DURHAM, N.C. - Duke redshirt junior offensive tackle Perry Simmons was named to the Capital One Academic All-America second team, as announced on Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

A 6-6, 300-pound right tackle from Raleigh, N.C., Simmons has started 36 consecutive games for the Blue Devils and this season has anchored an offensive unit that averages 31.3 points per game, the third highest average in school history. A civil engineering major with an emphasis in architecture, Simmons owns a 3.87 grade point average and is a two-time Academic All-ACC Football Team selection.

Simmons has played 947 snaps this season, which ranks as the second most on the team. He has played 3,546 career snaps, which ranks second among Duke's active players. Blocking for a running game that averages 119.0 rushing yards per game and a passing game that averages 277.6 yards per game, Simmons has helped Duke compile a 6-6 record and a berth to the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 27. The game will be Duke's first bowl appearance since the 1994 season.

Simmons is the 12th Duke football player to earn Academic All-America honors, joining a list that includes Butch Allie (1959, 1960), Ed Lyon (1959), Bill Jones (1965), Roger Hayes (1966), Bob Laskey (1967), Curt Rawley (1970), Mike Diminick (1986, 1987, 1988), Doug Kley (1989), Travis Pearson (1993), Shawn Johnson (2002) and Eli Nichols (2005, 2006).