April 28, 2003

Duquesne University football players Leigh Bodden, Jeremy Conley and Josh Rue all reached free agent agreements with National Football league teams today. Bodden, a defensive back, is with the Cleveland Browns, Conley, a wide receiver, agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Rue, a running back is affiliated with the Miami Dolphins. All three will report to their respective teams on Thursday.

Bodden, an American Football Coaches Association Division I-AA All-American and the 2002 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League Defensive Player of the Year, finished his career with 28 interceptions, tying the previous I-AA career record since broken by fellow AFCA All-American Rashean Mathis of Bethune-Cookman.

The holder of every Duquesne interception record, he picked off seven passes this season including a school record-tying three vs. Iona. He was a prime reason DU's defense was ranked No. 1 in Division I-AA in total and scoring defense and second in pass and pass efficiency defense.

Conley, a senior from Pittsburgh's Allderdice High School, is this past season's MAAC Offensive Player of the Year. He holds the school career record with 2,696 receiving yards. In 2002, he totaled a team-high 72 catches for 1,216 yards and 14 touchdowns, including a school single-game record 13 catches against Lafayette College and a single-game record with 245 receiving yards against the University of Dayton. Earlier, Conley was named to The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major All-America Team and to the 2002 New York Lottery MAAC Football League All-Academic Team.

Rue, out of Gateway High School in Monroeville, was also signed despite not playing as a senior. Duquesne's single-game rushing leader with 317 yards versus Canisius in 2001, opened eyes at a recent tryout with his athletic ability. In three seasons he rushed for 25 career touchdowns as a running back and finished with seven career sacks as a defensive end.