BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Duquesne sophomore running back Shawn Solomon, Jr. was named the 2024 Northeast Conference Offensive Rookie of the Year and 15 Dukes were selected to the all-conference teams released this afternoon.

Solomon becomes the third NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year in program history, joining A.J. Hines (RB in 2016) and Billy Lucas (RB in Spring 2021). The Pittsburgh native ran for 263 yards with two rushing touchdowns and one receiving score in his first year of action for Duquesne. Solomon charted double-digit carries in four games, including a career-high 20 in the conference-opening win over LIU. He rushed for a season-high 89 yards and scored a touchdown in the victory over West Virginia Wesleyan.

Solomon also rushed for a touchdown in Duquesne's Week 3 win over a ranked Youngstown State team and caught a 36-yard touchdown pass in the victory at Stonehill.

FULL 2024 ALL-NEC TEAMS

The Dukes had eight players named to first team All-NEC and seven selected to second team. The 15 total selections are the second-most in a single season for Duquesne since joining the league, behind 16 in the Spring 2021 campaign, and tied with Central Connecticut State for the most of any team this year.

First-team honors went to quarterback Darius Perrantes, running back JaMario Clements, wide receiver Joey Isabella, offensive lineman Brian Beidatsch, Jr., defensive linemen A.J. Ackerman and Jack Dunkley, linebacker Ty Howard, and defensive back Antonio Epps.

Second-team selections included wide receiver John Erby, offensive linemen Michael Fallah and Cameron McLaurin, defensive lineman Jason Patterson, linebacker Khatavian Franks, defensive back DJ Cerisier, and punter Kyle Romenick.

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
QB Darius Perrantes (Sr. • Los Angeles, Calif.)

• Second straight season named to first team ... Tied Duquesne single-season record with 29 passing touchdowns ... Totaled 2,338 passing yards (233.8 per game) and led the NEC in passing efficiency (149.2), yards per completion (14.08) and points responsible for per game (18.0) ... Nationally, he finished the regular season ranked third in the FCS in points responsible for per game,  fourth in passing touchdowns and ninth in yards per completion ... A league-best 1,729 yards (288.2 per game) and 24 touchdowns came in NEC play ... Finished the season with multiple passing touchdowns in eight straight games ... Was only FCS quarterback to record three games of 5 or more touchdown passes during the regular season and only Duquesne quarterback ever to throw 5+ in three games in a single season ... Tied a single-game program record and set a new Rooney Field record with six touchdown passes in the win over Wagner ... Earned three NEC Offensive Player of the Week nods, pushing his career total to a Duquesne record seven in his career ... Moved into the top-five all-time at Duquesne this season in career passing touchdowns (tied for 3rd), yards (4th) and completions (4th).

RB JaMario Clements (R-Jr. • Lafayette, Ga.)

• First all-conference honor of his career ... Led the NEC with 986 rushing yards (89.6 per game) and 6.6 yards per carry, while ranking second with six touchdowns ... His yards per carry finished the regular season ninth-most in the FCS and yards per game were in the top-25 nationally ... Tallied five 100-yard games this season ... Had three in a row prior to last outing (108 at Stonehill, 177 vs. Mercyhurst, 105 vs. Robert Morris) ... Career-high 204 yards in the ranked win at Youngstown State - the only 200-yard game by an NEC running back this season - and was most in a game by a Duke since 2018 ... Recorded three of the five longest runs in the NEC this season (86 yard TD vs. Mercyhurst, 75 yard TD and 72 yard rush at YSU) ... The 86-yard touchdown run tied for the longest run in recorded program history ... Both 75 and 86 yard touchdowns were the deciding scores in each of the respective games ... A two-time NEC Offensive Player of the Week and three-time NEC Prime Performer this season.

WR Joey Isabella (Gr. • Mayfield, Ohio)

• First career all-conference honor ... Finished the season with a touchdown reception in eight straight games - the longest streak in the FCS ... Led Duquesne and ranked second in the NEC averaging 74.1 receiving yards per game (741 total) and 11 touchdowns ... He finished regular season ranking sixth in the FCS in receiving touchdowns and top-20 in yards per reception (18.07) ... Had a league-leading 547 yards and nine touchdowns in conference play averaging over 90 yards per game ... Recorded a pair of 100-yard games (124yd vs. Mercyhurst and 149yd at CCSU) ... Caught 10 passes for 20+ yards including a 64-yard touchdown vs. Mercyhurst and 85-yard score at Central Connecticut State - the third-longest reception in the NEC in 2024.

OL Brian Beidatsch, Jr. (Jr. • Greenfield, Wis.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Played multiple positions across the offensive line, including five starts (one at left tackle and four straight to end the season at right guard) ... Member of an offensive line unit that ranked third in the FCS in sacks allowed per game (0.64) and did not allow a sack in five outings ... Offensive line also led NEC and ranked eighth in the FCS in tackles for loss allowed per game (3.82) ... Paved the way for a rushing offense that averaged 138.2 yards per game and protected the pocket for the league's top passing offense at 289.5 yards per game.

DL A.J. Ackerman (Gr. • Elizabeth, Pa.)

• First career all-conference honor … Started all 11 games on the defensive line … Tallied 18 tackles with 1.5 for loss and half a sack … Had at least one tackle in all but one game … Added four quarterback hurries … Was a preseason all-conference selection and team captain for second straight year.

DL Jack Dunkley (So. • Penndel, Pa.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Tied for the NEC lead with 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks ... Averaged 0.86 sacks per game, which ranks 11th in the FCS ... Only NEC defender with three forced fumbles (7th most in FCS) ... Finished the season with a sack in four of the last five games, including a career-high 3.0 versus Robert Morris, and tallied a tackle for loss in nine of the 11 games ... Also had a team-high eight quarterback hurries and added 27 tackles.

LB Ty Howard (Jr. • Cleveland, Ohio)

• First career all-conference honor ... Led all NEC linebackers and ranked second overall with three interceptions ... Had four takeaways in four straight games (40yd pick six at Saint Francis, fumble recovery at Stonehill and interception in red zone vs. Mercyhurst and RMU) ... Earned NEC Defensive Player of the Week after the red zone INT and a team-high eight tackles versus RMU and was a three-time NEC Prime Performer ... Had five or more tackles in seven of nine games played ... Tied a career high with eight tackles three times ... Added four sacks, with one in each of the last three games, and 7.0 tackles for loss to go with 52 total tackles on the year.

DB Antonio Epps (R-Jr. • Liberty Borough, Pa.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Led Duquesne with 55 tackles and 34 solos, adding a pair of tackles for loss ... Second straight year leading the Dukes in tackles ... Had first career interception in the ranked win over Youngstown State ... Season-high 11 tackles in win over Mercyhurst and had team-high nine at Central Connecticut State.

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
WR John Erby (Gr. • Chester, S.C.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Tied for the Duquesne lead with 47 catches (5^th most in the NEC) and totaled 668 receiving yards with eight touchdowns … All eight touchdowns came in NEC play (second most) … Posted a career-high seven catches three times and had at least six on five occasions … Earned NEC Offensive Player of the Week after a career-high 126 yards and three touchdowns in the Robert Morris win … Two-time NEC Prime Performer … Also went over the century mark with 125 yards and two scores in the Stonehill win … Recorded three multi-score games - only NEC receiver to have a three-touchdown game in 2024 … Was featured as No. 3 play on ESPN Top Plays after a one-handed touchdown grab versus Wagner.

OL Michael Fallah (Gr. • Ramsey, N.J.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Started nine games at left guard on an offensive line unit that ranked third in the FCS in sacks allowed per game (0.64) and did not allow a sack in five outings ... Duquesne also led NEC and ranked eighth in the FCS in tackles for loss allowed per game (3.82) ... Paved the way for a rushing offense that averaged 138.2 yards per game and protected the pocket for the league's top passing offense at 289.5 yards per game.

OL Cameron McLaurin (Sr. • McKees Rocks, Pa.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Started all 11 games at center and was a member of an offensive line unit that ranked third in the FCS in sacks allowed per game (0.64) and did not allow a sack in five outings ... Duquesne also led NEC and ranked eighth in the FCS in tackles for loss allowed per game (3.82) ... Paved the way for a rushing offense that averaged 138.2 yards per game and protected the pocket for the league's top passing offense at 289.5 yards per game.

DL Jason Patterson (So. • Philadelphia, Pa.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Tied for second on the team with 7.0 tackles for loss, while adding 3.0 sacks, six quarterback hurries and 24 tackles as a true sophomore … Had a tackle for loss in six of 11 outings with a season-high 2.0 in the Robert Morris win.

LB Khatavian Franks (R-Sr. • Americus, Ga.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Racked up 34 tackles (21 solos) in seven games played after battling an early injury ... Charted at least four tackles in six of seven games and had a career-high eight with a sack at Saint Francis ... Recorded an interception versus Wagner and tipped a pass that led to Howard's red zone interception against Robert Morris.

DB DJ Cerisier (R-Fr. • Cheltenham, Pa.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Started every game at corner back as a redshirt freshman ... Charted three pass breakups and 20 tackles ... Had multiple tackles in eight games, including each of the last three, and a season-high four at Saint Francis.

P Kyle Romenick (Gr. • Fort Mill, S.C.)

• First career all-conference honor ... Set a new Duquesne single-season record and led the NEC with a 43.1 yard per punt average, which also ranks 19th in the FCS ... Tied the DU program record for longest punt with a 73-yard boom versus Robert Morris ... Had just four touchbacks in 42 punts ... Placed nine inside the 20-yard line and belted six for over 50 yards.

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