Duke Pettijohn Maynard C . " Duke " Pettijohn ( born June 7 , 1977 in Poughkeepsie , New York ) is an American Arena football defensive lineman who is currently a free agent of the Arena Football League . He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2001 . He played college football at Syracuse and was a two - time member of the All - Big East team . Pettijohn has been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Orlando Predators . High school career . Pettijohn attended West Roxbury High School in West Roxbury , Massachusetts , where he lettered three times in basketball , and four times in football . As a senior linebacker , he was the Team MVP , an All - City , All - League , and All - State selection , as well as the league MVP , and a Consensus Player of the Year . College career . In 1997 , as a frehsman , Pettijohn saw playing time in nine games as a reserve linebacker , totaling six tackles . As a sophomore , in 1998 , Pettijohn made the switch from linebacker to defensive end and registered 39 tackles , 6 . 5 sacks and six quarterback pressures . In 1999 , as a junior , he earned All - Big East honors after recording 45 tackles , including a team - high 13 tackles for a loss , 10 . 5 sacks and nine quarterback pressures . In 2000 , as a senior , Pettijohn posted 47 tackles , 14 tackles for losses , 12 quarterback pressures , 7 . 5 sacks , two passes defensed and a fumble recovery to earn second - team All - Big East honors at defensive end . At the end of this career Pettijohn finished second on the Orange ( then Orangemnen ) ' s all - time sack list with 24 . 5 . While at Syracuse he majored in child and family studies . Professional career . National Football League . In 2001 , Pettijohn went unselected in the 2001 NFL Draft , however he later signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a rookie free agent , but was released prior to the start of training camp . In 2002 , Pettijohn signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad on October 16 and , except for one week in November , remained there for the rest of the season . Arena Football League . In 2002 , Pettijohn signed with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League . He finished his rookie season with 42 carries for 84 yards and seven touchdowns , nine receptions for 122 yards and three touchdowns and 23 tackles , one tackle for a loss , one sack and a pass defensed . In his first AFL game , the Predators played the Chicago Rush and Pettijohn recorded 13 yards on seven carries , two tackles and a forced fumble . The following week against the New Jersey Red Dogs , he recorded three tackles , three rushing yards and one touchdown . At the Grand Rapids Rampage , he posted two tackles , a quarterback pressure , four carries for three yards and two touchdowns . Against the San Jose SaberCats , Pettijohn recorded 2 . 5 tackles and a 20 - yard touchdown reception . On the road against the Indiana Firebirds , he recorded 2 . 5 tackles , two receptions for 13 yards and a team - high 13 rushing yards . Against the Carolina Cobras , Pettijohn earned Ironman of the Game honors after recording 2 . 5 tackles , a sack , a forced fumble , and two carries . Against the Tampa Bay Storm , Pettijohn continued his strong rookie campaign by recording two receptions for 32 yards , a tackle , two quarterback pressures , seven rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns . During a road game against the New York Dragons , he carried the ball seven times for 12 yards and a touchdown , while adding on a 16 - yard touchdown reception and a tackle . Against the Toronto Phantoms , Pettijohn recorded two tackles . He then scored on a 10 - yard reception the next week at the Cobras . On the road against the Storm , he earned Ironman of the Game honors after rushing seven times for 30 yards , adding one reception for 24 yards and recording four tackles . Against the Georgia Force , Pettijohn led the team with nine rushing yards on two carries while adding a seven - yard reception and one tackle . In the regular season finale one the road against the Dallas Desperados , he recorded one tackle and a tackle for a loss . In Orlando ' s first round playoff victory over the Buffalo Destroyers , he recorded two tackles , a pass defensed , a quarterback pressure and two carries for three yards . During the second round win over Red Dogs in a quarterfinals , he rushed four times for eight yards and a touchdown while catching a 10 - yard pass and adding 1 . 5 tackles and a pass deflection on defense . In the Predator ' s semifinal round loss on the road to the SaberCats , Pettijohn recorded 4 . 5 tackles , a fumble recovery and a pass defensed . In 2003 , after missing the first three games of the season while on the Predators ' Reserve / Exempt list , Pettijohn returned to the AFL in a road game against the Cobras , rushing three times for 15 yards and a touchdown , while also recording a quarterback pressure . On the road at the Dragons he registered a 12 - yard carry , a seven - yard reception , a half tackle and a fumble recovery . The next week against the Firebirds , he recorded a tackle and a fumble recovery , while rushing the ball once . In Tampa Bay , Pettijohn recorded four tackles . He recorded 3 . 5 tackles and a pass deflection against the Force . Against the Los Angeles Avengers , he rushed the ball twice for 29 yards , including a 25 - yard touchdown run , caught a six - yard pass and totaled 1 . 5 tackles . He recorded three tackles , including one for a loss , on the road against the Arizona Rattlers , then he led the Predators with 16 rushing yards and a touchdown on five carries against the Destroyers . Pettijohn recorded 5 . 5 tackles and a tackle for a loss against the Las Vegas Gladiators , while also carrying the ball twice for nine yards and a touchdown and catching an 11 - yard pass . He recorded three tackles one the road against the Force before recording a tackle and 15 rushing yards on two carries , including the game - winning touchdown in overtime , on the road against the Colorado Crush . Pettijohn rushed the ball twice for 11 yards and two touchdowns against the Cobras while recording an eight - yard reception and two tackles , a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble . He finished the regular season with 2 . 5 tackles and two pass deflections at the Detroit Fury . After a first round bye , Pettijohn started the playoffs by carrying the ball for three yards and a touchdown on seven carries while recording two tackles in the quarterfinals against the Dragons . The following week at the Storm in a semifinal loss , he recorded a team - high five tackles and a sack while rushing for four yards and a touchdown on three carries . In 2004 , Pettijohn signed with the Dallas Desperados on October 16 , 2003 . He finished the season with then career - highs in tackles ( 44 . 0 ) and sacks ( 2 . 5 ) , and two fumble recoveries . He also recorded 66 rushing yards on eight carries . In his Dallas debut against the Cobras , Pettijohn recorded three tackles and a six - yard carry . Against the Philadelphia Soul he recorded a career - high seven tackles , he also carryed the ball five times for nine yards and two touchdowns . Later , he caught two passes for 13 yards , and recorded 1 . 5 tackles at the Dragons . He was on the Inactive / Injured list for the game in Columbus , but returned to play against the Rampage and recorded 1 . 5 tackles , a half sack and a half tackle for a loss . Pettijohn was then inactive with a sprained left ankle at the Cobras and against the Avengers . He returned at the Soul and led the team in rushing yards , with 12 on two carries , and tackles , with four , also recording 15 yards on two receptions and a fumble recovery . Against the SaberCats he was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game after recording two tackles , a sack and forcing a third quarter fumble . While on the road in Arizona , Pettijohn led the team in tackles with six , while catching a 15 - yard pass , and recorded a four - yard rushing touchdown . Against the Orlando Predators , Pettijohn recorded five tackles and a quarterback pressure , one carry for six yards and a seven - yard catch . Against the Dragons he recorded three tackles , three carries for three yards . During a game in Austin , Pettijohn tied for second on the team with four tackles , broke up two pass attempts , added a half sack and half a tackle for a loss , two rushes for three yards , and two receptions for 16 yards . At the Chicago Rush he carried the ball once for nine yards , and recorded 1 . 5 tackles . Against the Destroyers , Pettijohn carried the ball two times for 20 yards , including a season - long 20 - yard touchdown run , and recorded a half a tackle , half a tackle for a loss and half a sack . In the season finale against the Storm , he tied for second on the team with five tackles and recovered a fumble that he returned for a touchdown to begin the second half . In 2005 , Pettijohn had his most productive season of his career , finishing with career - highs in carries ( 57 ) , rushing yards ( 212 ) , touchdowns ( eight ) , tackles ( 45 . 0 ) , sacks ( 5 . 5 ) , tackles for losses ( 6 . 5 ) and fumble recoveries ( three ) . He was named to the All - Ironman team after setting single - season franchise records for rushes and rushing yards . He holds the team ' s all - time longest rush , a 37 - yard touchdown , and moved into second place in team history with 286 rushing yards . He led the team and doubled his previous season high with 5 . 0 sacks and also doubled his all - time career totals in tackles for losses with 6 . 5 . In the season opening overtime win against the Rush , Pettijohn rushed for eight yards and a touchdown , which turned out to be the eventual game - winning touchdown , on four carries while recording two tackles . At the Dragons , he assisted on two tackles and carried the ball six times for 28 yards . Against the Destroyers , he recorded two tackles , a quarterback pressure and a fumble recovery , and five carries for 13 yards and a touchdown . Against the Predators , Pettijohn earned Defensive Player of the Game honors , leading the team with six tackles , a sack , a quarterback pressure and a fumble recovery that led to an eventual touchdown and a two - score Dallas lead . At the Soul , he was named Ironman of the Game , carrying the ball three times for 47 yards , including a club - record 37 - yard touchdown run , finishing second on the team with three tackles and recovering his third fumble of the season . Against the New Orleans VooDoo , he finished second on the team with five tackles , including a sack that resulted in a safety . At the Wranglers , Pettijohn finished with 3 . 5 tackles , a hurry , three carries for five yards and blocked a second quarter field goal attempt that led to a Dallas touchdown . At the Avengers he led the team with six carries for nine yards and a touchdown . Against the Crush , he added two tackles and a blocked PAT attempt . Against the Nashville Kats , Pettijohn added two tackles and 22 rushing yards on four carries . In San Jose , he added two tackles , both sacks , one for a safety , and a catch for 10 yards . At the Destroyers he led the team with six carries for 18 yards and two rushing touchdowns while posting two tackles and a sack . At the Force , Pettijohn finished second with 6 . 5 tackles and added four carries for 26 yards and a rushing touchdown . In the season finale against the Philadelphia Soul , he had four carries for 12 yards and a touchdown and added three tackles . Pettijohn represented the Desperados at the 2005 ArenaBattle event during ArenaBowl XIX weekend as one of the top FB / LBs in the league . In 2006 , Pettijohn continued as a veteran leader on offense and defense for the Desperados rushing 37 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns while finishing fourth on the team with 42 . 0 tackles , second in sacks ( three ) , tackles for losses ( six ) and tying for the team lead with four forced fumbles . He led the team with 13 . 5 special teams tackles . In the Desperados ' season opener against the Kansas City Brigade , Pettijohn recorded three tackles and a pass breakup , five rushes for eight yards and a score . He picked up 3 . 5 tackles on defense and helped the offense record 343 yards through the air , the fourth best passing day in team history . Against the Wranglers , he carried the ball twice for one yard and a touchdown while adding three tackles , including one for a loss , the 150th tackle of his career . Against the Gladiators , he caught one pass for a season - long 21 yards and added two carries for three yards . At the Chicago Rush , Pettijohn carried the ball four times for a season - high 21 yards while adding a tackle on defense and recovering a Matt D ' Orazio fumble in the endzone . The next week at the Storm , he earned Ironman of the Game honors after leading the team with seven tackles , including a sack and two forced fumbles . At the Predators , Pettijohn rushed four times for 10 yards and helped the offense record a season - high 377 yards of total offense , the third best day in club history , along with two tackles . Against the Soul , he had two tackles and two pass breakups . Against the Destroyers , Pettjohn earned Defensive Player of the Game honors with two tackles , including his second sack of the season . At the Dragons , he recorded two tackles , including a sack that resulted in an intentional grounding penalty in the endzone for a safety , and two runs for 10 yards . Against the Rampage , he earned Defensive Player of the Game for the second time on the season with five tackles , one for a loss and a pass breakup , he also rushed the ball four times for 12 yards and caught two passes for 18 yards . At the Force , Pettijohn added four tackles and one for a loss . Against the Rattlers , he recorded 2 . 5 tackles and a fumble recovery . Against the Dragons , he carried the ball twice for three yards , caught a three - yard pass for a touchdown and recorded a tackle and forced a fumble . In the Divisional Championship game against the Force , Pettijohn rushed the ball three times for six yards and recorded a half tackle . In the Conference Championship game against the Predators , he added two carries for one yard and a touchdown , a tackle and pass deflection . In 2007 , Pettijohn finished with 43 . 5 tackles ( 35 solo ) and led the team in special teams tackles with 16 . 5 while also tallying the second - most sacks ( 6 . 0 ) and tackles for loss ( 7 . 0 ) . For this he was named to the AFL All - Arena First Team for the second consecutive season and the All - Ironman team for the third consecutive time . In the season opener in New York , Pettijohn recorded three tackles and a half sack . Against the Storm he was named the Defensive Player of the Game against after recording five tackles and one pass defensed . He recorded his first rushing attempt of the season for a loss of one yard at the Brigade while also recording two tackles . Against the Wranglers , Pettijohn recorded two tackles , one sack , a forced fumble and a fumble recovery . Against the Destroyers , he earned his second Defensive Player of the Game honor of the season , after recording two tackles , one quarterback pressure , one pass defensed and one forced fumble . Against the Philadelphia Soul , he had 1 . 5 tackles , two passes defensed and one fumble recovery to earn his third Defensive Player of the Game honor of the season . Against the Kats , Pettijohn finished second on the team in tackles with five including making the 200th tackle of his career , while also adding a sack , one hurry and a pass breakup . At the Utah Blaze he recorded two tackles , one sack and one fumble recovery . Against the Rush , Pettijohn had 2 . 5 tackles , one tackle for a loss and forced a fumble . In Columbus , he recorded four tackles , one tackle for loss and forced a fumble . At the Soul , Pettijohn was named Defensive Player of the Game for the fourth time this season after recording five tackles . Against the VooDoo , he recorded one sack along with two tackles . Against the Dragons , Pettijohn recorded two tackles , 1 . 5 sacks , one tackle for loss , three hurries , one blocked PAT and forced a fumble , in a game where the defense forced five turnovers and gave up the lowest yardage total ( 138 ) and second - lowest point total ( 13 ) in franchise history . 2007 playoffs . In the Divisional Championship game against the Destroyers , Pettijohn made 1 . 5 tackles and one sack . In 2008 , Pettijohn recorded 51 tackles ( 35 solo ) , 3 . 5 sacks , one pass defensed , two fumbles recovered , and one kick return for 18 yards . On the season , he had no rushing yards , nor any receptions . Arena Football 1 . 2009 . Pettijohn signed with the Vigilantes in Arena Football 1 on January 2 , 2009 . Personal . Pettijohn is married to wife Juliet , and the couple have a son , Duke Bailey ( born June 15 , 2006 ) . Pettijohn is one of the most active Desperados in the community . Several times throughout the season , he can be found doing arts and crafts , playing cards , foosball , checkers and other games at Boys & Girls Club locations across the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex as part of the Desperados ' " Impact Player Program " , which is an annual outreach initiative that provides positive role models to at - risk youth served by the Boys & Girls Clubs system . Currently , Pettijohn is the defensive ends coach for the Parish Episcopal School Panthers .