EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Duquesne was selected to repeat as Northeast Conference (NEC) champions in 2019 while eight Dukes were named to the Preseason All-NEC Team as announced at the fifth annual NEC Social Media Day on Wednesday at MetLife Stadium.

DU received seven of the eight first-place votes followed by 2018 co-champion Sacred Heart second. The Pioneers received the other first-place vote with 2017 champion Central Connecticut predicted to finish third, Wagner fourth, Bryant fifth Saint Francis U sixth, Robert Morris seventh and football newcomer Long Island eighth.

The Dukes' eight Preseason All-NEC honorees were quarterback Daniel Parr (Jupiter, Fla. / William T. Dwyer / FAU), running back A.J. Hines (Wilson, N.C. / Fike), wide receiver Kellon Taylor (Landover, Md. / DeMatha Catholic), offensive lineman Gabe Spurlock (Mars, Pa. / Mars), defensive lineman Kam Carter (Germantown, Md. / Gaithersburg / Pitt), linebacker Brett Zanotto (Murrysville, Pa. / Franklin Regional / Maryland), defensive back Reid Harrison-Ducros (Colleyville, Texas / Colleyville Heritage / Boise State) and kicker Mitch MacZura (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic / Ohio State).

Duquesne captured its fifth NEC crown in 2018, winning the final five games of the regular season including a thrilling 38-31 victory at CCSU in the regular season finale to clinch the conference title and the Dukes' second Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoff bid. With the score knotted at 31-31, Parr connected with DU all-time leading receiver Nehari Crawford on a 56-yard scoring strike for the go-ahead touchdown with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Dukes went on to upset 16th-ranked Towson on the road by a score of 31-10 in their FCS Playoff First Round matchup, recording the program's first win in the FCS Playoffs. Duquesne closed the year ranked nationally in both the STATS FCS Top 25 (No. 21) and AFCA Coaches' Poll (No. 24).

STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award finalist and NEC Coach of the Year Jerry Schmitt enters his 15th season at the helm of the DU program. Schmitt's Dukes return 12 starters from the historic 2018 season.

Duquesne also claimed league championships in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018, earning the conference's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs in both 2015 and 2018. Additionally, the Dukes are just seven total points away from winning four consecutive NEC titles and garnering four FCS Playoff appearances in a row after a narrow 14-10 loss to co-champion Saint Francis U in 2016 as well as a heartbreaking 28-27 decision to outright champ CCSU in 2017.

DU has recorded 59 wins since 2011, at least eight more victories than any other NEC team. In addition, the Dukes' 35 conference wins in that time span are the most in the league.

This represents the ninth-straight season in which Duquesne has been selected first or second in the NEC's preseason coaches poll.

The Dukes open the 2019 campaign hosting Walsh on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. at Arthur J. Rooney Field. Duquesne begins NEC play on Saturday, Oct. 5 versus LIU at noon on The Bluff.

For season ticket information, please call 412-232-DUKE (3853) or visit www.GoDuquesne.com/tickets.


2019 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Duquesne (7)
2. Sacred Heart (1)
3. Central Connecticut
4. Wagner
5. Bryant
6. Saint Francis U
7. Robert Morris
8. Long Island

2019 Preseason All-NEC Team
QB - Daniel Parr / Duquesne
RB - A.J. Hines / Duquesne
WR - Kellon Taylor / Duquesne
OL - Gabe Spurlock / Duquesne
DL - Kam Carter / Duquesne
LB - Brett Zanotto / Duquesne
DB - Reid Harrison-Ducros / Duquesne
K - Mitch MacZura / Duquesne