PITTSBURGH - Duquesne head football coach Jerry Schmitt announced the signing of seven players to national letters of intent during the NCAA's Early Signing Period which began on Wednesday and ended Friday.
The Dukes added a pair of offensive linemen, two defensive backs, a defensive end, a linebacker and a running back. Five of the signees are from Pennsylvania - including three from the WPIAL - in addition to one from Florida and one from New Jersey.
The early commits include offensive linemen A.J. Ackerman (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) and Joel Hartzell (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge), defensive backs Marcus Gervilus (Pompano Beach, Fla./Coconut Creek) and Tysean Williams (Montclair, N.J./Montclair/Milford Academy), defensive end Troy Kuhn (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area), linebacker Connor Barrett (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) and running back Billy Lucas (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep).
"Our staff would like to welcome the young men and their families that have made the decision to join our Dukes football family," Schmitt said. "The commonality they share is a commitment to excellence in the classroom, on the field and throughout their communities."
"I am extremely pleased with the way our staff and support personnel approached this early signing period. The two weeks of participation in the NCAA FCS playoffs limited our ability to get out to visit high school coaches and players. We thank them for their patience and appreciate their cooperation through the recruiting process."
Duquesne is coming off a highly successful 2018 campaign which saw the Dukes capture their fifth Northeast Conference title and their second FCS playoff bid. Duquesne won its first FCS postseason game in program history, knocking off Towson by a score of 31-10 on the road. The Dukes posted a 9-4 overall ledger, winning six games in a row en route to the conference crown and the playoff victory. In a season with two games against FBS opponents, Duquesne managed to tally nine wins for the first time since 2011. In that span, the Dukes have won five NEC championships and registered 59 total wins, at least 10 more victories than any other team in the NEC.
This marks the second year of the NCAA's December Early Signing Period for Division I football.
Learn more about the Dukes' early signing class below:
A.J. Ackerman
OL / 6-5 / 295 / Elizabeth, Pa. / Elizabeth Forward
: http://bit.ly/2BqDbhy
- Played for head coach Mike Collidi on the offensive and defensive line at Elizabeth Forward
- Three-time WPIAL AAA Interstate All-Conference selection, 2018 Interstate Conference Lineman of the Year…three-time Bee-Graphix Finest 25 honoree…voted top 8 lineman by WPIAL Sportsmen…Mr. PA Football nominee…First Team Kennywood All-Star selection
- Guided Warriors to 8-2 ledger in 2018 including a 7-1 mark in the Interstate Conference, helping Elizabeth Forward to its second straight conference championship
- Prior to 2017, the Warriors' last conference title came in 1985
- Helped Elizabeth Forward average 37.8 points per game in 2017
- Recorded five sacks in a 56-0 win at Uniontown
- Four-year letterman for the Warriors
- Originally committed to Towson
- Full name: Angelo Jordan Ackerman
- Son of Gina Ackerman
- Born on Nov. 22, 2000 in Pittsburgh
Connor Barrett
LB / 6-2 / 205 / Pittsburgh, Pa. / Chartiers Valley
: http://bit.ly/2rM863G
- Played linebacker and running back for head coach Dan Knause at Chartiers Valley, the same high school as former Duquesne linebacker and All-American Christian Kuntz
- Two-time WPIAL 5A Allegheny Eight All-Conference selection (2017 – LB, 2018 – RB)
- Tallied 1,209 all-purpose yards to go with 10 tackles for loss as a senior in 2018
- Rushed for 197 yards with four touchdowns on just nine carries in a 48-0 win over Ringgold
- Also plays on the baseball team and competes on the track and field team at Chartiers Valley
- Full name: Connor James Barrett
- Son of Teresa and Ronald Barrett
- Father played football at Slippery Rock
- Born on Aug. 17, 2000 in Pittsburgh
Marcus Gervilus
DB / 5-11 / 160 / Pompano Beach, Fla. / Coconut Creek
: http://bit.ly/2GtOg7j
- Played for head coach Gerald Cox at Coconut Creek
- Helped Cougars to a 6-5 record and the school's first playoff appearance in over a decade, competing in Florida 5A District 16 which included state champion Cardinal Gibbons
- Had three tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup against Gibbons – the Chiefs finished 22nd in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national poll
- Played in the Broward County Athletic Association All-Star Game, recording an interception for the North team
- Participated in The Event-Miami at Ives Estate Park, a premier 7-on-7 Tournament showcasing some of the top players in South Florida
- Also a member of the Cougars' track and field team and was a state semifinalist in the 4x100 relay
- Coconut Creek teammate and fellow defensive back Tiawan Mullen signed with Indiana
- Son of Fidonie and Marcel Gervilus
- Born on Jan. 19, 2001 in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Joel Hartzell
OL / 6-5 / 295 / Perkasie, Pa. / Pennridge
: http://http://bit.ly/2S8zAvV
- Played for head coach Cody Muller at Pennridge
- Third team Suburban One – Continental All-Conference selection
- Helped Rams win four of its final six games in 2018 in the Suburban One – Continental conference which included state runner-up North Penn
- Helped Pennridge post an 11-3 overall ledger with a 5-1 mark in conference action in 2017 as the Rams advanced to the PIAA District 1 semifinals
- Son of Donna and David Hartzell
- Born March 18, 2001 in Sellersville, Pa.
Troy Kuhn
DE / 6-6 / 205 / Vandergrift, Pa. / Kiski Area
: http://bit.ly/2SXGtQQ
- Played both defensive end and tight end for head coach Sam Albert at Kiski Area
- WPIAL 5A Northern All-Conference honoree
- Tallied 70 tackles with a team-high eight sacks on defense in 2018 to go with 32 receptions for 583 yards and four touchdown catches for the Cavaliers
- Hauled eight receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown to go with five tackles and a sack against PIAA 5A state champion Penn Hills
- Added five receptions for a season-high 146 yards against North Hills and caught two touchdowns in a 37-0 win over Fox Chapel…tallied nine tackles in each of those games, as well
- Finished with 140 career tackles
- Also a standout wrestler at Kiski Area
- Full name: Troy Christopher Kuhn
- Son of Michelle and Scott Kuhn
- Brother (Shane) was a tight end at Youngstown State…brother (Chad) is a defensive end at Slippery Rock
- Born Jan. 2, 2001 in Pittsburgh
Billy Lucas
RB / 6-0 / 205 / Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep
: http://bit.ly/2RblSLj
- Played for head coach Mike Mischler at Cathedral Prep
- Helped the Ramblers to three straight PIAA AAAA championships
- Finished second in Prep history with 3,970 career rushing yards and 59 touchdowns
- Despite missing three games this season, rushed for 2,084 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior
- Tallied 1,125 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in the Ramblers' five playoff games this season
- Rushed for 286 yards and three touchdowns in the state final win over Imhotep Charter, setting a new PIAA AAAA state championship game record
- Recorded 342 yards with three touchdowns in a 42-10 win over South Fayette in the PIAA quarterfinals
- Went over 100 yards rushing in 10 of 13 games played in 2018
- Also played safety, registering 39 tackles (24 solo)
- Named Erie Times News District 10 All-Star
- Full name: Billy Lee Lucas Jr.
- Son of Oni Jones
- Born Jan. 1, 2001
Tysean Williams
DB / 5-11 / 160 / Montclair, N.J. / Montclair / Milford Academy (N.Y.)
: http://bit.ly/2Gu9DW9
- Played for head coach Bill Chaplick at the Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.Y. and for head coach John Fiore at Montclair High School
- Helped Milford Falcons post a 10-2 record in 2018
- North Jersey Super Football Conference All-Liberty First Team selection
- Led Montclair to New Jersey North Group 5 State title with a 12-0 record in 2017
- Finished with 26 tackles (15 solo) with four interceptions, eight passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense to go with 11 receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns on offense for the Mounties
- Full name: Tysean Anthony Williams
- Son of Daneen Williams
- Born on Nov. 19, 1999 in Montclair, N.J.
