It’s all dependent on if there is a 2020 season, but the Duquesne football team has once again been picked to do well in the NEC Conference.
The conference held their Virtual Media Day on Thursday and the coaches in the NEC picked Duquesne to finish second in the conference. Defending NEC champion Central Connecticut was picked to repeat followed by Duquesne in second, Sacred Heart third, St. Francis fourth, Wagner fifth, Bryant sixth and LIU seventh.
The Dukes are scheduled to open the 2020 season on September 5th when they travel out west to take on the Air Force Academy, which will be the first meeting between the two programs.
In terms of individual preseason recognition, Duquesne defensive back Spencer DeMedal (Wilmington, Pennsylvania) and tight end Bill O’Malley (Seton-LaSalle High School) were nominated for All-NEC honors. DeMedal ranked second the Dukes last season with 62 tackles while O’Malley has been a big part of the Dukes offensive line and the Dukes running game and pass protection.
Head coach Jerry Schmitt is entering his 16th season as Duquesne head coach and this becomes the 10th consecutive season in which the Dukes were selected either first or second in the conference preseason coaches poll.
