SOMERSET, N.J. – Duquesne senior defensive back Daivon Ellison (Linden, N.J. / Don Bosco Prep / Syracuse) was named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Defensive Player of the Week while freshman linebacker Todd Hill (Homestead, Pa. / Steel Valley) earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors for their performances in the Dukes' 21-14 victory over LIU on Saturday, league officials announced on Monday afternoon.

Ellison recorded two interceptions to go with a fumble recovery, four tackles and 1.5 TFL in the Duquesne win.

He came up with his first interception early in the second quarter, picking off a third-down pass at the LIU 46-yard line. His second takeaway of the afternoon came late in the opening half when Hill stripped Sharks quarterback Clay Beathard on third-and-goal before Ellison scooped it at the 15-yard line and returned it 21 yards. He then picked off Beathard again on LIU's first drive of the second half.

In addition, two of his second-half tackles resulted in one-yard losses on run plays.

Ellison is the first Duquesne player to register two interceptions in a game since Trenton Coles since Oct. 3, 2015 - a 27-10 victory over Central Connecticut State.

These were also Ellison's first interceptions at Duquesne and the first for the Syracuse transfer since he picked off Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson on Sept. 9, 2016. Jackson – the current starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens - went on to win the Heisman Trophy that season.

Making his first career start and his NEC debut, Hill matched a team-high with seven tackles to go with a timely strip sack. The local product stripped quarterback Clay Beathard on a third-and-goal play from the Dukes' two-yard line in the final minute of the second quarter, before the ball was recovered by Ellison and led to a Duquesne field goal to cap the opening half.

Just four plays earlier, Hill made a touchdown-saving tackle on a 58-yard run by LIU running back Jonathon DeBique. He and fellow linebacker Brendan Thompson also sacked Beathard for a loss of seven yards on a third-and-three play earlier in the half.

Hill is the first Duquesne player to collect NEC Rookie of the Week honors since fellow Steel Valley graduate DeWayne Murray III won the award on Oct. 30, 2017. He is also the first Dukes defensive player to garner the award since Nathan Stone on Oct. 13, 2014.

Ellison, Hill and the rest of the Dukes' defensive unit held the Sharks scoreless through their first eight possessions of the ball game.

Duquesne is off this week before traveling to Sacred Heart for a showdown with the 2018 NEC co-champions. The Pioneers are coming off a 28-3 loss to intrastate foe CCSU on Saturday in Fairfield.