EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Northeast Conference released its 2018 preseason coaches poll as well as its preseason all-conference teams on Tuesday morning at the fourth annual NEC Football Social Media Day at MetLife Stadium. Duquesne was picked to finish second in the poll of the league's seven head coaches while five Dukes earned preseason All-NEC accolades.

Defending champion Central Connecticut State was predicted to defend its title with five first-place votes followed by Duquesne second with one first-place vote and Bryant third with a first-place vote as well. 

This marks the eighth-straight year in which Duquesne has been selected first or second in the NEC's preseason coaches poll. The Dukes posted a 7-4 overall ledger in 2017 with a 4-2 mark in conference play.

DU's five honorees on the preseason All-NEC squad are senior wide receiver Nehari Crawford(Fort Pierce, Fla./Fort Pierce Central), senior offensive linemen Alex Conley (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Matt Fitzpatrick (Pennsauken, N.J./Bishop Eustace), senior defensive back Jonathant Istache (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central) and junior running back A.J. Hines (Wilson, N.C./Fike).
 
All five Dukes were All-NEC selections in 2017.

Crawford tallied 65 receptions for 1,026 yards and 15 touchdowns, good for the FCS lead in receiving touchdowns at the conclusion of the 2017 regular season. Conley and Fitzpatrick played a key role in the Duquesne offense pacing the NEC and ranking 21st in the country in rushing offense. Hines enters his junior campaign eighth in school history with 2,329 career rushing yards and 23 career rushing touchdowns to go with 13 100-yard rushing performances in his first two seasons. Istache recorded a team-high 11 pass breakups with 38 tackles, including 29 solo stops on the year.  

The Dukes have recorded 50 wins since 2011, at least eight more victories than any other team in the NEC. In addition, Duquesne's 30 conference wins in that time span are the most in the league. The Dukes have registered at least seven total victories in three straight seasons and five of the last seven years. Duquesne is 14-4 in NEC action over the past three seasons with a pair of conference championships in 2015 and '16. The Dukes have four conference crowns in the last seven years.

In addition to the preseason poll and all-conference teams, the NEC also released its 2018 TV schedule for ESPN3 with the Dukes appearing twice on the slate, first against local rival Robert Morris at Arthur J. Rooney Field on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. and again on the road at Wagner on Nov. 3 at noon. 

Duquesne opens the 2018 campaign on Aug. 25 at FBS Massachusetts. For the complete 2018 schedule click HERE.
 
2018 Northeast Conference Football League Preseason Poll
1. Central Connecticut State (5)
2. Duquesne (1)
3. Bryant (1)
4. Saint Francis U
5. Wagner
6. Sacred Heart
7. Robert Morris

First place votes in parentheses ()