PITTSBURGH - Duquesne head football coach Jerry Schmitt announced the addition of 17 more players to the 2023 recruiting class, bringing to total number of newcomers to 30 for the upcoming season.

Included are seven mid-year transfers who will be with the team for spring drills: Tedy Afful (Stony Brook), Eric Allen II (Wagner), Javon Colston (Walsh), Dayvia Gbor (Minnesota Duluth), Luke Miller (Kent State), Jalen Morrison (Suffield, Conn. Academy) and Ian Sheehan (Shippensburg).

"We're looking for this talented group to help us continue to excel on the field, in the classroom and in our community," said Schmitt. "Our staff did a great job in identifying student-athletes who are a good fit for Duquesne University. We look forward to working with this group as we prepare for the 2023 season."

The 10 high school additions includes trio of WPIAL products in Jackson Farrell (Pittsburgh Central Catholic), John Rottinghaus (Pine-Richland) and Shawn Sullivan (Brashear).

DU announced the first 13 members of the 2023 class in December.
 

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TEDY AFFUL
Jr. • 5-11, 175 • Receiver
Bloomfield, N.J./DePaul Catholic (Stony Brook)

• Caught 10 passes for 133 yards and one score in two seasons at Stony Brook (2021 & 2022).
• Had eight receptions for 108 yards - including a 30-yard TD reception at Fordham - in 2022.
• Caught 91 passes for nearly 2,000 yards at DePaul Catholic.
• Totaled 53 receptions for 1,349 yards and nine TDs in earning first team all-league honors as a senior.
• Helped DePaul to state titles in 2017 & 2019.
• Was team captain as a senior.
• Born on March 18, 2002.
 

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ERIC ALLEN II
Fr. • 5-11, 190 • Running Back
Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands (Wagner)

• Did not play as a freshman in 2022 at Wagner.
• Was a two-time all-conference pick.
• Has two older brothers.
• Born on January 4, 2004.
 

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D.J. CERISIER
Fr. • 6-0, 180 • Defensive Back
Cheltenham, Pa./Upper Dublin

• Helped 14-1 Upper Dublin to a conference title and District 1 Championship.
• Was credited with 29 tackles and 10 passes defended as a senior.
• Was selected to the 2022 Pennsylvania Football News Class 5A All-State First Team.
• Earned all-state honors as a junior as well.
• Also plays point guard for the basketball team and runs track.
• His brother, Giordanovenchy (Gio), runs track for Kutztown.
• Another brother, N'Gianni (Jah), plays DB for Notre Dame College.
• D.J.'s full first name is Djevanni.
• Born on June 13, 2005.
 

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JAVON COLSTON
Gr. • 6-3, 175 • Defensive Back
Cleveland, Ohio/Ginn Academy (Walsh)

• Played in 26 games for Division II Walsh University between 2020-22.
• Had 58 total tackles (42) and broke up 13 passes in his D-II career.
• Posted his two career interceptions along with 23 stops in 2022.
• Three-sport athlete at Ginn Academy (football, basketball, and track).
• Was a Senate League All-Star.
• Is the middle of three children.
• Born on August 30, 2001 in Atlanta, Ga.
 

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OWEN DIETRICH
Fr. • 6-1, 250 • Offensive Line
Kennett Square, Pa./Malvern Prep

• Helped Malvern Prep to an Inter-Academic Athletic League title as a junior and No. 8 state rank as a senior.
• Two-year letteman (lost sophomore season to  COVID).
• Also participated in rugby and freshman basketball at Malvern.
• Is the middle of three children.
• His sister, Lily, is a sophomore lacrosse player at Marquette.
• Born on July 29, 2004.
 

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JACKSON FARRELL
Fr. • 6-2, 275 • Offensive Line
Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic

• Was a three-year varsity starter at all interior line positions for Central Catholic.
• Was part of Central's 2020 Class 6A WPIAL championship team.
• High honor student who was a three-time All-Academic pick.
• Also participated in track and field.
• His father, Sean, played football and baseball at West Liberty.
• Born on July 5, 2005.
 

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DAYVIA GBOR
Gr. • 5-8, 175 • Defensive Back
Minneapolis, Minn./Brooklyn Center (Minnesota Duluth)

• Played in 33 games in three seasons at Division II University of Minnesota Duluth (2019, 2021 & 2022).
• Finished his career with 61 tackles (48 solo), 10 interceptions and 27 passes defended.
• Had seven picks and broke up 11 passes in earning all-conference and CCA All-Super Region 4 Second Team honors in 2022.
• His seven interceptions ranked third nationally and first in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
• Co-Founder and President of Black Men Serving Excellence at UMD, and organization that started independently but was eventually recognized as a registered student organization.
• Was a four-year starter for Brooklyn Center where he earned all-district honors as a junior and senior.
• Was a two-time team captain in HS.
• Also lettered in basketball and track at Brooklyn Center.
• Has a younger sister.
• His parents, Dayton and Sylvia, emigrated to the United States from Liberia. Dayvia is a first generation college graduate (exercise science).
• Born on March 2, 2004.
 

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LUKE LOPRESTI
Fr. • 6-1, 190 • Quarterback
Fairfax, Va./Robinson

• Helped 10-2 Robinson to a district championship and regional semifinal appearance as a junior and 7-4 record as a senior.
• Earned 2022 honorable mention Patriot All-District.
• Also played three years of varsity basketball.
• Is the youngest of three boys.
• Brother, Michael, played two seasons as a back-up quarterback at Duquesne (2014 & 2015) after transferring in from James Madison. Michael made one career start, going 10-of-18 for 133 yards and two TDs (plus 14 rushes for 48 yards) in a 22-0 win over Robert Morris on Nov. 22, 2014.
• His other brother, Joey, played football at Robert Morris.
• Born on May 12, 2005.
 

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BRENDAN MANSINNE
Fr. • 6-0, 185 • Quarterback
McLean, Va./Langley

• Threw for 2,442 yards and accounted for 29 total TDs as a senior for District Champion Class 6A Langley.
• Completed 71 percent of his passes (191-of-270) as a senior.
• Three-year starter set school records for completions and touchdown passes.
• Earned first team All-Liberty District honors and was runner-up for Offensive Player of the Year.
• Also a three-year starter for the basketball team.
• His father, Herb, played quarterback at San Diego State.
• Has an older brother and younger sister.
• Born on September 5, 2004.
 

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LUKE MILLER
Fr. • 6-1, 210 • Linebacker
Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine-Richland (Kent State)

• Saw action in one game (vs. Northern Illinois) as a freshman at Kent State.
• Led Pine-Richland in tackles as a senior in 2021.
• Was the leading tackler (105 total, 63 solo and 19 for loss) Pine-Richland's 2020 Class 5A State Championship team.
• Had a game-high 16 tackles in the 48-7 state title game win over Eris Cathedral Prep.
• Helped Pine-Richland to a No. 22 final ranking in the USA Today Super 25.
• Led Pine-Richland's WPIAL Class 6A finalist with 112 tackles (44 solo) in 2019.
• Born on April 16, 2003.
 

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JALEN MORRISON
Fr. • 5-11, 195 • Quarterback
Houston, Texas/Heights (Suffield, Conn. Academy)

• Earned first team All-District 18-6A three times.
• Helped Houston Heights HS to a 2020 District 18-6A title.
• Was the 2019 All-Greater Houston Newcomer of the Year, 2020 District 18-6A Offensive MVP and 2021 preseason All-Greater Houston Player of the Year Nominee.
• Threw for 6,537 yards and 68 TDs. Also accumulated 508 rushing yards and 13 rushing TDs. Completed 60 percent of his passes.
• Broke Heights HS school records for career yards and TDs.
• Was a two-year varsity captain.
• Was a second team all-district outfielder.
• His father, Jim, played football (1992) and baseball (1994-95) at Pitt.
• Has two younger brothers.
• Born on Christmas Day, 2003 in Fort Benning, Ga.
 

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ZION PATILLO
Fr. • 6-3, 230 • Defensive Line
Atlanta, Ga./Riverwood International Charter

• Helped Riverwood to regional titles in 2019 (11-1) & 2021 (9-2).
• Named 4-6A All-Region.
• Was named team Most Improved Player in 2021 and Team Defensive MVP in 2022.
• Received an invitation to the 2022 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.
• Was named the 2022 Regional Senior Bowl Defensive MVP.
• Honor roll student.
• Holds a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.
• Born on June 2, 2005.
 

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XAVIER RICE
Fr. • 6-3, 200 • Quarterback
El Segundo, Calif./Loyola

• Team captain helped Loyola to back-to-back Angelus League titles and a CIF semifinal appearance in 2022.
• Was named 2022 second team all-league.
• Earned the team's Most Inspirational Player Award.
• His father, Matt, ran track at UCLA.
• Born on July 31, 2004.
 

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EDWARD ROBINSON III
Fr. • 5-11, 190 • Running Back
Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights

• Was a two-time Lake Erie League first team all-conference pick.
• Finished his career with over 2,500 rushing yards and 33 TDs as a junior and senior.
• Ran for 1,096 yards in eight games (9.8 yards per carry) and 14 rushing TDs as a junior.
• Also earned a LEL Scholar Award (3.5 GPA).
 

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JOHN ROTTINGHAUS
Fr. • 6-3, 220 • Defensive Line
Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland

• Played for Pine-Richland's 2022 Class 5A WPIAL and PIAA 13-3 state championship team.
• Was a 2022 all-conference defensive lineman.
• Had three sacks in the WPIAL title game 34-3 win over Upper St. Clair as P-R held USC to -26 yards rushing.
• Was also part of a WPIAL and PIAA champion as a sophomore in 2020.
• Also participates in track and field.
• His father, Dave, was a part of a pair of 8-0 MAC Championship teams football at Bowling Green in 1991 & 1992..
• His sisters, Molly (2018-21) and Ella (2021-current) played field hockey at Boston U. Molly is currently a football recruiting specialist at Wisconsin.
• Born on October 16, 2004.
 

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IAN SHEEHAN
Jr. • 6-2, 200 • Receiver
Trevose, Pa./Neshaminy (Shippensburg)

• Caught 88 passes for 1,258 yards and 10 TDs in two seasons at Shippensburg (2021 & 2022).
• Earned Second Team PSAC Eastern Division honors in both 2021 and 2022.
• Had 41 catches for 531 yards and four TDs despite missing a pair of games due to in injury in 2022.
• Lead the team with 47 receptions for 727 yards as a freshman.
• Totaled a career-best 143 yards on six catches at Edinboro in 2021.
• Spent a postgraduate season at Bridgton Academy (2020).
• Named First Team Class 6A All-State and earned 'Big 33' All Star honors as a senior.
• Was the Bucks County Courier Times Golden Teams Player of the Year.
• Selected to the All-Suburban One League (SOL) National Conference First Team as a senior.
• Set single-season records with 1,307 receiving yards, 66 receptions and 15 touchdowns as a senior.
• Also played basketball in high school.
• Has five siblings.
• Born on February 2, 2002.
 

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SHAWN SOLOMON JR.
Fr. • 5-11, 200 • Running Back
Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear

• Played both running back, linebacker and defensive back for Brashear.
• Rushed for a school record 1,034 yards and 11 TDs on 188 carries (5.5 ypc.) as a senior.
• Was one of 11 high school football players from the Pittsburgh region named to the Steelers All-Peer Team. The team, which is chosen through a cooperative effort with the Steelers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Mentoring Partnership, recognizes those who go 'above and beyond' to provide mentor-like support for their teammates.
• Was one of three Pittsburgh City League players named as a KDKA Radio Super 7 Player of the Year finalist.
• Earned first team all-city honors.
• Also wrestled and participated in track in high school.
• Is the youngest of eight. Has five older sisters and two older brothers.
• Born on February 17, 2005.


DUQUESNE FOOTBALL 2023 RECRUITING CLASS FEBRUARY ADDITIONS
 

NAME	POS	CL	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	LAST SCHOOL
MID-YEAR ADDITIONS
Tedy Afful	WR	Jr.	5-11	175	Bloomfield, N.J.	DePaul Catholic (Stony Brook)
Eric Allen II	RB	Fr.	5-11	190	Uniontown, Pa.	Laurel Highlands (Wagner)
Javon Colston	DB	Gr.	6-3	175	Cleveland, Ohio	Ginn Academy (Walsh)
Dayvia Gbor	DB	Gr.	5-8	175	Minneapolis, Minn.	Brooklyn Center (Minnesota Duluth)
Luke Miller	LB	Fr.	6-1	210	Pittsburgh, Pa.	Pine-Richland (Kent State)
Jalen Morrison	QB	Fr.	5-11	195	Houston, Texas	Heights (Suffield, Conn. Academy)
Ian Sheehan	WR	Jr.	6-2	200	Trevose, Pa.	Neshaminy (Shippensburg)
INCOMING FRESHMEN
D.J. Cerisier	DB	Fr.	6-0	180	Cheltenham, Pa.	Upper Dublin
Owen Dietrich	OL	Fr.	6-1	250	Kennett Square, Pa.	Malvern Prep
Jackson Farrell	OL	Fr.	6-2	275	Pittsburgh, Pa.	Central Catholic
Luke LoPresti	QB	Fr.	6-1	190	Fairfax, Va.	Robinson
Brendan Mansinne	QB	Fr.	6-0	185	McLean, Va.	Langley
Zion Patillo	DL	Fr.	6-3	230	Atlanta, Ga.	Riverwood International Charter
Xavier Rice	QB	Fr.	6-3	200	El Segundo, Calif.	Loyola
Edward Robinson III	RB	Fr.	5-11	190	Maple Heights, Ohio	Maple Heights
John Rottinghaus	DL	Fr.	6-3	220	Gibsonia, Pa.	Pine-Richland
Shawn Solomon Jr.	RB	Fr.	5-11	200	Pittsburgh, Pa.	Brashear