DANBURY, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2018 Division I FCS All-ECAC Teams and Major Awards, with Duquesne landing five players on the All-ECAC First Team including running back A.J. Hines (Wilson, N.C./Fike), wide receiver Nehari Crawford (Fort Pierce, Fla./Fort Pierce Central), offensive linemen Alex Conley (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Matt Fitzpatrick (Pennsauken, N.J./Bishop Eustace) as well as defensive back Jonathant Istache (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central).

All five players for the NEC champion Dukes earned First Team All-NEC honors this season.

This marks the second-straight All-ECAC accolade for Crawford, who garnered Second Team recognition as a junior in 2017. He finished his career with the most receiving yards (2,719) and receptions (190) in program history. Crawford posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2018, pacing the NEC in receiving yards (1,048) and receptions (71). He finished with 12 total touchdowns on the year, highlighted by a career day in a win over Dayton with 11 catches for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Crawford recently accepted an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January at the Rose Bowl.

Hines, the NEC Offensive Player of the Year, ranked third in the FCS with 1,520 rushing yards and fourth in the country with 17 total touchdowns on the season. He posted seven 100-yard rushing performances in 2018 and tallied over 200 yards from scrimmage in five contests. He was also named a Second Team AP FCS All-American and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.

Conley and Fitzpatrick were both three-year starters on the offensive line for Duquesne. The duo helped the Dukes pace the NEC in rushing in two of the last three seasons. In 2018, Duquesne registered at least 200 yards on the ground or through the air on nine occasions. Conley and Fitzpatrick, both two-time All-NEC selections, helped Hines record over 100 rushing yards 20 times over the last three seasons. Fitzpatrick was a finalist for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, as well.

Istache ranked second in the FCS with 19 passes defended with four interceptions and 15 pass breakups after the Dukes' final game at South Dakota State. The Florida native had 45 tackles (33 solo) on the year to go with three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He had an interception in Duquesne's NEC-title clinching win at Central Connecticut as well as a pick in the end zone at Hawaii from the hand of Rainbow Warrior quarterback Cole McDonald, who ranked fifth in the FBS averaging 315.8 passing yards per game.  

Towson quarterback Tom Flacco was named ECAC Offensive Player of the Year, Wagner linebacker Cam Gill Defensive Player of the Year, Monmouth running back Juwon Farri Rookie of the Year and Colgate's Dan Hunt Coach of the Year.


All-ECAC First Team Offense
Tom Flacco - Towson University, Rs-Jr., QB
A.J. Hines - Duquesne University, Jr., RB
Ryan Fulse - Wagner College, Sr., RB
Nehari Crawford - Duquesne University, Sr., WR
Juston Christian - Marist College, Sr., WR
Reggie White Jr. - Monmouth University, 5th year, WR
Isiah Searight - Fordham University, Sr., TE
Alex Conley - Duquesne University, Sr., OL
Matt Fitzpatrick - Duquesne University, Sr., OL 
Scott Hirshman - Colgate University, Sr., OL
Larry Allen Jr. - Harvard University, Sr., OL
Matt Kauffman - Towson University, Sr., OL

All-ECAC First Team Defense
Maurice Jackson - University of Richmond, Jr., DL
Nick Wheeler - Colgate University, Jr., DL
Tomas Wright - Bryant University, Jr., DL
Ron'Dell Carter - James Madison University, Rs-Jr., DL
T.J. Holl - Colgate University, Sr., LB
Cam Gill - Wagner College, Jr., LB
Sterling Sheffield - University of Maine, Sr., LB
Jonathant Istache - Duquesne University, Sr., DB
Tyler Castillo - Colgate University, Sr., DB 
DJ Exilhomme - Central Connecticut, So., DB
Wesley Ogsbury - Harvard University, Sr., DB
Jimmy Moreland - James Madison University, 5th year, DB