourth found in 2014. The four picks in a three year span are the most for the Blue Devils since having four from 1996-98.
Crowder is the fourth NFL Draft pick to have played at Duke under Cutcliffe.
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