Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University football program has announced its seven team captains for the 2026 season, as selected by a vote of the Dukes' players.
The 2026 captains are senior tight end Daniel Tarabrella, graduate quarterback Carson Camp, redshirt junior defensive back DJ Cerisier, senior running back Ness Davis, junior defensive lineman Carter Lance, senior linebacker Luke Miller and redshirt senior defensive lineman Nico Pate.
Tarabrella, the only returning member of last season's eight captains — five graduates and two transfers — will serve as a captain for the second consecutive season. The Harrison City, Pa., native started nine games at tight end in 2025, recording two touchdown receptions, and has played in 22 games over the last two seasons.
The offense will be led by Camp, a graduate transfer quarterback, who arrives on The Bluff with 40 career games played over five seasons of FCS football. He has totaled more than 6,000 passing yards and 29 touchdown passes during his collegiate career.
The Dukes' most experienced defensive back, Cerisier carries a 23-game starting streak into 2026, the longest active streak on the roster. The fourth-year Duke has started every game over the last two seasons and is a two-time Second Team All-NEC selection and 2026 Preseason All-NEC honoree. He led Duquesne with nine passes defended in 2025, recording one interception and eight pass breakups, and added a historic 100-yard interception return for a two-point conversion.
A member of the 2026 Walter Payton Award Watch List and a Preseason All-NEC selection, Davis anchors a veteran running back room in his second season with Duquesne and fifth at the FCS level. The Second Team All-NEC honoree ranked third in the conference with 927 rushing yards in 2025 while averaging 6.4 yards per carry, which ranked 11th nationally, and scoring two touchdowns. Davis has totaled more than 1,400 rushing yards in 32 career games.
Lance has seen action in 21 games during his first two seasons with the Dukes, recording 14 career tackles, including seven tackles for loss, and two sacks. The junior defensive lineman is a local Penn Hills product.
Miller returns to the Dukes for his fourth season after missing the 2025 campaign due to injury. The Pine-Richland native and Kent State transfer played in 10 games and made three starts at linebacker in 2024, finishing with 47 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception and one forced fumble.
Pate, from nearby Peters Township, where he also was a team captain, will serve as a captain in his fourth season at Duquesne. The redshirt senior defensive lineman has played in 32 games on The Bluff, totaling 38 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery since transferring from Miami (Ohio).
Duquesne opens its 99th season Saturday at Air Force, beginning a three-game road stretch to open the 2026 campaign. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (ET) at Falcon Stadium, with the game available on MW+ and radio coverage on Fox Sports Pittsburgh (970 AM/iHeartRadio).
FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne football online all season at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on X, Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqFB).
