Nov. 8, 2006
Duquesne University defensive end Ryan Esdale (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury), a senior secondary education major with a 3.65 GPA, has been named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 2 Football Team.
This is the second consecutive year Esdale, a 2005 Academic All-America, has been named to the District 2 team. It also marks the 10th time in the past 11 seasons that Duquesne has had at least one representative on the district team.
Esdale will have his name placed on the national ballot, with the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Football Team to be released on Thursday, November 30.
Esdale finished the season with 36 total tackles for a 7-3 Duquesne team that won a share of the 2006 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League title with a 3-1 mark. The title was DU's 10th in the past 12 years and eighth in a row.
Esdale, a New Jersey native, ranked second on the team with 10.0 tackles for loss (minus 45 yards) and his 5.0 sacks were third-most on the team. A three-year starter, Esdale also broke up two passes, forced a fumble and recovered one. Duquesne, which completed its season on Nov. 4, ranks 14th nationally in scoring defense and 21st among I-AA schools in total defense.
2006 ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 2 FOOTBALL TEAM - University Division
P Greg Veteto, NAVY Corpus Christi, Texas 3.96 Ocean EngineeringQB Brad Maurer, LAFAYETTE Loveland, Ohio 3.55 NeuroscienceWR Luke Palko, SAINT FRANCIS Imperial, Pa. 3.75 AccountingWR Michael McClelland, MONMOUTH Lincroft, N.J. 3.70 BusinessTE Dan Gronkowski, MARYLAND Amherst, N.Y. 3.56 MarketingRB Byron McCoy, NAVY Liberty, Mo. 3.62 ChemistryRB Zerbin Singleton, NAVY Decatur, Ga. 3.29 Aerospace EngineeringOL Dan Mozes, WEST VIRGINIA Washington, PA 3.58 CommunicationsOL Michael Boccella, BUCKNELL Dunmore, Pa. 3.65 HistoryOL Gerald Cadogan, PENN STATE Portsmouth, OH 3.53 Rehabilitation ServicesOL Mike Byrne, DELAWARE Lititz, PA 3.52 Criminal JusticeOL Ryan Stanchek, WEST VIRGINIA Cincinnati, OH 3.52 Athletic coaching educationPK Conor Lee, PITTSBURGH Upper St. Clair, PA 3.67 BusinessDB David Frisbey, BUCKNELL Newark, Del. 3.54 Management (Finance)DB Nolan McCready, PENN STATE Wyomissing, Pa. 3.61 Political ScienceDB Josh Wilson, MARYLAND Upper Marlboro, Md. 3.24 MarketingDB Allyn Bacchus, VILLANOVA Hampton, Va. 3.27 EducationLB Paul Posluszny, PENN STATE Aliquippa, PA 3.56 FinanceLB Jay Henry, WEST VIRGINIA Jenks, OK 4.00 Finance/AccountingLB Brandon Renkart, RUTGERS Piscataway, N.J. 3.72 Civil EngineeringDL Ray Gensler, ROBERT MORRIS Pittsburgh, Pa. 3.91 Manufacturing EngineeringDL Tim Shaw, PENN STATE Livonia, Mich. 3.38 Management Telecom.DL Ryan Esdale, DUQUESNE Succasunna, NJ 3.65 Secondary Ed./CitizenshipDL John Webb, TOWSON Sicklerville, N.J. 3.32 Biology
