11/05/2009 - Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - Redshirt junior Mitchell Lederman and sophomore Donovan Varner were named to the 2009 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District III football team on Thursday.

Lederman, an offensive lineman who has played both at left guard and right tackle this season while pursuing a degree in sociology. He is one of three ACC offensive lineman among the five named to the all-district team, joining Virginia's Patrick Slebonick and Miami's Matt Pipho. Lederman has played in seven of the eight games on the year with six starts. He has 411 total snaps played in his first year as a starter.

Varner has been among the top wide receivers in the ACC this year while posting a high GPA in the classroom. He ranks tied for second in the conference with 5.25 receptions per game and is second with 82.5 yards per contest. He is also tied for third with five receiving touchdowns. On the season he has started all eight games with 42 catches for 660 yards and five scores. He has three consecutive 100-yard receiving games.

Lederman and Varner are the first Duke football players since Matt Rumsey and Patrick Bailey in 2007 to garner Academic All-District honors. To be eligible for nomination, student-athletes must carry a 3.30 GPA. As members of the all-district team, Lederman and Varner are eligible for Academic All-America consideration, which will be released Tuesday, Nov. 24.