PITTSBURGH – Six Duquesne University football student-athletes earned spots on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Team, the organization announced this afternoon.

Daniel Tarabrella, Evan Rordam, Tyler Rieger, Nico Pate, Jackson Farrell and Kevin Kurzinger represented the Dukes on the list. Tarabrella, Rieger and Kurzinger are repeat honorees from last season, with Kurzinger earning the distinction for the third time in his career.

The Academic All-District® program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined accomplishments on the field and in the classroom. To be eligible, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, carry a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 and compete in at least 90 percent of their team's games or start at least 66 percent.

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Kevin Kurzinger, a first team All-NEC selection this season, owns a 3.59 graduate GPA in health administration after posting a 3.58 as an undergraduate health sciences major. He started all 12 games in 2025, recording career highs with 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, both tied for the team lead. Over six seasons and 46 career games, Kurzinger totaled 106 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. A four-time NEC Academic Honor Roll selection, he is now a three-time CSC Academic All-District® honoree.

Jackson Farrell earned his first Academic All-District® honor after posting a 3.65 GPA in marketing. A Pittsburgh native and two-time NEC Academic Honor Roll selection, Farrell appeared in all 12 games during the season, contributing primarily on special teams with additional time on the offensive line.

Nico Pate collected his first Academic All-District® recognition with a 3.57 GPA in finance. The redshirt junior from Peters Township, Pa., played in all 12 games and made two starts, totaling a career-best 21 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and three pass breakups. He is a two-time NEC Academic Honor Roll honoree.

Tyler Rieger was named to the Academic All-District® Team for the second consecutive year and carries a 3.96 GPA as a history major. In his second season as Duquesne's primary long snapper, he helped anchor a unit that did not allow a blocked punt or field goal, including a successful 33-yard game-winning kick as time expired in the season finale at Robert Morris. A Pittsburgh-area native from Upper St. Clair, Rieger is an NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll selection and previously earned All-MAC Academic honors at Akron.

Evan Rordam earned his first Academic All-District® honor with a 3.60 GPA in athletic training. The sophomore from Tampa, Fla., appeared in all 12 games during the season, contributing as an offensive lineman primarily on special teams.

Daniel Tarabrella, a junior tight end from Harrison City, Pa., posted a 3.88 GPA in marketing and earned his second Academic All-District® selection. He started nine games and played in 11 overall, recording eight receptions for 52 yards and two touchdowns. Tarabrella is also a two-time NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree.

Duquesne has now recorded six or more CSC Academic All-District® selections in four consecutive seasons.

The Dukes finished the 2025 campaign with a 7-5 overall record and a 5-2 NEC mark, securing the program's 27th winning season in 33 years at the FCS level and the 10th in the past 11 seasons since 2015.

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