Duke All-ACC LB Kelby Brown to miss the season after ACL tear

Duke senior All-ACC linebacker Kelby Brown will miss the season after suffering an ACL tear in his left knee during Monday night’s scrimmage.

“Obviously our hearts go out to Kelby and his family,” Duke coach David Cutcliffe said in a statement. “As I said last night, here is a young man who is an All-ACC and All-America-type player on the field, and even a better person off the field.  He has been and will continue to be an integral part of our program.  He’s as fine a representative of our program as we have, and nothing will change that.  He’s seen this type of adversity before, and I’m confident he’ll overcome this challenge.”

This is the third time Kelby has suffered a major injury while at Duke. He redshirted the 2012 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee. Late in the 2010 season, Brown tore the ACL and MCL ligaments in his right knee.

Brown, who was on preseason watchlists for the Butkus Award, Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Rotary Lombardi Award will have surgery Wednesday to repair this tear.

In 32 career games, Brown had 242 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks, two interceptions, six fumble recoveries and three caused fumbles.

Brown has already graduated from Duke with a degree in evolutionary anthropology.

For more Duke news, visit DevilsIllustrated.com.

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