(WR Taji Hudson – JMU Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
OC Tanner Morris, OG Cole Potts, OT Tyshawn Wyatt, NT Immanuel Bush, CB Chauncey Logan, FS Jacob Thomas, NB/KR DJ Barksdale, and PT Ryan Hanson.
Key Players Departing:
QB Jordan McCloud (Texas State transfer), RB Kaelon Black (Indiana transfer), WR Reggie Brown, WR Ty Son Lawton, WR Elijah Sarratt, WR Phoenix Sproles, TE Zach Horton (Indiana transfer), OG Tyler Stephens, OT Nick Kidwell, DE Jalen Green, DE Jamree Kromah, DE Mikail Kamara, DT Tyrique Tucker (Indiana transfer), NT James Carpenter, LB Aiden Fisher, LB Taurus Jones, LB Jailin Walker (Indiana transfer), CB Devyn Coles, CB D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana transfer), NB Chris Chukwuneke, NB Jarius Reimonenq, FS Que Reid, SS Francis Meehan, PR Josh Sarratt, and PK Camden Wise.
(RB Ayo Adeyi – Denton Record-Chronicle)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: RB George Pettaway (North Carolina transfer), RB Ayo Adeyi (North Texas transfer), LB Jacob Dobbs (Holy Cross transfer), WR Nakai Poole (Mississippi State transfer), DS Tyjai Hopper (Alpharetta, Georgia), EDGE Marcellus Nash (Colonial Heights, Virginia), DS Keelan Flowe (Charlotte, North Carolina), TE Logan Kyle (Vanderbilt transfer), LB Raymond Scott (Fresno State transfer), and EDGE Lloyd Summerall (USF transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 BUCKNELL W 38-3
G02 @ Virginia W 36-35
G03 @ Troy W 16-14
G04 @ Utah State W 45-38
G05 SOUTH ALABAMA W 31-23
G06 GEORGIA SOUTHERN W 41-13
G07 @ Marshall W 20-9
G08 OLD DOMINION W 30-27
G09 @ Georgia State W 42-14
G10 UCONN W 44-6
G11 APPALACHIAN STATE L (OT) 23-26
G12 @ Coastal Carolina W 56-14
BOWL vs. Air Force L 21-31
2023 Record: 11-2 (1st in SBC East/SBC Ineligible)
Home: 5-1
Away: 6-0
Neutral: 0-1
SBC: 7-1
Non-SBC: 4-1
Head Coach: Bob Chesney
James Madison: 0-0
Career: 111-46
Bowls: 0-0
(CB Chauncey Logan – JMU Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Alonza Barnett III (3-11, 15 yards, 27%, 1.4 avg., 0 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Alonza Barnett III (5 car., 29 yards, 5.8 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Taji Hudson (8 rec., 88 yards, 11.0 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored: 4 Tied (1)
Sacks: Taurus Jones (1)
Tackles: Jacob Thomas (54)
Interceptions: Chauncey Logan (1.5)
Pass Deflections: Chauncey Logan/Jacob Thomas (6)
Tackles For Loss: Immanuel Bush (4.5)
Forced Fumbles: None
Kick Returns: DJ Barksdale (15 ret., 319 yards, 21.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: None
Punting: Ryan Hanson (59 punts, 2395 yards, 40.6 avg., 29 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 5 Dylan Morris (RS SR/TR)
RB: 7 Ayo Adeyi (RS SR/TR)
WR: 19 Taji Hudson (RS JR/TR)
WR: 10 Brionne Penny (RS SR/TR)
WR: 1 Cam Ross (RS SR/TR)
TE: 15 Kyi Wright (SR/TR)
LT: 52 Tyshawn Wyatt (SR)
LG: 60 Carter Sweazie (RS SO)
OC: 58 Tanner Morris (RS SR)
RG: 66 Cole Potts (RS SR)
RT: 76 Pat McMurtrie (RS SR/TR)
KR: 32 DJ Barksdale (SO)
PK: 16 Noe Ruelas (RS JR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters
DE: 99 Eric O’Neill (RS JR/TR)
NT: 15 Immanuel Bush (RS JR/TR)
DT: 90 Terry Lockett Jr. (RS JR/TR)
DE: 99 Eric O’Neill (RS JR/TR)
LB: 27 Jacob Dobbs (RS SR/TR)
LB: 0 Taurus Jones (RS SR)
NB: 19 Ja’Kai Young (RS SR/TR)
CB: 2 Chauncey Logan (JR)
CB: 3 Terrence Spence (SR/TR)
FS: 7 Jacob Thomas (JR)
SS: 6 Ray Williams (RS SR/TR)
PR: 2 Jayden Mines (RS SO)
PT: 48 Ryan Hanson (RS SR/TR)
(FS Jacob Thomas – JMU Athletics)
Team Grades
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 @ Charlotte 49ers | JMU leads the series 2-0. The Dukes won (48-40) the last meeting between schools in 2014, and they won (34-7) the inaugural meeting in 2013.
09/07 GARDNER-WEBB RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS | First meeting between schools.
09/21 @ North Carolina Tar Heels | JMU trails the series 0-3. The Dukes lost (28-56) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
09/28 BALL STATE CARDINALS | JMU lost (6-24) the only prior meeting between schools in 1997.
10/05 @ UL-Monroe Warhawks | First meeting between schools.
10/10 COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS | JMU leads the series 3-1. The Dukes won (56-14) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (47-7) the prior meeting in 2022.
10/19 @ Georgia Southern Eagles | JMU trails the series 2-8. The Dukes won (41-13) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (38-45) the prior meeting in 2022.
10/26 SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES | First meeting between schools.
11/09 GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS | JMU leads the series 3-0. The Dukes won (42-14) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (42-40) the prior meeting in 2022.
11/16 @ Old Dominion Monarchs | The series is tied 2-2. The Dukes won (30-27) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (37-3) the prior meeting in 2022.
11/23 @ Appalachian State Mountaineers | JMU trails the series 5-13. The Dukes lost (23-26 OT) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (32-28) the prior meeting in 2022.
11/30 MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD | JMU trails the series 1-3. The Dukes won (20-9) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (12-26) the prior meeting in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
SBC: 4-4
Non-SBC: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (4th in SBC East)
gridironpredictions.net 