LATROBE, Pennsylvania - August 6, 2025 - The stage was officially set for the 2025 football season on Wednesday afternoon, as student-athletes and head coaches from all 11 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) football programs spoke to the media on the campus of Saint Vincent College as part of the 18th edition of PAC Football Media Day.

Hiram head coach Xavier Dupree and senior linebacker Devyn Mercilliott represented the Terriers at the event; Dupree was named the 33rd head coach in program history this past December and Mercilliott is coming off a breakout 2024 campaign that included 86 tackles, five tackles-for-loss and two blocked kicks.

The pair spoke highly of the team and its expectations for the 2025 season, which will be Hiram's first as a full-time member of the PAC since 1989.

"I'm excited to be back at Hiram," said Dupree, who previously served as the wide receivers coach at Hiram for three seasons before spending the past two years at Catawba College (NC). "Hiram is a place that can win. I believe we are not far off from winning games at Hiram College. I think our team is excited for the opportunity to be back in the PAC and to have a new start."

While the team is coming off a tough season, Mercilliott and the returning core of a talented roster expect big things in 2025 and beyond.

"When we got to lace up in the spring, we could see that hunger," Mercilliott said of the team's response to an 0-10 record in 2024. "We're ready to show that we can really play some ball."

Mercilliott, who was a team captain this past season, will again be serving an integral role for an experienced defense in 2025. The defensive unit also returns a number of other key contributors, including linebackers Gavin Cruser and Kole Tarary, as well as secondary players like Navion Steadman, Ricardo Jimenez and Kade Scott.

"I feel like throughout my two years, I've really grown a stronger bond with the teammates I share the field with, especially with our defense," Mercilliott said. "We feel like we grew a lot in the spring. Since the spring, we're really starting to connect those pieces."

Offensively, Hiram will welcome back running back RJ Johnson, wide receiver Jordan Stapleton, tight end Dylan Hargas and quarterback Sean Tejeda. With five combined seasons of experience already under that group's belt, the Terriers will have a chance to build upon the momentum they gained throughout this past spring camp.

"We have a lot of great football players on this team," Dupree said. "We're hungry and we are excited. Can't wait to get started."

The 2025 season will include two non-conference games before an eight-game PAC schedule begins on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Waynesburg. Among the notable home games throughout the fall campaign are Homecoming week on Saturday, Oct. 4 (Washington & Jefferson) and Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 15 (Grove City). The Terriers will also host Oberlin (Sept. 13), Allegheny (Oct. 25) and Thiel (Nov. 1).

You can follow Hiram Football this season on the Hiram Athletics website and watch all games on the PAC Digital Network.