Antonio Epps is feeling the pressure.
The South Allegheny product was the cornerstone of a Duquesne defense, which allowed just 18.3 points per game to lead the Northeast Conference and assert its status as one of the top units in all of NCAA Division I FCS football under first-year defensive coordinator Mickey Jacobs a season ago.
Epps — who is one of four preseason all-conference players and six returning starters for the Dukes defense in 2025 — said he and his teammates understand the expectations surrounding them. He added the plan is to be even stingier with opposing offenses this time around.
“I just believe in our guys and the talent in our room,” said Epps, a redshirt senior safety, who has started 23 consecutive games for the Dukes. “The way we have been meshing and making plays, I believe we are the best defense in the NEC.”
In addition to Epps, cornerback DJ Cerisier was named to the preseason all-conference list, along with defensive linemen A.J. Ackerman, an Elizabeth Forward product, and Jack Dunkley.
Duquesne’s defense ranked 14th in the nation in third-down defense, 19th in first-down defense, 21st in the red zone and 23rd against the rush last season. The Dukes held three opponents to single-digit scoring outputs during an eight-game winning streak that saw coach Jerry Schmitt’s team earn a share of its second consecutive NEC title and be in the hunt for a playoff berth in 2024.
Despite falling just short of earning an NCAA playoff bid last fall, Schmitt said Duquesne now has the kind of veteran leadership to earn its second postseason berth in three seasons.
“We’re anticipating it being a very solid defense for us,” said Schmitt, now in his 21st season as head coach on the Bluff. “Our plans are to go out and continue what coach did last year, it was his first year, coach Jacobs. We had a successful defense last year.
“They’re setting their expectations higher,” he added. “That’s a good thing.”
Without a doubt, the Dukes’ aspirations are anchored by their strong front seven.
Duquesne returns three of its four starting defensive linemen from a season ago with State College graduate Kevin Kurzinger joining Ackerman and Dunkley up front.
“The defensive line has a lot of talent and experience back,” Schmitt said. “They recruited really well, and there’s some depth to it, too.”
Dunkley was named to the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented each season to the FCS’s top defensive player. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound junior recorded 12½ tackles for a loss and 9½ sacks — both marks were good for a tie atop the NEC — while his 0.86 sacks per game ranked 12th in the nation, and his three forced fumbles placed him at sixth best among all FCS players.
Ackerman, now in his seventh season at Duquesne, was also named first-team all-NEC in 2024. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound graduate student has started 29 consecutive games and appeared in 41 contests, with 74 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss and six sacks to his credit.
“We kind of set the tone going into every game, going into every practice,” said Kurziner, who registered 19 tackles, 1½ for a loss, a season ago. “We know we have to come to practice 100% every day. We have a bunch of veteran guys.”
Virginia Tech transfer Ish Findlayter should also be competing for playing time on Duquesne’s defensive line along with Adrian Ramirez, Penn Hills native Carter Lance and Peters Township product Nico Pate.
Junior linebacker Luke Miller, a Pine-Richland product, is also expected to be a strong contributor for the Dukes front seven. The Kent State transfer from two years ago registered 47 tackles, 3½ for a loss, with one interception and one forced fumble in his first campaign with the Dukes a year ago.
Duquesne turned to the transfer portal to provide depth among its linebackers. Tyson Meiguez transferred to Duquesne after playing four seasons at Georgia Tech and one at Murray State, while Jabari Odoemenem (Maine), Avery Morris (University of Texas San Antonio/Charlotte) and Jalen Harrell (Miami/UMass) all are expected to contribute heavily this season.
“We know we’re the strength of the defense,” said Kurzinger of his team’s front seven. “We play like it.”
Epps and Cerisier are expecting big things in the Duquesne secondary as well.
A Liberty Borough native, Epps recorded a team-high 55 tackles with five pass breakups and one interception a year ago, while Cerisier had 23 tackles and broke up three passes.
“Finally getting out here with them in camp, getting on the field together, we have been able to make a lot of interceptions, force fumbles,” said Epps of the Dukes secondary. “We had some new guys in Caleb Jones, Deven Thomas, Dallas Harper, they came in this program this year and made plays right away. The sky is the limit for this group.”
And Duquesne’s defense will be tested immediately this weekend.
The Dukes will travel across town to the North Shore for a season-opening showdown against Pitt at Acrisure Stadium with kickoff set for noon Saturday.
While an FCS team facing and FBS opponent early in the season is no new development, the chance to play Pitt will be special, Schmitt said.
“You want to compete and win the game,” the Castle Shannon native said. “It’s elevated because it’s a local team here. There’s a whole lot of things that go into this opportunity. We’ve gone in the past and played Florida State, TCU, Boston College, we’ve opened seasons with games like this.
“This will be great in our hometown.”
Pitt and Duquesne last met in 1939.
Epps said he grew up a Pitt and Steelers fan and is also looking forward to stepping foot for the first time on the turf at Acrisure Stadium.
“I’ve never actually played on that field as close as it’s been to me,” he said. “Playing on that field is going to mean the world to me. It’s Pittsburgh. It’s home. My parents already told me they are bringing a bunch of family and friends to watch that game. It’s going to be the most anticipated, hyped-up game for me personally in my career at Duquesne.”
Like its crosstown NEC rival, Robert Morris is also opening its season on the road this weekend against an FBS opponent.
The Colonials will open their season at 2 p.m. Saturday against West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown.
Robert Morris will have plenty of questions to answer on its offense, which was decimated by transfers and graduations in the wake of a seven-win campaign in 2024.
Former starting quarterback Anthony Chiccitt transferred to Temple, leaving a void under center for coach Bernard Clark Jr.’s team. The Bethel Park product threw for 2,250 yards, completing 66% of his passes, with 14 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
Chiccitt’s former backup Zach Tanner, who threw for 453 yards and four touchdowns a season ago, has battled for the starting quarterback position this summer along with Harvard transfer Ameer Dudley.
The Colonials must also contend with replacing its top two rushers in Tyvon Edmonds Jr. and DJ Moyer.
Edmonds rushed for a team-high 623 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, while Moyer added 332 yards and five scores.
Robert Morris returns running backs Ethan Shine, Taj Dyches and Muwaffaq Parkman this season, who all saw limited action a year ago.
UMass transfer Donta Whack and Eastern Michigan transfer Owen McGraw could also see action in the Colonials ground game.
Freshman running back Javaughn Moore could also figure into Clark’s plans at running back this season. The Bethel Park graduate was one of the WPIAL’s top running backs last season, rushing for 2,084 yards on 285 carries while securing 26 catches for 398 yards and scoring 32 touchdowns for the Black Hawks, who advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals after a 10-win season.
In two years at Bethel Park after transferring from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Moore rushed for 3,086 yards with 36 catches for 521 yards and 40 total touchdowns.
Tight end Chaz Middleton is expected to be among the top targets in the Robert Morris passing attack this season. The redshirt senior caught seven passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns a year ago and was named a preseason all-conference selection.
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.