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2025 NEC DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (COACHES): DB Caleb Jones, Duquesne, So, 5-9, 190, Ravenna, OH/Archbishop Hoban,...Jones, a Buckeye State native, seamlessly transitioned from the offensive side of the gridiron to steadily emerge as a key defensive back for Duquesne this season. Providing reliable coverage on the regular, he provided a key foundation for a Dukes' secondary that helped stymie NEC offenses to the tune of 17.7 points per contest. Jones delivered at least one tackle in each of his team's 12 games and had multiple stops in two-thirds of those appearances. He did not back down against stiff competition, as two of his season-best marks - a six-tackle effort and a five-stop performance - came against FBS opponent Pittsburgh and FCS power Lehigh. Jones became the second Duke in program history to earn NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year distinction, joining Nathan Stone, who pocketed the award in 2014. - NEC Football

(DS#999 CB) rFr/2029

CB Caleb Jones, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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11/26/25 - Ryan Petras, Fr/2029, Duquesne, 5-09, 180 (DS#999 WR) + More +

2025 NEC OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (COACHES): WR Ryan Petras, Duquesne, Fr, 5-9, 180, Bethel Park, Pa/Bethel Park,...Thanks to Petras, the NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year award remains in Pittsburgh, as he follows in the footsteps of teammate Shawn Solomon, Jr. The local product from Bethal Park, PA settled in and hit his stride during a dominant four-game stretch against league foes that resulted in the Dukes topping the opposition by a whopping average of 31.5 points. In that span, Petras, who reached the end zone on his first career catch and his first career rush, was twice named the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Rookie of the Week, with his first career distinction coming after he more than tripled his season yardage and caught two touchdowns in a 34-14 triumph over Stonehill on Oct. 4. On the season, he tallied 249 receiving yards while five of his 13 catches were marked as touchdowns. - NEC Football

(DS#999 WR) Fr/2029

WR Ryan Petras, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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11/25/25 - Matt Clark, Sr/2026, Duquesne, 5-09, 170 (DS#999 K) + More +

WEEK 13 NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Matt Clark, Duquesne, Kicker, Senior, 5-9, 170 lbs., Easton, PA/Easton Area,...Week 13 Stats: 2-2 FG (34, 42 yards), 1-1 PAT, 232 kickoff yards, 4 kickoffs, 58.0 yards per kickoff, 1 touchback,...Clark played the role of hero for Duquesne on the final day of the 2025 regular season. Tying up the contest at 17-all with a 34-yard field goal with 8:18 left to play in the fourth quarter, the senior drilled a 33-yarder as time expired to lift the Dukes to the 20-17 win at crosstown rival Robert Morris. The Keystone State product's game-clinching field goal at the buzzer was the first for Duquesne since Charlie Leventry walked it off for the Dukes with a successful 31-yard conversion at Sacred Heart on Nov. 14, 2009. Going perfect in each of his four scoring attempts after turning in a perfect 2-for-2 effort on PATs, Clark also handled the kickoff duties for his squad. On four attempts, he totaled 232 yards with a touchback to average 58.0 yards per kickoff on the afternoon. Clark finished with two NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Special Teams Player of the Week awards. He is one of three Dukes to earn the distinction this season, joining Joel Kpassou (Oct. 13) and Michael Berarducci (Nov. 17). - NEC Football

(DS#999 K) Sr/2026

K Matt Clark, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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11/25/25 - Antonio Epps, rSr/2026, Duquesne, 5-10, 195 (DS#97 SS) + More +

WEEK 12 NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Antonio Epps, Duquesne, Defensive Back, Redshirt-Senior, 5-10, 195 lbs., Liberty Borough, PA/South Allegheny,...Week 12 Stats: 12 tackles (9 solo), 1 interception, 4 interception return yards, 1 pass breakup,...Epps had a career day in a huge game that kept Duquesne in contention for a share of the league's regular season title and the NEC's AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The Liberty Borough, PA native recorded a career-high 12 tackles, including nine solo stops, but those marks were overshadowed by his end-of-game heroics that sealed the Dukes' 38-33 win over then-undefeated Central Connecticut. With 36 seconds left, the redshirt senior defensive back recorded an end-zone interception on the potential go-ahead score to hold off a Blue Devis' squad that scored on each of their previous two drives. The pick was the second of Epps' career. In addition, his 12 stops were tied for the most by a Duke in a game this season. This is the first career weekly award for Epps, a 2024 All-NEC first teamer, and the third NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Defensive Player of the Week award for Duquesne this season. - NEC Football

(DS#97 SS) rSr/2026

SS Antonio Epps, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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11/25/25 - Taj Butts, rSr/2026, Duquesne, 5-10, 205 (DS#102 RB) + More +

WEEK 12 NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Taj Butts, Duquesne,...Running Back, Redshirt-Senior, 5-11, 205 lbs., St. Louis, MO/De Smet (Missouri),...Week 12 Stats: 254 rushing yards, 14 rushes, 3 rushing touchdowns, 18.1 yard per rush,...Butts delivered one of the NEC's most explosive outings in recent history, and the timing could not have been better for Duquesne. The veteran powered the Dukes' offense to a 38-33 win in a back-and-forth slugfest against Central Connecticut, which entered the contest with a perfect 5-0 mark against NEC foes. With the win, Duquesne remains in the race for a share of the NEC regular season title and the league's AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. A native of St. Louis, Butts racked up a career-high 254 rushing yards — the seventh most by an FCS running back this year — and three rushing touchdowns on just 14 carries for an exceptional 18.1 yard-per-rush average.

He found the end zone on runs of 29, 57 and 59 yards to become the first Duke to eclipse the 250-rushing yard mark since 2003 and the first player in the conference this year to register multiple 50-yard runs in the same game this season. In addition, he compiled the most rushing yards by an NEC player since Central Connecticut's Elijah Howard ran for 257 vs. Delaware State on Dec. 7, 2023. Butts' 59-yard run with 3:19 left to play ultimately sealed the win just two plays after the Blue Devils took a lead. On the season, Butts has four rushing scores and 546 rushing yards. He joins quarterback Tyler Riddell and fellow linemate Ness Davis as NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Offensive Player of the Week honorees from Duquesne. Butts' performance also garnered him national recognition, as he was pegged the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week. - NEC Football

(DS#102 RB) rSr/2026

RB Taj Butts, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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11/25/25 - Michael Berarducci, rSr/2026, Duquesne, 5-10, 200 (DS#999 K) + More +

WEEK 12 NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Michael Berarducci, Duquesne, Punter, Redshirt-Senior, 5-10, 200 lbs., Allison Park, PA/St. Augustine,...Week 12 Stats: 6 punts, 304 punt yards (67-yard long), 50.7 yards per punt, 4 inside-20, 4 50+ yard punts,...Berarducci turned in one of the top punting performances in the NEC this season in Duquesne's pivotal 38-33 win over then-undefeated Central Connecticut on Saturday. On six punts, the redshirt senior averaged 50.7 yards per boot to consistently flip field position in the back-and-forth slugfest. Included in his afternoon was a 67-yard blast — a punt that is tied for the fifth-longest in Duquesne history and is currently the fifth-longest in the NEC this season. Placing four punts inside the 20-yard line, Berarducci also delivered three punts over 60 yards with each of his four attempts going for more than 50 yards. With nine punts 50-yarders this season, the Allison Park, PA native tops the league's charts with 42.5 yards per punt this season. He is the second Duke this season to garner the award, joining kick returner Joel Kpassou. - NEC Football

(DS#999 K) rSr/2026

K Michael Berarducci, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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11/22/25 - Tyler Riddell, rSr/2026, Duquesne, 6-0, 190 (DS#88 QB) + More +

Tyler Riddell threw for two touchdowns and Matt Clark made a game-winning 42-yard field goal as time expired to give Duquesne a 20-17 victory over Robert Morris on Saturday to end the regular season. Riddell hit Joey Isabella for a 71-yard touchdown on the Dukes' opening drive, then found Garrett Harrold from 4-yards out early in the third quarter to regain a 14-10 lead. He finished 13 of 28 for 214 yards with no interceptions. Isabella had 108 yards on five catches, including the long strike.

Duquesne (7-5, 5-2 NEC) piled up 207 yards rushing behind Ness Davis, who ran for 179 on 25 carries. After Kai Holloway's 63-yard punt return put Robert Morris ahead 17-14 with 12:27 left, Clark answered with a 34-yard kick to tie it. Robert Morris (3-9, 2-5) went ahead in the second quarter, tying the game on Cooper Panteck's 19-yard touchdown to Chaz Middleton before adding a 23-yard field goal from Jayson Jenkins just before halftime. Panteck threw for 178 yards and no interceptions, but the Colonials managed only 81 yards rushing and failed to score on offense after the break. - AP College Football

(DS#88 QB) rSr/2026

QB Tyler Riddell, Duquesne
News Source: AP College Football
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11/18/25 - Taj Butts, rSr/2026, Duquesne, 5-10, 205 (DS#102 RB) + More +

WEEK 12 FCS NATIONAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Taj Butts, Duquesne, RB, R-Sr., 5-11, 205,...Butts hadn't played in four weeks before returning with 254 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Duquesne's 38-33 win over Central Connecticut State, which denied the Blue Devils from clinching NEC Football's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. He averaged 18.1 yards on 14 carries, scoring on runs of 29, 57 and 59 yards. His final score with 3:19 left came just two plays after CCSU had taken a 33-32 lead. Honorable Mention: Kente Edwards, RB, Lafayette; Antwain Littleton Jr., RB, Rhode Island; Rashad Rochelle, WR, Indiana State. - Stats Perform FCS Football

(DS#102 RB) rSr/2026

RB Taj Butts, Duquesne
News Source: Stats Perform FCS Football
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11/15/25 - Taj Butts, rSr/2026, Duquesne, 5-10, 205 (DS#102 RB) + More +

Taj Butts rushed for a career-high 254 yards and scored three touchdowns, Antonio Epps intercepted a deflected pass in the end zone with less than 30 seconds to go and Duquesne defeated Central Connecticut State 38-33 on Saturday. Brady Olson, who threw for 423 yards and four touchdowns, gave the Blue Devils a 33-32 with two long touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Butts, who had missed several games with an injury, burst up the middle for a 59-yard score with 3:19 to play. Olson guided the Blue Devils down field but his last pass was broken up by Henry Pickens III and Epps was there to grab the loose ball.

Butts carried only 14 times for the Dukes (6-5, 4-2 NEC) ,with his other two scoring runs covering 29 and 57 yards. Duquesne quarterback Tyler Riddell had three touchdown passes, two to Joey Isabella. Elijah Howard had 113 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Blue Devils (7-4, 5-1), who could have clinched a playoff berth with a win. Olson was 28 of 45 with two picks. Peter Cleary had five receptions for 111 yards and a score, Michael Trovarelli had two scoring catches and Donovan Wadley had the fourth. Wadley had a 50-yard scoring catch and Trovarelli a 40-yarder on consecutive possessions for a 33-32 lead with four minutes to go. CCSU had 588 yards of offense to 525 for the Dukes. - AP College Football

(DS#102 RB) rSr/2026

RB Taj Butts, Duquesne
News Source: AP College Football
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10/21/25 - Matt Clark, Sr/2026, Duquesne, 5-09, 170 (DS#999 K) + More +

WEEK 8 NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Matt Clark, Duquesne, Kicker, Senior, 5-9, 170 lbs., Easton, PA/Easton Area, Week 8 Stats: 13 points, 3-3 FG (27, 26, 31 yards), 4-4 PAT, 429 kickoff yards, 7 kickoffs, 4 touchbacks,...Clark contributed 13 points to Duquesne's commanding 37-0 win in a battle of unbeatens at Mercyhurst on Saturday. The veteran was perfect in each of his three field goal attempts, converting on kicks from 27, 26 and 31 yards. He also enjoyed a perfect night after he went 4-for-4 on PATs. In addition to registering the most field goals by a Duke since 2022, the Easton, PA native's three field goal makes were tied for the most by an NEC kicker in a game this season and they were the most made against a Division I opponent. Clark had a busy day for the Dukes in the big win, as he also handled the team's kickoff duties. He registered four touchbacks on seven kickoffs and totaled 429 kickoff yards in the contest. Clark is the second Duquesne player in as many weeks to earn NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Special Teams Player of the Week honors this year as Joel Kpassou took home the honor last week. - NEC Football

(DS#999 K) Sr/2026

K Matt Clark, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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10/21/25 - Avery Morris, rSr/2026, Duquesne, 6-2, 230 (DS#109 ILB) + More +

WEEK 8 NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Avery Morris, Duquesne, Linebacker, Graduate Student, 6-2, 230 lbs., Humble, TX/Atascocita (UTSA/Charlotte),Week 8 Stats: 9 tackles (5 solo), 1 fumble recovery for touchdown (35 yards),...Morris was the centerpiece of a dominant defensive performance by Duquesne in Saturday's battle of the unbeatens at Mercyhurst in Erie. The graduate linebacker balled out for the Dukes, who blanked the Lakers and improved to 3-0 in NEC play with a commanding 37-0 triumph. The shutout marked Duquesne's first against an NEC foe since 2023, when the eventual NEC champs handed Sacred Heart a 27-0 loss. Morris' stat line included nine tackles, five of which were solo stops, and his second defensive touchdown of the season, a 35-yard scoop and score that put the Dukes up by a 27-0 count at halftime. In addition, the transfer from Charlotte and UTSA anchored a defense that limited Mercyhurst to just 118 total yards of offense and 12 rushing yards while forcing seven three-and-outs on the evening. Morris became the second Duke in the past three weeks to take home NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Defensive Player of the Week accolades, as Tyson Meiguez earned the distinction on Oct. 6. - NEC Football

(DS#109 ILB) rSr/2026

ILB Avery Morris, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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10/21/25 - Ness Davis, rSo/2028, Duquesne, 5-10, 200 (DS#79 RB) + More +

WEEK 8 NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ness Davis, Duquesne, Running Back, Redshirt Sophomore, 5-11, 200 lbs., Athens, GA/Athens Christian (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Week 8 Stats: 164 rushing yards, 17 rushes, 1 rushing TD,...Davis powered Duquesne's offense to the tune of a commanding 37-0 win at Mercyhurst in a battle of two unbeaten NEC squads in Erie on Saturday evening. The redshirt sophomore shredded the Lakers' defense after he compiled a league-leading 164 rushing yards on 17 carries for an impressive 9.6 yards per rush. Hailing from Athens, GA, Davis set the tone early with a 59-yard touchdown run on the first play of the Dukes' second drive of the contest to make it a 14-0 advantage. Posting the most rushing yards by an NEC back against a Division I opponent this season with his third 100-yard game of the season and the fifth of his career, Davis, who is second in the conference with 66.5 rushing yards per game, helped Duquesne finish with 366 yards on the ground. That total was the program's highest since 2018 and the most by an NEC squad this season against Division I competition. Davis is the second Duke to garner NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Offensive Player of the Week distinction this season, joining quarterback Tyler Riddell. - NEC Football

(DS#79 RB) rSo/2028

RB Ness Davis, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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10/19/25 - Ness Davis, rSo/2028, Duquesne, 5-10, 200 (DS#79 RB) + More +

Ness Davis ran for 158 yards and a touchdown to lead Duquesne to a 37-0 rout over Mercyhurst on Saturday night. Davis had five carries for 28 yards that helped set up Tyler Riddell's 20-yard touchdown pass to Joey Isabella on Duquesne's opening drive. Davis then broke loose on a 59-yard touchdown on their next possession and the Dukes led 14-0 early in the first quarter. Avery Morris returned a fumbled ball 35 yards into the end zone and Duquesne (5-3, 3-0 Northeast Conference) led 27-0 at halftime. Riddell completed 6 of 13 passes for 79 yards for the Dukes, who racked up 439 yards of offense while holding Mercyhurst to 12 yards rushing and 118 overall. Adam Urena was 10-of-29 passing for 83 yards for the Lakers (3-5, 2-1). - AP College Football

(DS#79 RB) rSo/2028

RB Ness Davis, Duquesne
News Source: AP College Football
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10/14/25 - Ryan Petras, Fr/2029, Duquesne, 5-09, 180 (DS#999 WR) + More +

WEEK 7 NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Ryan Petras, Duquesne, Wide Receiver, Freshman, 5-9, 180 lbs., Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park, Week 7 Stats: 23 receiving yards, 2 receptions, 1 touchdown reception,...Petras became the first player to repeat as the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Rookie of the Week this season. The first-year wide receiver contributed to Duquesne's convincing 52-7 home win over Saint Francis on Saturday after he caught a 12-yard touchdown from graduate student Tyler Riddell to extend the Dukes' first-quarter advantage to 21-0. A local product of Bethel Park, PA, Petras totaled 23 receiving yards for Duquesne, which improved to 2-0 in NEC play for the third time in as many seasons with its sixth-straight home triumph against a conference team. This season, Petras, who caught for a pair of touchdowns last weekend against Stonehill, has hauled in touchdowns in four of his six receptions. His four touchdown receptions are tied for second-most in the circuit. - NEC Football

(DS#999 WR) Fr/2029

WR Ryan Petras, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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10/14/25 - Joel Kpassou, Jr/2027, Duquesne, 5-10, 170 (DS#999 CB) + More +

WEEK 7 NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joel Kpassou, Duquesne, Defensive Back, Junior, 5-10, 170 lbs., Cleveland, OH/Solon (Findlay),...Week 7 Stats: 94-yard return for touchdown on opening kickoff,...Kpassou set the tone in Duquesne's 52-7 win over visiting Saint Francis on Saturday. Returning the game's opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, the junior helped the Dukes jump out to their largest halftime lead against an FCS team in program history, a 45-0 advantage. The kickoff return touchdown was Duquesne's first since Xavier Nelson turned the trick on an 82-yard return at Central Connecticut on Nov. 16, 2016. In addition, it was the first to start a game for the Dukes since Oct. 25, 2014 (Devin Rahming - 97 yards vs. Alderson Broaddus), and the only kickoff return touchdown in the NEC this season. Improving to 2-0 in the conference for the third time in as many seasons, last year's defending NEC co-champ has knocked off six-straight conference opponents at home in a streak that dates back to the 2024 campaign. Kpassou is the first Duke to garner NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Special Teams Player of the Week honors this season. - NEC Football

(DS#999 CB) Jr/2027

CB Joel Kpassou, Duquesne
News Source: NEC Football
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