Duquesne Football 2025 Preview
By: PSN’s Zachary Weiss
A man walked into a local Dick’s Sporting Goods when some of the shoppers came up to him because he was wearing a Duquesne Football shirt, and in their excitement were telling him about Saturday’s contest against Pitt, the first between the programs in nearly 86 years.
The man, Duquesne’s junior defensive lineman Jack Dunkley, who just so happened to make the NEC’s Preseason All-Northeast Conference Preseason Team and 2025 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List recipient, made them a promise.
“Maybe I’ll see you there,” he said with a smile.
Of course there is Acrisure Stadium as come Saturday at noon, 40 Duquesne players have the opportunity to play on a field they have longed to compete on or for others such as graduate student linebacker Cameron McLaurin, have a return trip, though his first experience was a rainy WPIAL championship.
Ever since the matchup was officially announced in early January, Jerry Schmitt, in his 21st season at the helm, and all of his players and coaches have been inundated with texts, calls and e-mails expressing excitement for Saturday.
Since students returned to campus, there have been efforts to make them aware of the game as for many this may be their first ever Duquesne football game.
“I think everyone’s excited, and we might have the most Duquesne fans that have ever been to a game just because everyone is going to have so many family members there and I feel the most students ever too,” graduate student wide receiver Joey Isabella explained. “It’s technically a home game, but it’s not a home game. A challenge like that is exciting in week one because you don’t know what to expect and Pitt is going to be the best team we will play all year, so it will be interesting to see where we are at.”
In recent years, Duquesne has notably played challenging opponents, all while building within its identity and principles. As a matter of fact, Pitt represents the Dukes’ 12th FBS opponent in program history and third ACC foe.
Duquesne has won or shared the NEC title over the past two seasons and were picked second in the preseason poll earning two first-place votes.
“It’s an opportunity to play an opponent like the university of Pittsburgh,” observed Schmitt. “I say we’ve got three championship programs here in the city of Pittsburgh, the Steelers, the Panthers and the Duquesne Dukes. It’s an honor to go play against them.”
OFFENSE
The biggest question mark around Duquesne was who would be under center, replacing Darius Perrantes after his graduation.
Schmitt declared earlier this week that Tyler Riddell would be QB1 and that is reflected in this week’s depth chart.
Riddell transferred in from Gardner-Webb where he threw 16 touchdown passes and tossed for 2,573 yards.
Schmitt said what put Riddell over the top in addition to his experience was an understanding of the offense, his teammates and execution while limiting mistakes.
There was a lot of good football being played by those guys in that room,” Schmitt analyzed. “He’s the old man in the room but there are some young guys with a lot of talent and live arms. It was a fun camp seeing everyone compete.”
Perhaps the biggest endorsement comes from Isabella who considers himself to be a shy person and does not become friends with new people right away, but immediately the two developed. When Isabella served as a ball boy during a Duquesne men’s soccer game, there was Riddell by his side.
Once hearing that Riddell was transferring to Duquesne, Isabella expected a crazy athlete, but instead something else caught his eye.
“He’s one of the smartest guys I’ve ever met,” beamed Isabella. “He knows the playbook probably better than me. He knows all of the coverages; he’s calling stuff and I’m like ‘what’s he talking about?’ I’m trying to learn off of him which is crazy because I’m going into my sixth season here.”
Isabella leads the receiving group with his 741 yards and 11 touchdowns after shaking off a preseason injury. His eight consecutive games with a touchdown is the longest active streak in the FCS.
His offseason has been a healthy one and in addition to starting as a wide receiver, he is also the team’s punt returner.
“It’s definitely builds confidence because I’ve been injured in past off-seasons and this year, I came in healthy which gave me a lot of confidence,” Isabella revealed. “I’m definitely more prepared for this season than I have been in the past.”
Duquesne talks about its experience on the offensive end and that is evidenced by each starter being a junior or above. Tight end Daniel Tarabrella is the youngest as a junior and he was voted as a captain.
This only provides more of a boost to Riddell.
Two of last season’s three-headed running back attack as a healthy Taj Butts returns as a starter. Butts was limited to six games a season ago going for 282 yards. Shawn Solomon Jr returns for his junior season rushing for 280 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.
DEFENSE
The defense served as a strong suit following its first two games of the season, holding opponents to 17.7 points over its final nine games.
Mickey Jacobs is in his second season under the helm and Schmitt explained that he has taken more steps and reinforced things, so he will be able to do more this year.
“I love playing for Coach Mickey, he’s not only just passionate about the game but when it’s time to get to work, he can do that too,” Dunkley posed. “Wouldn’t want to play for another guy, he’s the ideal defensive coordinator. He’s energetic and he means business. Being in this defense for another year allows me to play faster.”
To talk about the defense begins with mainstays A.J. Ackerman and Kevin Kurzinger, who are in year seven and six with Duquesne, respectively.
Duquesne’s biggest defensive newcomers come from the linebacking position in Tyson Meiguez and Jabari Odoemenem both of whom will start Saturday.
Meiguez, in particular, got high marks for his effort and performance since coming in January after four years at Georgia Tech and spending last season at Murray State.
He has made an impression on Schmitt because of being the same person on a daily basis both on and off of the field.
As soon as Dunkley heard his name mentioned, he emphatically and repeatedly nodded his head.
“The energy he brings to the room is just on another level,” confirmed Dunkley. “I wouldn’t want any other captain, honestly, seriously. As a team we all voted him for a reason, a good reason. He brings energy every single day, he brings the juice, when it’s time to get to work, it’s time to get to work. I’m fired up for him too.”
Odoemenem comes from Maine where he was a two-year starter.
Last season Dunkley tied for the conference lead with 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. As a true freshman in 2023 he had to wait for his time which came in a big moment when his strip sack in what essentially was the NEC title game at Merrimack allowed Duquesne to clinch the conference title.
Another impact defensive player is Antonio Epps who was an All-NEC preseason selection and with 23 consecutive starts at safety has 130 tackles to his name.
When Dunkley summed up his defense, he expressed the high standard both the universities and the respective players’ families had. There is an expectation, and he promises everyone a show.
“We have something big coming here,” the junior promised.
