PITTSBURGH - Duquesne head football coach Jerry Schmitt has announced the latest additions to the 2022 recruiting class. The 10 players added today, join a group of six who committed in December. The group includes nine transfers and seven freshmen.

"We are excited to have these young men join our Duquesne Football Family through this signing period and at the beginning of this semester.  As a group they have demonstrated impressive work on the field, in the classroom and throughout their communities."

"Our staff and campus community has done a great job in adapting to the constantly changing recruiting landscape. Their ability to provide the information needed for student-athletes and their families to make this important decision is much appreciated."

Duquesne went 7-3 (5-2 in the Northeast Conference) IN 2021 under Schmitt, who will beginning his 18th season this fall.

The Dukes closed the year with a three-game win streak to finish second in the NEC.

Duquesne has finished first or second in the conference eight times since joining the NEC prior to the 2008 season.

The Dukes have posted more overall wins (76) and conference victories (48) than any other NEC team since the beginning of the 2011 season.

Duquesne became the first team from the NEC to defeat an FBS team when it topped Ohio, 28-26, in Athens in the second game of the 2021 season.
 

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEWEST DUKES

BRIAN BEIDATSCH JR.
Fr. • 6-4, 265 • Offensive Line
Greenfield, Wis./Marquette University HS

• Was named all-area, all-region and all-conference as a senior.
• His father, Brian Sr., played defensive line at Notre Dame (2002-05).
• Also participated in wrestling and track and field in high school.
• Is the oldest of three.
• Born on December 12, 2003 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
 

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ALEX GOCHIS
Fr. • 6-3, 190 • Receiver
Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine Richland

• Played wide receiver and defensive back at Class 5A Pine Richland.
• Led the Rams in catches (48) receiving yards (740) and TDs (8) as a senior in earning team Offensive Player of the Year honors.
• Was a two time all-conference pick.
• Helped Pine Richland to a 11-0 record and Class 5A state title in 2020.
• His great uncle, Joe Mancuso played center at Richmond as was a free agent signee of the New York Jets in 1964.
• His uncles Joe and Mike Mancuso played football at East Carolina.
• Born on March 21, 2004 in Pittsburgh.
 

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PIERCE GREINER
Fr. • 6-5, 290 • Offensive Line
Crafton, Pa./Carlynton

• Was a two-time first team all-conference lineman. Also earned second-team all-conference honors twice.
• Is the fourth of five children.
• His sister, Abby, played basketball at Allegheny College. His other sister, Madigan, was part of the University of South Carolina marching band.
• Was a high honor roll student at Carlynton.
• Born on September 3, 2003 in Pittsburgh.
 

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JORDAN HEISEY
So. • 6-2, 195 • Quarterback
Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York (Lock Haven)

• Completed 37-of-94 passes for 330 yards and a pair of TD's in eight games last season at Lock Haven.
• Threw for a season-high 194 yards vs. Shepherd and ran for a season-best 97 yards (on 12 attempts) vs. West Chester.
• Tossed a 74-yard touchdown pass in the Shepherd game.
• Threw for 921 yards and four TDs and ran for another 687 yards and seven scores as a senior at Northern York.
• Also played basketball in high school.
 

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RAHMIERE KNIGHT
Gr. • 5-11, 185 • Receiver
Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan (Youngstown State)

• Played in six games in 2019 as a back-up on offense as well as on special teams. Made his first career reception vs. Western Illinois.
• Originally enrolled at Shippensburg before transferring to Youngstown State where he sat out in 2018.
• Set a school record with 868 yards receiving (18.5 ypc.) in 2016 at Canon-Mac.
 

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RAFAEL McCOY
Fr.-RS • 5-10, 175 • Wide Receiver
Wilkes-Barre, Pa./James M. Coughlin/Wilkes-Barre Area (Old Dominion)

• Old Dominion transfer played in three games while redshirting in 2021.
• Caught one pass for 10 yards at Wake Forest.
• Led Wilkes-Barre Area with 1,598 all-purpose yards as a senior.
• Totaled 70 catches for 1,500 yards and 13 TDs to go with 726 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns for his career.
• Had 45 tackles and two interceptions and was a standout on special teams with three kickoff return TD's and seven blocked kicks as a senior.
• Finished his career with nine interceptions.
• Earned second-team all-state honors at wide receiver.
• Selected for the Pennsylvania East-West All-Star Game.
• Won the District 2 Class 3A 100- and 200-meter dashes.
 

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ALIJAH METZ
Fr.-RS • 6-3, 225 • Linebacker
Cumberland, Md./Fort Hill (Saint Francis U)

• Originally committed to play tight end at Maine before spending last season at Saint Francis U.
• Was a first team all-area pick in 2019 when he had 110 tackles (43 solo) as a defensive lineman.
• Also added three sacks, seven TFL and had a team-high 25 quarterback pressures in 2019.
• Was selected to play in the Maryland vs. Pennsylvania Big 33 game as a senior.
 

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OLIVER MORGAN
Fr. • 6-0, 255 • Defensive Lineman
Parkton, Md./IMG Academy

• Attended Hereford High School (Md.) before spending a post-graduate year at IMG Academy.
• Was also a member of the track team in high school.
 

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BRIAN OLAN
Fr. • 6-3, 230 • Defensive Line
Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley

• Earned all-conference honors at defensive end.
• Also played varsity basketball at Seneca Valley.
• Has volunteered for the Miracle League of Southwestern Pa.
• His brother, Jorge, played soccer at Allegheny College (2016-19).
• Born on April 28, 2004 in Sellersville, Pa.
 

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NOAH PALMER
Gr. • 6-4, 255 • Defensive Line
Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson (Pitt)

• Pitt transfer saw action vs. Austin Peay and Virginia Tech in 2020 and vs. New Hampshire in 2021.
• Redshirted in 2018 and did not play in 2019.
• Earned a spot on the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
• Was a two-way player at Thomas Jefferson, where he earned All-Big Nine Conference honors at defensive end and tight end
• Named Pennsylvania Football News Class 4A First Team All-State (defense).
• Had 37 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense and added four TD catches on offense as a senior.
• Helped TJ to three-straight WPIAL titles and a combined 34-6 record (.850)
• Was rated as the No. 27 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by Rivals, No. 28 by ESPN and No. 29 by 247Sports
• Born on November 11, 1999.
 

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DECEMBER SIGNEES

QUAN EASTERLING
So.-RS • 6-3, 240 • Tight End
Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban (Wisconsin)

• Was at Wisconsin for two seasons.
• Redshirted and played in one game (at Illinois) in 2019 and did not play in 2020.
• Earned a spot on the 2020 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
• Was rated as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN.
• Was part of three state championship teams in helping Bishop Hoban go 43-2 in his three varsity seasons.
• Two-time captain.
• Was a three-year basketball letterman.
 

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TY HOWARD
Fr. • 6-0, 210 • Linebacker
Cleveland, Ohio/Villa Angela-St. Joseph

• Was named All-Ohio Division IV first team linebacker by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
• Finished his senior year with 115 tackles, including 23 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 10 quarterback pressures in nine games.
• Also played running back and served as the team's long snapper.
• Began his high school career at Euclid before transferring to Villa Angela-St. Joseph as a senior.
 

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CHRIS OLIVER
So.-RS • 6-4, 295 • Offensive Line
Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep (Bowling Green)

• Saw action in 11 games - all in 2019 - in two seasons at Bowling Green.
• Had 11 tackles, seven solo, and a TFL in 2019 and did not play in 2020.
• Totaled a career high three solo stops at Kansas State.
• Helped Erie Cathedral Prep to a 13-3 record and third-straight PIAA title in 2018.
• Played for a 14-0 state championship team in 2017.
• Cathedral Prep was the first team in District 10 history to win three consecutive state championships.
• Was an Erie Time-News District 10 Big School All-Star.
 

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ALEX REESE III
Fr. • 6-3, 290 • Defensive Line
Cleveland, Ohio/Euclid

• Played offensive tackle and defensive end at Euclid HS.
• Listed as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports.
• Also considered Akron, Ohio U and Robert Morris.
 

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GIANNI RIZZO
So.-RS • 6-2, 220 • Linebacker
North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin (Youngstown State)

• Played in eight games in two seasons at Youngstown State.
• Saw action in two games in 2020 and six games in 2021.
• Was a linebacker/wide receiver at Norwin HS.
• Caught 21 passes for 542 yards and ran for 139 yards on 22 carries on his way to scoring 12 TD's as a senior.
• Totaled 72 tackles in his final season.
• Also ran track where he set a school record in the 200m dash and was part of the school record-setting 4x100 and 4x400 relay team.
 

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JOSH ZACHER
Gr. • 6-3, 300 • Offensive Line
Livingston, N.J./Livingston (Shippensburg)

• Played in 24 games in three seasons at Shippensburg, including 11 in 2019 & 2021 (Shippensburg did not compete in 2020 due to the pandemic).
• Was a fixture on the o-line at center for the Raiders in his final two seasons with nine starts in 2019 and 11 in 2021.
• Started the final 19 games of his career.
• Anchored an offense that led the PSAC and ranked 11th nationally in time of possession (33:21) last year. The '21 Shippensburg offense also converted 41-of-45 red zone drives (8th nationally) and averaged 19.8 first downs and 371.5 yards per game.
• Earned Second Team 2021 All-PSAC Eastern Division honors.
• Was a team captain at Livingston HS where he earned multiple All-Star honors including the 2016 Mini Maxwell Award.
• Also wrestled in high school.
 

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DUQUESNE FOOTBALL 2022 RECRUITING CLASS
 

NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	LAST SCHOOL
Brian Beidatsch Jr.	OL	6-4	265	Greenfield, Wis.	Marquette University HD
Alex Gochis	WR	6-3	190	Pittsburgh, Pa.	Pine Richland HS
Pierce Greiner	OL	6-5	290	Crafton, Pa.	Carlynton HS
Jordan Heisey	QB	6-2	195	Dillsburg, Pa.	Lock Haven (TR)
Rhamiere Knight	WR	5-11	185	Canonsburg, Pa.	Youngstown State (TR)
Rafael McCoy	WR	5-10	175	Wilkes-Barre, Pa.	Old Dominion (TR)
Alijah Metz	LB	6-3	225	Cumberland, Md.	Saint Francis U (TR)
Oliver Morgan	DL	6-0	255	Parkton, Md.	IMG Academy
Brian Olan	DL	6-3	230	Cranberry Twp., Pa.	Senenca Valley HS
Noah Palmer	DL	6-4	255	Jefferson Hills, Pa.	Pitt (TR)
DECEMBER SIGNEES
Quan Easterling	TE	6-3	240	Akron, Ohio	Wisconsin (TR)
Ty Howard	LB	6-0	210	Cleveland, Ohio	Villa Angela-St. Joseph
Chris Oliver	OL	6-4	295	Erie, Pa.	Bowling Green (TR)
Alex Reese III	DL	6-3	290	Cleveland, Ohio	Euclid
Gianni Rizzo	LB	6-2	220	North Huntingdon, Pa.	Youngstown State (TR)
Josh Zacher	OL	6-3	300	Livingston, N.J.	Shippensburg (TR)