PITTSBURGH — Duquesne defensive coordinator
Mickey Jacobs has been selected to the
2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, presented by Riddell InSite Analytics, the organization announced Monday.
The AFCA 35 Under 35 program is a prestigious initiative designed to identify and develop rising leaders in the football coaching profession. Participants are invited to a one-day institute that features interactive lectures and workshops centered on leadership, ethics, professional responsibility, career advancement, and family balance.
"Mickey is a dedicated young coach who continues to elevate our program every day," said head coach
Jerry Schmitt. "He works extremely hard and has built tremendous trust with our student-athletes. This recognition reflects his commitment to Duquesne and our student-athletes, and I'm excited to see him continue to develop as one of the future leaders in our profession."
A 2017 Duquesne graduate, Jacobs played on three NEC championship teams and was a member of the Dukes' 2015 FCS playoff squad. He completed his fourth season on the coaching staff in 2025 and his second as defensive coordinator. On the Duquesne sideline, Jacobs has served as defensive quality control coach (2018), special teams coordinator/safeties coach (2023), defensive coordinator/defensive backs (2024), and defensive coordinator/linebackers (2025). He also spent two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Pitt and one as a Senior Defensive Analyst at Buffalo.
Under Jacobs' direction, the Dukes have produced 14 all-conference defensive selections over the past two seasons — the most in any two-year span since Duquesne joined the NEC in 2008.
2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Class
| Malcolm Agnew |
Stanford |
Running Backs |
| Joshua Atkinson |
Stephen F. Austin |
Wide Receivers |
| Kyle Barnes |
James Madison |
Nickel Backs |
| Joe Battaglia |
Lock Haven |
Head Coach |
| Nathan Brock |
Georgia Tech |
Tight End |
| Keelon Brookins |
Coastal Carolina |
Secondary |
| Will Bryant |
Texas State |
Tight Ends |
| Skyler Cassity |
North Texas |
Defensive Coordinator |
| Austin Davis |
West Georgia |
Offensive Coordinator |
| Micah Davis |
Copiah - Lincoln CC |
Head Coach |
| Sam Dunnam |
SMU |
Edge/OLB |
| Isaac Fruechte |
North Dakota |
Offensive Coordinator |
| Rob Greene |
Texas Tech |
Safeties |
| Logan Hall |
Bishop England HS |
Head Coach |
| Brandon Harris |
UCF |
Defensive Backs |
| Lorenzo Jackson |
Lamar |
Defensive Line |
| Mickey Jacobs |
Duquesne |
Defensive Coordinator |
| Christopher James |
Ole Miss |
Analyst |
| Jordy Joseph |
Houston |
Running Backs |
| Jared Keyte |
UMass |
Defensive Coordinator |
| Devin Klieman |
North Dakota State |
Safeties |
| Jalani Lord |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
Offensive Line |
| Jake Menage |
Washington State |
Wide Receivers |
| Pete Menage |
Washington State |
Safeties |
| Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford |
Vanderbilt |
Running Backs |
| Craig Neece |
Hardin-Simmons |
Defensive Coordinator |
| Ty Nichols |
North Carolina |
Outside Linebackers |
| Lee Pronschinske |
Southern Illinois |
Defensive Coordinator |
| Dyrell Roberts |
East Carolina |
Wide Receivers |
| Nico Rogers |
Virginia Union |
Defensive Backs |
| Lanear Sampson |
San Diego State |
Wide Receivers |
| Tyler Schovanec |
FAU |
Special Teams Coordinator |
| Billy Ray Stutzmann |
San Jose State |
Wide Receivers |
| Eric Terrazas |
Kansas |
QB Analyst |
| Rylan Wells |
Western Carolina |
Offensive Coordinator |
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