July 9, 2012
Sports Network Release
PITTSBURGH - Senior safety Serge Kona (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg), the 2011 Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, has been named second team preseason FCS All-American by the Sports Network.
The 5-10, 215-pound Kona, who moved from linebacker to free safety prior to last season, led a Duquesne secondary that finished first nationally in pass defense at 139.27 yards per game in 2011. He posted 48 tackles (28 solo) including 4.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three fumbles forced for the Dukes who led the NEC in total defense, scoring defense, pass defense and pass efficiency defense.
Kona and Bryant senior running back Jordan Brown - also a second team pick - were the only Northeast Conference players named to the Sports Network's three preseason teams.
The Sports Network FCS Preseason All-America Team consists of 93 players over three teams. The Big Sky and CAA Football led all conferences with 15 selections each from nine member schools.
The Southland Conference had 14 selections and the Southern Conference followed with 13. All 13 FCS conference have at least two selections and 11 conferences have at least one player on the first team.
The full team can be found here Sports Network FCS Preseason All-American Team.
The 2012 Sports Network All-America Team will be announced after the regular season on Dec. 19.
Duquesne, which finished tied for first in the NEC in just its fourth season as an associate member in 2011 (9-2, 7-1), begins camp on August 5. The Dukes open the 2012 season at Old Dominion on Sept. 1.
More on The Sports Network: The Sports Network also presents the four major awards in the division - the Walter Payton (FCS outstanding player), the Buck Buchanan (FCS outstanding defensive player), the Jerry Rice (FCS outstanding freshman player) and the Eddie Robinson (FCS coach of the year) - after the season. In addition, TSN presents the FCS's most widely recognized weekly Top 25 poll and weekly awards honoring the nation's top offensive player, defensive player, special teams player and freshman.
