Duquesne’s Ness Davis ranked No. 19 among returning FCS running backs

Ness Davis gave Duquesne a running game with enough punch to keep the Dukes in the NEC race, and his return in 2026 may be the clearest reason to think bigger about their ceiling. Hero Sports placed Davis at No. 19 on its list of the top returning FCS running backs, but the more important number for Duquesne is the one Davis posted on the field: 927 rushing yards in 12 games, with five 100-yard performances and a 6.4-yard average per carry.

At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, the redshirt junior entered the new season as more than a depth piece or a nice complement. Duquesne listed him as a 2025 Second Team All-NEC back after he ran 144 times, scored two rushing touchdowns and added 11 catches for 109 yards. He delivered his biggest night at Robert Morris, where he piled up a career-high 179 rushing yards and showed the kind of downhill production that changes game plans.

That matters because Duquesne did not win with smoke and mirrors in 2025. The Dukes finished 7-5 overall and 5-2 in Northeast Conference play, good for second in the league standings, and their offense produced 2,535 rushing yards and 341 points. A back who ranked 11th nationally among FCS qualifiers in yards per carry gave that attack efficiency it could lean on, especially when games tightened late in conference play.

The challenge for Duquesne in 2026 is no longer simply whether Davis can produce. It is whether opponents can take away what he did best and still stop the rest of the offense. When a runner hits five 100-yard games and consistently forces defenses to commit extra bodies to the box, everything else gets easier, from play-action looks to downfield chances and second-half control. Davis’ presence raises the baseline for a team trying to move from a solid NEC contender to a legitimate FCS playoff threat.

Duquesne’s case is stronger because the structure around Davis is stable. Jerry Schmitt enters his 22nd season as head coach and remains the winningest active coach in the FCS with 135 victories. The staff also added Greg Gattuso as associate head coach in February, giving the Dukes another experienced voice as they try to sharpen a run game that already ranked among the most productive parts of the roster. If Davis takes another step, Duquesne’s offense should not just repeat 2025. It should have a chance to push the program’s 2026 ceiling higher.