Duquesne University Athletics

NCAA CAREER STATS

SHOP GIANNI RIZZO NIL STORE

HONORS

• Second Team All-NEC (2023)
• NEC Defensive Player of the Week (11.20.23)

AS A GRADUATE STUDENT (2024)

• Started all 11 games at linebacker
• Totaled 41 tackles (21 solos) with 6.0 tackles for loss, 1 sack, three pass breakups and three QB hurries
• Season-high six tackles in four games (at Toledo, at No. 21/20 Youngstown State, vs. Mercyhurst, at Central Connecticut State)
• Multiple tackles in nine of 11 games, at least one in every game
• Sack was in the win at Youngstown State along with six tackles
• Had a TFL in three straight games to close out the season ... Five of six TFLs came in conference play
• All three pass breakups came in conference play
• Preseason All-NEC selection ... Named Preseason Top Returning Linebacker in the NEC by HERO Sports

AS A JUNIOR (2023)

• Second team All-NEC linebacker
• NEC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 12)
  • Posted a game-high 10 tackles (9 solos) and had 1.5 TFLs in the NEC title-clinching win at Merrimack
• NEC Prime Performer (Week 11)
• Started all 12 games at linebacker
• Led team with 10.0 TFLs, second in sacks (3.5) and third in total tackles (68)
• 10 TFLs were tied for third-most in the Northeast Conference this season
• Finished the season with three straight double-digit tackle games (11 vs. Stonehill, 10 at Merrimack, 11 at Youngstown State in NCAA Playoffs)
• Had a tackle in every game with 5-plus in seven outings
• Charted a TFL in eight of 12 games with a season-high 2.5 vs. Stonehill
• Recorded sacks vs. Edinboro (1.0), at Sacred Heart (1.0), and vs. Stonehill (1.5)

AS A SOPHOMORE (2022) 

• Appeared in 11 games 
• Posted 32 total tackles, eight of which came vs Sacred Heart 
• Posted one sack vs Wagner 

AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2021 at Youngstown State)

• Appeared in six games for the Penguins
• Finished with tackles in six games and a forced fumble
• Posted a tackle and forced a fumble versus Michigan State

AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2020-21 at Youngstown State)

• Played in six games as a reserve on defense and member of special teams
• Was credited with three tackles, all assisted stops
• Had tackles vs. UNI, South Dakota State and South Dakota.

AS A FRESHMAN (2019 at Youngstown State) 

• Redshirted
• Saw action in the final two games of the season on special teams
• Was credited with an assisted tackle against Illinois State.

HIGH SCHOOL

• Played linebacker and wide receiver at Norwin for Head Coach David Brozeski
• As a senior, caught 21 passes for 542 yards, had 22 carries for 139 yards,scored 12 touchdowns
• Had 72 tackles as a senior
• As a junior, caught 39 passes for 506 yards and three touchdowns
• Credited with 49 tackles (29 solos), had 11 TFLs and five sacks
• Also competed in track and field
• Set the school record in the 200m dash and was part of the school-record 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.

PERSONAL

• Parents are Susanna and Robert Rizzo
• Has a brother