PITTSBURGH – The Duquesne University football team had a league-high 19 players named to the 2024 Phil Steele All-Northeast Conference Teams. Brian Beidatsch, Jr. was named the NEC Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Beidatsch, a junior out of Greenfield Wis., played multiple positions across the offensive line this fall with five starts (one at left tackle and four straight to end the season at right guard). He was a key part in the offensive line unit that ranks second in the FCS in sacks allowed per game (0.64) and eighth nationally in tackles for loss allowed per game (3.82).

The Dukes had seven first-team honorees, five on the second team and seven third-team selections.

PHIL STEELE ALL-NEC TEAMS

Recognized on the first team were quarterback Darius Perrantes, running back JaMario Clements, wide receiver Joey Isabella, offensive lineman Brian Beidatsch, Jr., defensive lineman Jack Dunkley, linebacker Ty Howard, and long snapper Tyler Rieger.

Perrantes, Clements, Isabella, Beidatsch, Dunkley and Howard were also named first team all-conference by the league's coaches last month.

Perrantes threw for 2,338 yards (233.8 per game) and tied the Duquesne single-season record with 29 touchdowns this season. He finished leading the NEC and top-10 nationally in multiple stat categories. A three-time NEC Offensive Player of the Week, Perrantes was the only FCS quarterback to throw five or more touchdowns in three games this season - also the first Duke to ever do so.

Clements paced the NEC with 986 rushing yards and had five outings over 100 yards, while ranking top-10 nationally in yards per carry (6.62). The redshirt junior Georgia native scored six touchdowns and was a two-time NEC Offensive Player of the Week.

Isabella ended the season with a touchdown catch in eight straight games, which was the longest active streak in the FCS. He was second in the conference with 11 touchdowns and 74.1 receiving yards per game, while ranking top-20 in the FCS in yards per completion (18.07).

Dunkley led the NEC with 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, while being the only NEC defender to force three fumbles.

Howard posted four takeaways, which came in four straight games during the middle of the season. The junior led all NEC linebackers with three interceptions, which included a 40-yard pick six. Howard was once an NEC Defensive Player of the Week in 2024.

Rieger was the primary long snapper on a unit that did not allow a blocked punt or field goal all season and went 42-for-44 on PATs.

Gary Satterwhite III represented the offense on the second team, while A.J. Ackerman, Jason Patterson and Antonio Epps earned defensive second-team honors. Punter Kyle Romenick also garnered second-team recognition.

Satterwhite started 10 games at right tackle on the nationally-ranked offensive line.

Epps led the DU defense with 55 tackles, his second straight year atop the tackle charts, and had an interception. Patterson tied for second on the team with 7.0 tackles for loss to go with 3.0 sacks and 24 tackles, while Ackerman provided veteran presence on the defensive line starting all 11 games with 18 tackles (1.5 for loss) and half a sack.

Romenick set a new Duquesne single-season record and led the NEC with a 43.1 yards per punt average, which is top-20 in the FCS.

The third team included John Erby as both a wide receiver and punt returner, wide receiver Tedy Afful, offensive linemen Michael Fallah and Cameron McLaurin, linebackers Khatavian Franks and Gianni Rizzo, and defensive back DJ Cerisier.

Erby hauled in 47 catches for 668 yards and scored eight touchdowns, all eight came in NEC play. The graduate transfer also took all 16 punt returns for the Dukes ranking third in the NEC in punt return average.

Afful snagged six touchdowns and posted 47 catches for 610 yards on the season, including a 208-yard outing vs. Wagner.

McLaurin assumed center duties this season and started all 11 games, while Fallah started nine games at left guard on the offensive line.

Franks had an interception and racked up 34 tackles (21 solos) in seven games, while Rizzo started all 11 and posted 41 tackles with 6.0 for loss, one sack and three pass breakups. Cerisier started every game at cornerback as a redshirt freshman, recording three pass breakups and 20 tackles.

Phil Steele is a college football magazine with a dedication to FCS coverage. For more information, visit www.PhilSteele.com.

Duquesne finished with an 8-3 overall record and 5-1 conference mark earning a share of the Northeast Conference title in 2024.

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